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Video Games🇸🇪Sweden21st century

Helldivers 2

Officially HELLDIVERS 2

Arrowhead Game Studios' 4-PLAYER COOP THIRD-PERSON SHOOTER (released Feb 2024, PC + PS5) — squad of 'HELLDIVERS' fights on behalf of SUPER EARTH's satirical fascist democracy against TERMINIDS (bug aliens) + AUTOMATONS (robots) + ILLUMINATE (later). Signature STRATAGEMS system (call in orbital strikes, mechs, support weapons via directional-code entry); friendly-fire ubiquitous; player-driven GALACTIC WAR narrative. HUGE 2024 breakout — sold 15M+ in 3 months.

⏱~40 min🌤indoor
Photo · Wikipedia

Quick facts

Category

Video Games

Type

Team sport

Players

1–4

Duration

~40 min

Where played

indoor

Country of origin

🇸🇪 Sweden

Estimated origin

Released February 8, 2024 by Arrowhead Game Studios (published by Sony Interactive Entertainment). Sequel to top-down HELLDIVERS (2015). Sold 8M copies in first 12 weeks; became Sony's fastest-selling PlayStation Studios title ever.

Olympic

No

Popularity

major

How it works

Objective

COMPLETE MISSION OBJECTIVES on hostile planets — capture points, extract data, evacuate civilians, destroy targets, EXTRACT via Pelican-1 dropship.

Rules

Basic rules

  • STRATAGEMS: call in orbital strikes, sentries, mechs, support weapons via DIRECTIONAL CODE ENTRY (↑↓←→↑ etc.)

    Signature stratagem input mechanic.

  • FRIENDLY FIRE ALWAYS ON — every bullet + strike hurts teammates; iconic gameplay + comedy factor

    Signature friendly-fire rule.

  • 3 FACTIONS: TERMINIDS (bugs) → AUTOMATONS (robots, added since launch) → ILLUMINATE (2024 return, added post-launch)

    Signature 3 major factions.

  • 9 DIFFICULTY LEVELS (Trivial → Helldive → Super Helldive) — massive scaling from casual to punishing

    Signature 9-tier difficulty.

  • PERSISTENT GALACTIC WAR — planet liberation tracked across all players; MAJOR ORDERS drive collective progress

    Signature player-driven metagame.

  • SATIRICAL 'MANAGED DEMOCRACY' propaganda tone — heavy Starship Troopers homage

    Signature satire.

  • SHIP CUSTOMISATION: upgrade Destroyer with modules that improve stratagems

    Signature ship upgrade.

Scoring

Mission success/failure; Medals + XP + Requisition + Samples + Super Credits currencies.

Win condition · Mission success + extraction; Galactic War = player-driven ongoing.

Equipment

  • PC (Windows via Steam) OR PlayStation 5

    Platforms.

  • Keyboard + mouse (PC) or DualSense controller (PS5)

    Standard controls.

  • Online connection required (persistent Galactic War)

    Required always-online for persistent war.

Terminology

Stratagem
Callable orbital/aerial/deploy asset input by directional key sequence.
Helldiver
Player character — elite Super Earth soldier.
Super Earth
Fictional fascist-democratic Earth government satirised in game.
Warbond
Battle-pass-style content pass with cosmetics + weapons.
Galactic War
Persistent metagame — planets liberated by player collective.
Democracy Officer
In-game NPC + community joke for propaganda tone.

Where it is played

Governing bodies

  • Arrowhead Game Studios (developer)

    Founded 2008 · Stockholm, Sweden

  • Sony Interactive Entertainment (publisher)

    Founded 1993 · Tokyo/San Mateo

Sources & provenance

Last verified 2026-08-28.verified