Earth Defense Force 5

Earth Defense Force 5 is a co-op third-person shooter about defending Earth against an overwhelming alien invasion. As a soldier of the Earth Defense Force, you face giant insects, enemy spaceships and humanoid attackers. The focus is on large battles, varied weapons and four freely selectable classes.

Earth Defense Force 5 first released in Japan for PlayStation 4 on Dec 7, 2017. The European PlayStation 4 version followed on Dec 10, 2018, and the PC version on Jul 11, 2019. The standalone Nintendo Switch 2 version was released on Oct 8, 2026.

The game came out for PlayStation 4, PC and Nintendo Switch 2. The Switch 2 version is a separate port with extra convenience features. The PS4 version can be played on compatible PS5 hardware, but it has no native PS5 version of its own.

In the missions, soldiers fight large groups of enemies in cities, open areas and underground facilities. Ranged weapons, special equipment and vehicles complement each other, while squad formations and air support enable dynamic battles.

Additional mission packs have been released for Earth Defense Force 5. They expand the game with challenges outside the main campaign. Individual weapons and vehicle variants were also released as extra content.

On PC, you need at least 8 GB RAM, an Intel Core i5-4440 or AMD A10-7850K, and a GeForce GTX 760 or Radeon HD 7970. Recommended are a Core i7-4770 or Ryzen 5 1400 and a GeForce GTX 970 or Radeon RX 480. The game requires 30 GB of storage space.

In Japan in 2022, an unknown alien force attacks an EDF base. The initial defence mission develops into a long war against the Primer, whose insects, war machines and humanoid units keep creating new threats.

The Ranger relies on assault rifles, rocket launchers and other classic firearms. It can sprint and call in certain vehicles. That makes it well suited to medium-range fights and a relatively straightforward start.

The Wing Diver moves across the battlefield with a flight module and uses energy-based weapons. Its high mobility and thrust help it get around enemies. In return, it has less durability than heavily armoured units.

The Air Raider coordinates heavy fire support, air attacks and the delivery of vehicles. Its strength lies in working with other units and controlling large battle zones.

The Fencer wears a reinforced exoskeleton and particularly heavy weapons. Its arsenal suits direct confrontations and targeted attacks on large enemies. Its unusual movement and equipment take more learning than the Ranger.

Earth Defense Force 5 offers more than 1,000 weapons and pieces of equipment. The classes differ not only in their weapons but also in flight modules, support systems, shields, air strikes and vehicles.

The campaign consists of over 100 missions across five difficulty levels. Extra challenges come from tackling familiar missions with a different class, higher difficulty or new equipment.

Up to four players can take on the missions together online. For two players, split screen is also possible on supported consoles and PC. The four classes complement each other with different mobility, range and support options.

The Switch 2 version adds local wireless connections for up to four players. It also brings subtitles, damage numbers and a reworked control scheme based on Earth Defense Force 6. Progress between online and offline play is handled consistently.

On Nintendo Switch 2, up to four people can team up over local wireless, each with their own console and game. A split screen for two players is available in TV mode. Nintendo Switch Online is required for online multiplayer.

The Steam version offers English and Japanese voice acting, plus English, Japanese, Korean and traditional Chinese text. The Switch 2 version supports Japanese and English, each with voice acting. Language options differ by platform.

Sandlot developed the original Earth Defense Force 5, and D3Publisher released it. The standalone Switch 2 version was also implemented by Yuke’s.