Percentile Rank

Helldivers is ranked in the 89th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
Strong

OpenCritic Rating

82

Top Critic Average

77%

Critics Recommend

Based on 45 critic reviews

Score Distribution

Unscored Reviews

Eurogamer
Recommended
Recommended
Mar 3, 2015

The star of the show isn't your foes, though, and it certainly isn't the fascist 'goodies' you're cast as in this knockabout imperialist satire. The star of the show is the panic that's generated as you head into adventure, knowing that you're this close to screwing everything up for your team in a darkly hilarious manner.

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Rock, Paper, Shotgun
Unscored
Unscored
Dec 23, 2015

It feels like a game which knows exactly what it wants to be. And like a game which someone really, really wanted to make.

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Scored Reviews

SelectButton
10 / 10
10 / 10
Mar 3, 2015

Being available across all three of the PlayStation platforms, Helldivers allows anyone to play together regardless of platform. The content of the game is the same regardless if you are playing the console or Vita version, with the visuals being the key difference. The Vita version features lower resolution environmental and character model textures, horrendous aliasing, and is missing many of the small details that are in the console versions.

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The Jimquisition
9.5 / 10
9.5 / 10.0
Mar 2, 2015

With its sledgehammer humor and clever blend of stealth and action, Helldivers is a lot smarter than a passing glance might have you believe. It's a game in which life is cheap but the deaths aren't, where carelessness gets you turned into kibble, and sustained battle will leave you with an empty gun and a horde of pissed off monsters.

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GameZone
9.5 / 10
9.5 / 10.0
Mar 3, 2015

A fantastic co-operative twin-stick shooter with a surprising amount of depth. It's unrelenting, but not unfair. Pick this one up and convince your friends to do the same.

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GameWatcher
9.5 / 10
9.5 / 10.0
Dec 14, 2015

HellDivers is one of the best multiplayer games of the year. We've anxiously awaited the Steam version, and it delivers every bit of the experience that we've jealously spied over the shoulders of Playstation players for months now. Factoring in the excellent and unique gameplay, the beautiful and variable graphics and environments, the variety of enemy types, the hilarious satire, and the perfect sound, we happily recommend you pick this one up.

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IGN
9 / 10
IGN
Top Critic
9 / 10.0
Mar 13, 2015

Brutal, focused, and mechanically rich, Helldivers is one of the best co-op action experiences you can have.

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Game Rant
4.5 / 5
Mar 5, 2015

'Helldivers' is an isometric co-op shooter that favors challenge and strategy over all else, and despite a lack of variety is extremely satisfying when played with friends.

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Destructoid
9 / 10
9 / 10.0
Mar 3, 2015

Unrelenting and brutal, Helldivers delivers fast-paced combat, epic standoffs and a comical approach to death. Its enemies are varied, powerful and a constant threat to the players. While the full impact of the larger multiplayer experience remains to be seen, it still adds a nice little scratch to the progress itch. The strategem system provides great flexibility in squad building with many ways to build out team roles to maximize defensive and offensive capabilities. With procedural map generation and just enough mission and enemy variety to prevent a sense of repetition, the twelve levels of difficulty ought to keep players challenged for a good long time.

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Attack of the Fanboy
4.5 / 5
Mar 2, 2015

Right in the sweet spot between being fun and challenging, Helldivers is a superb cooperative experience that keeps you coming back for more.

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PlayStation Universe
9 / 10
9 / 10.0
Mar 3, 2015

Helldivers may not look that spectacular, but it certainly plays that way. A hardcore shoot 'em up that rewards tactical thinking and teamwork. It features some of the most enjoyable and humorous co-op action in recent memory that makes sure it'll be one of 2015's best titles.

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Critical Hit
9 / 10
9 / 10.0
Mar 5, 2015

Helldivers is hopelessly addictive and brilliantly brutal. You will find yourself playing with a gleeful smile throughout, either thanks to crushing foes with your drop shipped turret or because of shooting your enemy with bullets full of freedom. Fast-paced and humorous with deep combat, this space romp should be required in every PS4 owner's library.

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GamingTrend
90 / 100
90 / 100
Mar 3, 2015

While the maps and enemies could be more varied and interesting, there's no denying that the gameplay is stellar, rewarding you for working closely with your teammates and punishing you otherwise. And best of all, the multi-player system powering the game works flawlessly, making it easy for you to find other people to tackle missions with. The deep upgrade system and customizable loadouts will go a long way towards keeping you engaged long after your first battle. Simply put, Helldivers is a wet dream if cooperative multiplayer games are your thing.

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Game Debate
9 / 10
9 / 10.0
Jan 1, 2016

If you take into account the limits of the genre itself, then Helldivers is a fantastic way to keep yourself busy for hours at a time, Helldivers is a surprisingly immersive game with intuitive mechanics and a rewarding levelling system. Repeating seemingly the same mission over and over does get a little staid, but the variable objectives and procedurally generated worlds go some way to fixing that. Not taking itself too seriously, this is friendly fire fun for all.

