by theygamesDespite some very strong challengers in Balatro, Metaphor ReFantazio, UFO 50, and Zenless Zone Zero, Helldivers 2 was my ultimate game of the year for 2024. It’s a beautiful, bombastic thing; a masterful reconstruction of one of my favorite co-op games in a whole-new perspective that gives it fresh life. While its first year featured somewhat of a reception rollercoaster, constant updates from developer Arrowhead and the arrival of the Illuminate have brought Helldivers 2 back in style, and you can grab it cheaper than it’s ever been on Steam – but be quick about it.
The truth is that I was worried about Helldivers 2. I love Arrowhead’s original, top-down installment – it’s a distinctive action game that blends the sardonic pomposity of Starship Troopers with frantic four-player featuring frequent, funny friendly-fire frustrations. I was skeptical the shift to a third-person perspective could retain what made it special, but I was oh so wrong. Helldivers 2 feels startlingly like its predecessor, while also enhancing the sense of terror and spectacle by putting you right in the thick of the action. It’s without question one of the best co-op games I’ve ever played.
Since it launched Helldivers 2 in February 2024, Arrowhead has demonstrated why it’s a master of the live-service format. Again, much of these ideas are carried over from the first game, like the galactic war structure to its three enemy factions. But they’ve been realized in even greater clarity thanks to the increased attention the sequel has received. Being part of Helldivers 2 feels like joining in with a concerted, community-driven war effort, and you are part of the whole even if you’re just playing matches privately with a few friends.
While we’ve seen some stumbles, from the short-lived PSN requirement fiasco to concerns around overly punishing weapon balance, Arrowhead has listened to its players and taken careful steps to recover its footing. As things stand, its 30-day Steam review average features a 94% recommendation ratio from more than 8,000 reviews, while the overall rating has recovered from its review bombing to climb back into the ‘mostly positive’ category at a respectable 76% score across more than 700,000 reviews.
If you’ve been desperate to try it out and haven’t yet, now is a great time. A special deal available via Fanatical gives you the much-lauded space shooter at a 28% discount. That’s a fair extra drop over the 20% that it’s currently off through the Valve store, which is also the lowest it’s ever been there – and the copy you get will still be one for Steam.
Helldivers 2 is 28% off until Wednesday February 12 at 10am PT / 1pm ET / 6pm GMT / 7pm CET. The standard edition is priced at $28.79 / £25.19 and the Super Citizen edition at $43.19 / £35.99. Both versions must be redeemed through Steam. Head over to Fanatical to grab this discount while you can.
Fancy another adventure among the stars? Try out one of the best space games on PC right now. If you’re looking to save even more money, we’ve rounded up the best free Steam games as well.
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