10 games to play if you like Helldivers 2

You can sink dozens to hundreds of hours into Helldivers 2, but at some point, you will feel burnt out. So, if you want to play other games like Helldivers 2 to continue the action, check our list below.

Games to play if you like Helldivers 2

Helldivers 2 is an amalgamation of a bunch of other games in one, but these games encapsulate some of the greatest aspects of it. Whether it’s by killing hordes of enemies, being ultra-patriotic for your world, or being a badass who can come out on top against all odds, any of these titles will be a hit for fans of Arrowhead’s wildly successful game.

Earth Defense Force 5

Alien invasion? Check. A huge arsenal of weapons to take them down with? Check. Over-the-top gameplay with little downtime between huge firefights? Check. Earth Defense Force 5 should be on your radar if you’re into all-out horde shooters like Helldivers 2. If you can get some friends together for a cooperative session, it’ll be some hilarious, chaotic fun.

Even though the sixth installment of the franchise just came out, EDF5 is the more definitive experience until things go better for 6. 

Duke Nukem 3D

The Duke Nukem franchise definitely started to get sour after the 90s and it’s a shame. 3D was the last solid iteration of the series, and it shows, being a boomer-shooter that stood alongside the greats like Doom, Marathon, and Turok in the 90s.

There’s a reason why Duke Nukem 3D got a port to later consoles in 2016 in the 20th Anniversary World Tour game. It washes away the sins of Duke Nukem Forever from 2011.

Deep Rock Galactic

It’s a bit of a stretch, but Deep Rock Galactic is one of those games that reminds me a lot of Helldivers 2. You and your teammates are inside a hub, perfecting builds, seeing what you need next to progress, and planning your next mission. 

Once the setups are complete, you all dive in together inside a mine and complete all sorts of objectives with lots of vermin to deal with along the way. The gameplay loop is very much the same as Helldivers 2: prep your squad, go into a mission with modifiers and stuff to kill, and extract with stuff chasing you. 

Doom reboots (2016, Eternal)

Doom is just one of those franchises that is all about badassery. You’re a man of few words, but lots of rage. Killing all sorts of demons with your arsenal or even your bare hands has never felt so good. 

So, if you want to kill a bunch of stuff without your character yapping after every little injury, the Doom reboot games are a must-cop, especially with The Dark Ages coming soon.

Warhammer 40,000: Boltgun

Boltgun is a game that encapsulates the magic of the 90s with its aesthetic, but also a fun blend between modern and retro boomer shooters. You’re here for the fun shooting and satisfying ways of taking down whatever the game throws at you.

When your thirst for Daemon Blood has been quenched, this might be what you need to go back to serving Democracy on all needed fronts in Helldivers 2.

Left 4 Dead 2

Helldivers 2 and Left 4 Dead 2 have lots of similarities when it comes to the core aspects of how they run. They both have procedurally generated levels like enemy spawns and a game director, or a ‘master’ that adds variations per mission like drops and difficulty modifiers.

You can play these two games a lot and get a bit of variety every time you fire up a new session. While the core gameplay loop is the same, it’s the small variations that make you keep coming back. Plus, the whole zombies aspect and training enemies is so rewarding.

Serious Sam Collection (PS4, Xbox One, Switch) or Fusion (PC)

The first three mainline Serious Sam games are the best in the series and are more than enough to give you a few dozen hours of intense gunplay, gore, and hilarity. Fighting all sorts of weird, wacky, and fever-dream-esque enemies will definitely scratch that Helldivers 2 itch.

While weapons in this game actually pack a punch and can easily destroy dozens of enemies in seconds, that transition between this power fantasy and back to Helldivers 2 is going to be rough. 

Aliens: Fireteam Elite

Aliens: Fireteam Elite is like a more serious version of Helldivers 2. It’s very faithful to the Aliens franchise, from the world-building, the weaponry, and the enemies you fight. If you like to blast these Xenos and the Synths into smithereens, you need to get this game.

Also, instead of large, open-area instances, you’re in more linear missions fighting waves of enemies. Gear up with different classes, perks, and weapons, and set off to missions with either two bots or two other players. 

Broforce

Broforce is a lot different from all the other games on this list. It’s not a shooter game, but rather, a 2D shoot-em-up game featuring hypermasculine versions of movie characters from the 80s and 90s. 

The narrative is all about the same as Helldivers with its over-the-top political satire. You serve under an ultra-nationalist USA and basically liberate a bunch of countries overseas assuming control of many different iconic movie characters. Go into a mission, die from random stuff, and make it out with explosions and hilarity.

Starship Troopers: Extermination

This list wouldn’t be right without the franchise that heavily inspired Helldivers 2. From the bugs and extreme patriotism, Starship Troopers: Extermination is going to (hopefully) make sure our devotion to quelling alien filth stays strong, especially with Rico aiding you in your war efforts. 

Just a tad bit different from Helldivers 2, Starship Troopers has this base-building aspect to the game, adding some slight variation to just heading face-first into an endless horde of sci-fi bugs.

If you want to keep that momentum going after running for your life, killing sci-fi hordes of enemies, and devoting yourself to ironic, extremist causes, none of these games can go wrong.