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Gamestyle
9 / 10
9 / 10
Mar 9, 2015

Helldivers isn't game that has come out of nowhere, but it is one that has fully exceeded expectations.

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Game Informer
8.5 / 10
8.5 / 10.0
Mar 4, 2015

With a wide range of difficulty levels and endless planets to conquer, Helldivers doles out as much co-op fun as you can handle

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God is a Geek
8.5 / 10
8.5 / 10.0
Mar 3, 2015

A badass little blaster that's not afraid to be hardcore and treat you like a whiny little child, Helldivers is most fun when you and your teammates work together.

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PlayStation LifeStyle
8.5 / 10
8.5 / 10.0
Mar 2, 2015

Helldivers brings a fun and intensity to cooperative play that I have not had in a long time. Single players may want to skip this one, but if you have some friends to sit down with, either on the couch or via the PSN, I highly recommend getting your squad ready to defend Super Earth from impending doom. Just watch out for that turret.

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ZTGD
8.5 / 10
ZTGD
Top Critic
8.5 / 10.0
Dec 11, 2015

Helldivers is held back from an even higher score by the fact that it is, ultimately, fairly isolating for the solo player. However, Arrowhead Game Studios have still created a wonderfully entertaining game here; one that performs best when its brilliant cooperative elements are fully embraced.

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CGMagazine
8.5 / 10
8.5 / 10.0
Dec 11, 2015

Helldivers is hands down one of my favorite multiplayer experiences of this year.

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NZGamer
8.5 / 10
NZGamer
Top Critic
8.5 / 10.0
Mar 10, 2015

To tell the truth, I really enjoy playing Helldivers. It's not the best game in the world, but when you have a team of friends, or friendly people with mics, it can be so much fun.

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Worth Playing
8.5 / 10
8.5 / 10.0
Dec 21, 2015

Helldivers is a very good game. The focus on being a more strategic top-down shooter gives it an identity, as does the high mortality rate due to friendly fire. Whether you play solo or with friends, the game remains exciting once you gain access to more guns and stratagems. Though the missions can quickly become repetitive, the contributions made to an overall goal keep things enticing. For those wanting a slightly different top-down shooter, Helldivers is well worth checking out.

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GBAtemp
8.3 / 10
8.3 / 10.0
Mar 16, 2015

Helldivers is a great title, I was hyped for it since it was announced and in my eyes it lived up to the hype. If you're a fan of arcade titles, this is a game you should definitely try, especially if you own more than one PlayStation platform and especially if you have friends who'd like to join you on your quest to spread managed democracy - the best system of government there is.

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PSX Extreme
8.2 / 10
8.2 / 10.0
Mar 9, 2015

Helldivers holds huge entertainment value for certain players. The game has its share of minor issues, such as visibility (with so many enemies on screen at once, things can get nuts), the story is amusing and even comical but I wonder if it was even necessary, and the game can become irritating if your co-op experiences are found lacking. Despite all that, if everything clicks, you're in for one hell of a ride.

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GameSpot
8 / 10
8 / 10
Mar 2, 2015

Helldivers is a persistent online universe rich in combat but low on story.

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TheSixthAxis
8 / 10
8 / 10
Mar 3, 2015

With seamless online matchmaking and drop-in local multiplayer, Helldivers is the complete coop game. After being left disappointed many a time by previous local multiplayer games the PlayStation 4 has had to offer, Helldivers is a breath of fresh air providing short bursts of explosive action that's both strategic and enjoyable.

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Shacknews
8 / 10
8 / 10
Mar 3, 2015

Helldivers is the kind of game all co-op titles should strive to be. Not only does it offer a very rewarding top-down twin-stick shooter experience, but it's co-op goes beyond your own game. The experience is one all Helldivers will share together as well all work within a unified community in order to bring democracy to the galaxy. I for one will continue to play Helldivers well after its initial release to make sure the galaxy is rid of Bugs, Cyborgs, and Illuminates, or I'll die trying.

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Push Square
8 / 10
8 / 10
Mar 2, 2015

With friends, Helldivers provides a brilliant and addictive co-op experience full of thrills, spills, and hilarious accidental deaths. Gameplay is quick, satisfying, and often chaotic, and the stratagem system gives the action a unique identity. The only question mark here is the one that hangs over the title's community, which must be sustained if the shooter is to realise its impressive potential.

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COGconnected
80 / 100
80 / 100
Mar 10, 2015

The real question is though, are you ready to save the universe? If not, you should probably leave Helldivers alone. It takes some real grit and courage to join the ranks of the Heroes of the Federation. Good luck, soldier.

