Summary
Helldivers 2is one of 2024’s biggest breakout hits so far. The original gamehad its fans, but the meteoric rise of its successor came out of nowhere. Despite this, its popularity is easy to understand asHelldivers 2has a lot to offer players. Its combat mechanics are unique, its theme is engrossing, and its PVE gameplay loop has been effective in creating a sense of community among its players. Community is especially important for the game since all players work towards a shared objective. Whether someone is fighting alongside friends or random players online, the brutal battlefields ofHelldivers 2have helped to bring gamers from all over the world together.
The success ofHelldivers 2is apparent across the larger gaming community. Social media sites like TikTok are filled with memes about the game as well as calls for combatants to help fight enemies on certain planets, and there is apetition to bringHelldivers 2to Xboxthat has been widely supported by players on all platforms. One aspect of the title that helps to bring players together is the massive scale of the game’s conflicts. Players can land on different planets to fight Terminids or Automatons. The completion of missions helps to liberate the planet, and all players work together to liberate the galaxy. There are two enemy types right now, but as the game progresses, it’s likely that the community will be given new adversaries to fight.
Helldivers 2 Needs More Enemy Factions
Helldivers 2currently features two enemy factions, the Terminids and the Automatons. The Terminids are large bugs that help to complete the game’s homage to the filmStarship Troopers,which serves as one of its most apparent influences. The Automatons are large robots that would also feel right at home in an over-the-top action movie.Super Earth’s battle against these factions has kept players occupied for now, but going forward, the game will need to introduce new content in order to keep the experience feeling fresh. Thankfully, there are plenty of ways for the game to grow in scale.
A New Alien Race Could Easily Fit in Helldivers 2’s Lore
RecentHelldivers 2leaksdiscussed mech suits before their addition and stated more is on the way, but there has been no official word of a new faction. While nothing has been said about one, a new type of enemy feels like an inevitability for the game, and it would be easy to explain their arrival. The existence of Terminids means that one Alien race has already been uncovered, and it isn’t hard to imagine that a new one could threaten Super Earth as well. As players push back against the Terminids and Automatons, the map could theoretically expand to reveal new regions of space with new enemies. Alternatively, new races could attempt to invade Super Earth.
How Helldivers 2 Could Cycle Between Enemy Factions
Without expanding the galactic map, there isn’t much room for new enemy factions to occupy inHelldivers 2. A third group to wage war on would be easy to pack in, but adding more could make the map cluttered. Thankfully, there is a neat solution baked right into the game’s core mechanics. As players liberate territory, the occupying faction could be forced to retreat, and a new group could come in to take its place. If more factions are added in closer proximity to one another, new mission types could also be added that task players with fighting multiple at once. This would be a fun way to take advantage ofall ofHelldivers 2’s enemies.
The game’s life started strong, butthe continued success ofHelldivers 2will depend on the addition of new features, weapons, and adversaries. Thankfully, the title’s galactic war mechanics mean that cycling factions in and out of rotation will be doable, even if the developers never commit to expanding the game’s list of planets and systems. The discovery of new alien races wouldn’t feel out of place in the game’s lore, and the addition of new enemies could eventually allow for new types of missions. Not only would adding new factions be doable forHelldivers 2, but it would also help to make it an even better game.