Helldivers

Helldivers is a cooperative top-down shooter by Arrowhead Game Studios. Up to four players take on missions on alien planets as an elite unit. Precise teamwork, tactical resupply and a satirical portrayal of militarism come together.

Helldivers was released in Europe on March 4, 2015 for PS4, PS3 and PS Vita. The North American launch was one day earlier. The PC version followed on Steam on December 7, 2015. The later Dive Harder Edition expands the same game for free.

Helldivers was released natively on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 3 and PS Vita. Cross-play is possible between the three PlayStation versions. On PS5, the PS4 version runs via backward compatibility, not as a separate native PS5 version.

Before a mission, players choose a planet and a landing zone. On the surface they must complete various objectives and then fight their way to evacuation. Enemy waves and limited supplies force constant switching between attack, support and retreat.

Dive Harder added the Proving Grounds mode with special mission modifiers, plus extra equipment options. The free upgrade also includes the earlier expansions A New Hell, Masters of the Galaxy, Turning Up the Heat and Democracy Strikes Back. Various equipment packs for special roles are sold separately.

For the PC version, Steam lists at least a 2.4 GHz dual-core processor, 4 GB RAM, a GeForce 9800 or Radeon HD 2600 XT, and 7 GB of free storage. The original details for older Windows versions are historical. Since January 2024, the Steam client supports at least Windows 10.

Up to four players can play together online or locally. Friendly fire is a firm part of the combat system. Teams therefore need to carefully coordinate their lines of fire and use of explosives. Solo players go without this tactical support.

Short directional combinations call in reinforcements and resupply. These include equipment, turrets, vehicles and airstrikes. Because support arrives mid-mission and can hit teammates, positioning matters as much as the equipment you choose.

The individual missions are part of a galactic campaign. The progress of the player community affects which planets and sectors are contested. The war map thus forms a shared framework for many short missions.

Several alien factions demand different tactics. Some attacks can be avoided through movement and smart lines of fire, others require heavy equipment and coordinated support. As difficulty rises, the pressure on the team grows.

The Steam version supports German menus, voice output and subtitles. On PC, you can play with keyboard and mouse or gamepad. Directional inputs for stratagems remain a core part of the controls.