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The Outerhaven Productions
4 / 5
Dec 6, 2015

Helldivers is a fun, frantic and amazing deep dual stick shooter. Tackle it by yourself or several other players, there's no lack of things to do or challenge, especially on the higher difficulty missions. It's not the prettiest game out there but it makes up for looks with providing plenty of kick ass gun-play, satisfying weapon sounds and a touch and gritty environment that will chew you up and spit you out if you aren't smart about how you play.

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Dealspwn
4 / 5
Mar 6, 2015

Come on you apes! You wanna live forever?

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Digitally Downloaded
4 / 5
Digitally Downloaded
Nick H.
Top Critic
Mar 4, 2015

Helldivers offers plenty of challenges and a great excuse to play with others, and that is when the game is at its best. There is a nice campaign built around the carnage that offers a sense of accomplishment, too, that makes the difficulty worthwhile.

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Cubed3
8 / 10
8 / 10
Apr 4, 2015

Absolutely fantastic! Helldivers is one of the few games where everyone should actively persuade friends to purchase the game to play it together. It's a game that, at first glance, looks very shallow and repetitive but even after just completing a few stages, it will be realised that this just isn't the case. It really is twin stick shooter mechanic at its finest, and it's mountain of fun - even though it's a pretty visually subpar title.

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Kill Screen
80 / 100
80 / 100
Mar 12, 2015

By showing how war games can make virtual fascists us of all, Helldivers takes its place as one of the sharpest critiques of videogame imperialism. Granted, it's not a particularly new observation, but the game delivers it with such bravado in both action and atmosphere that it warrants commendation. To enlist as a Helldiver for Super Earth admits culpability in a system that disguises tyranny as heroism. Helldivers measures its brutal difficulty against a dehumanizing military and political complex that results in humor and violence, both about as subtle and hard-hitting as a freight train. Such is the price of liberty, paid in full with a pile of shell casings and the sickening splat of another expendable soldier.

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USgamer
4 / 5
USgamer
Top Critic
Mar 2, 2015

A well designed, challenging and entertaining shooter that's best appreciated as a multiplayer game. More variety in mission types would help it feel less of a grind, however.

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Wccftech
7.6 / 10
Chris Wray
Top Critic
7.6 / 10.0
Dec 15, 2015

Helldivers is an fast-paced, funny and, most importantly, fun game. It has the same strange sense of humour found in Arrowhead's previous titles and is one of the few games that makes multiplayer worthwile, even when dropping in with random teams.

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New Game Network
76 / 100
76 / 100
Mar 28, 2015

Helldivers can be quite fun, and the experience is so fine-tuned that the issues it does have - like matchmaking and the occasional frame rate issues - stand out like sore thumbs.

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GamesBeat
75 / 100
75 / 100
Mar 2, 2015

Helldivers is a fun romp through a tedious space system.

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Arcade Sushi
7.5 / 10
7.5 / 10.0
Mar 9, 2015

Thanks its many selling points, like its cheeky writing, brutal gunplay, and easily-accessible, unique multiplayer, Helldivers is well-worth your time if you're looking for something quick, casual, and brutal to be enjoyed in a group; for anything more substantial, look elsewhere.

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Hardcore Gamer
3.5 / 5
3.5 / 5.0
Mar 25, 2015

Helldivers is at first a fresh, rewarding, challenging experience that stands up to any other game in terms of quality. The tangible skill increase that comes from consistent practice is as gratifying as it gets in modern gaming, but sadly that novelty wears off once other flaws start to emerge.

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Gameplanet
7 / 10
Alan Bell
Top Critic
7 / 10.0
Mar 5, 2015

Travel the universe and meet hordes of interesting alien species, then shoot them repeatedly in the face - with friends.

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GamingBolt
7 / 10
7 / 10.0
Apr 8, 2015

Helldivers is a fascinating experiment in community involvement mixed with a classic tactical shooter. It doesn't fire on all cylinders, but get a group of people together and Helldivers can be a hell of a time.

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EGM
7 / 10
Ray Carsillo
Top Critic
7 / 10.0
Mar 3, 2015

Helldivers' metagame campaign and variety of gameplay are more than enough to keep you entertained, but only players with a tight-knit group of co-op buddies will be able to get the most from the experience.

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The Digital Fix
7 / 10
7 / 10.0
Mar 12, 2015

Despite all this, with the raucous chaos of multiplayer mode, Helldivers is still capable of being engrossing for long periods. This is aided by a simple levelling system, which allows you to upgrade your weapons and stratagems, and the ability to limitedly customise your character's appearance - both of which allow you to invest in the game. With a little more care given to the mission design and the story, Helldivers might well have been an exceptional game, but it falls far too short on both counts to make single-player interesting for any decent stretch of time. It's a game of two halves, engrossing in co-op but disappointing when played solo, immensely fun at its best but rather average when not.

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We Got This Covered
3 / 5
Mar 3, 2015

Although the gameplay and mission structure quickly becomes repetitive, Helldivers offers hours of entertaining co-op twin-stick action in a universe that's begging to be further developed.

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