10 Games Like Helldivers 2 You Should Play

Helldivers 2 has triumphantly received the crown of being a solid co-op shooter. Reasons for these include exhilarating action coupled with the fact that you smash bugs. Unfortunately, because of its increasing popularity, the game is going through server issues and online woes often. While Sony is already rushing to fix these issues, we understand if you don’t want to wait. Fortunately, there are a lot of games like Helldivers 2 where you can enjoy killing enemies with your friends.

To help you with that, we have compiled a list of the best games similar to Helldivers 2, which you should try. So, without any delay, let’s begin.

1. Risk of Rain 2

Our first choice on this list is possibly one of my favorite picks to play on Steam Deck. Risk of Rain 2 is a rogue-like action-adventure game where you land on an alien planet and kill waves of enemies, picking up upgrades and power-ups. The game features a unique difficulty system that gets tougher over time. And the higher the difficulty, the more enemies you’ll encounter.

Since you can play this game in co-op, you and three other friends can play together and clear waves of enemies while enjoying a satisfying rogue-like experience. And this is one of those perfect games that feels like Helldivers 2.

2. Warhammer: Vermintide 2

Before horde shooting became a thing, there was a game that was vital in popularizing the concept. Warhammer: Vermintide 2 is a co-op first-person action-adventure game by Fatshark, where you play as one of the five different classes from the gothic dark-fantasy universe of Warhammer. You and your party visit various locations overrun by the Chaos army and Skaven Horde.

Together, you and your team must work to eradicate an onslaught of heretics for the Emperor. Furthermore, Vermintide has a unique skill-tree system, where you can use different skills to make your hero unique. Overall, it is a solid alternative to Helldivers 2, especially when those servers are overworked.

3. Warhammer 40,000: Darktide

Warhammer 40,000 is yet another genius game coming from the minds of Fatshark. The game follows the same formula of throwing you and your friends against a massive horde of enemies. Fundamentally, it plays similarly to Vemintide 2, except you swap out weapons with 40K lore-accurate weapons.

Darktide had one of the most horrendous launches in video games. However, the game has become a fun affair and is worth revisiting. Overall, it is an amazing game to check out if you can’t wait for Helldivers 2 to be fixed.

4. Earth Defense Force 5

This game comes from a developer that had its foothold set in the very same concept long before Helldivers 2. Earth Defense Force is a universe where you play as a soldier of EDF, fighting against large groups of bugs, specifically ants.

You party up with your friends and rampage through various levels, slaughtering alien bugs. As you progress through the game, you unlock better weapons, mechs, and tougher difficulty. All for the sake of the extermination of invading forces and the protection of your region.

EDF 5 even has local split-screen gameplay if you go for that of legacy gaming. The game is on sale right now, so grab it quick!

5. Aliens: Fireteam Elite

A three-player third-person co-op shooter, Aliens: Fireteam Elite takes place in Ridley Scott’s extended Aliens universe, where you play as fireteam of Colonial Marines of Weyland Utani. The game is based on a new planet called LV-895, as it gets overrun by swarms of Xenomorphs.

So, choose a fireteam member class, build your composition, and play through an intense story campaign comprising four chapters.

Fireteam Elite is the perfect game for those moments when you want to feel like a Colonial Marine while battling horrifying aliens. And, while there aren’t any bugs in the game, we can consider the Xenomorphs as bugs. Just squint your eyes, and they’ll look like it while you kill them.

6. Starship Trooper: Extermination

A game officially based on the same series Helldivers 2 takes immense inspiration from, Starship Trooper: Extermination is a first-person tactical co-op shooter where you play as a member of Deep Space Vanguard from the Starship Trooper universe.

After a deep-space mining colony, Planet Valaka gets overrun by the Arachnids, it is up to you and your friends to contribute to the war effort and get rid of the bug menace.

You get to choose from three different classes that will suit your immediate playstyle. Furthermore, you can build bases and refineries and finish multiple side activities to support the war effort and make your life easier. If you want the closest experience to Helldivers 2, check this game out.

7. World War Z

If you’ve read the book or watched the movie, you already know this one. World War Z is a third-person co-op game where you play as multiple survivors across the globe. After humanity goes to the brink of extinction and much of the population turns into bloodthirsty zombies, you and your team need to survive the horde and live to fight another day.

World War Z features an impressive horde system, where hundreds of Zombies swarm your party and overwhelm you. You can access eight different classes in-game and a deep progression system to make every encounter unique. It’s perfect for those days when you are bored of killing socialist bots and bugs.

8. Deep Rock Galactic

I could’ve ended this section by saying ROCK AND STONES and that would be enough. However, for those new to DRG, let me explain. Deep Rock Galactic is possibly one of the greatest co-op games to grace us. An FPS game, Deep Rock Galactic puts you in charge of four classes of badass space dwarves whose main task is to mine for minerals and materials on various off-world planets.

The game features procedurally generated environments, which are fully destructible. And the gameplay loop of teaming with your friends to mine for minerals and take out bugs using high-tech gadgets is extremely satisfying.

This is one of those games that is a worthy replacement for days when Helldivers 2 goes through server maintenance. And who knows, you might even make it your regular pick.

9. Helldivers

Before Helldivers 2 (review) became the third-person shooter extravaganza it is now, there existed the original Helldivers. A top-down twin-stick shooter, Helldivers put you in the shoes of the eponymous last line of defense for Super Earth.

Team up with up to four players and fight the swarms of Terminids on various planets using support stratagems and glorious guns. All for Democracy.

Helldivers is essentially Helldivers 2, without the necessary budgets the current launch has. Hence, if you want a fun twin-stick shooter to play with friends, pick the original game and the experience that kickstarted it all.

10. Remnant II

The final game on our list is last year’s popular shooter game Remnant 2. This is a three-player co-op shooter where you are pitted against god-like bosses and deadly creatures in a post-apocalyptic Earth and various other universes. The game has a mix of melee and ranged combat systems and a unique upgrade system that boasts replayability.

Furthermore, the archetypical progression system gives players unique passives and powers. It’s essentially more of the first game but with tons of polish, care, and thought. Overall, it is a solid co-op title that everyone should play with their friends.

These are the ten best games like Helldivers 2 you should try right now. Got more suggestions for us and our readers? Share them in the comments below.