Commanding the Battlefield: Top 5 Alternatives to Helldivers 2

Helldivers 2, the thrilling follow-up to the beloved co-op multiplayer shooter, has won over countless gaming enthusiasts with its intense action and teamwork-based gameplay. Nonetheless, if you've mastered its realms and crave comparable adventures, we're here to support you. Here's a collection showcasing the top five substitute gaming experiences brimming with excitement, rich narratives, and immersive environments reminiscent of Helldivers 2.

1. Alienation

Crafted by Housemarque and released by Sony Interactive Entertainment in 2016, Alienation is a high-energy game that mirrors Helldivers' demanding cooperative skirmishes and dynamic fighting sequences.

Gameplay, Story & Setting

In this overhead perspective shooter game set on Earth in the near future, players assume the role of guardians repelling an extraterrestrial assault. The gameplay emphasizes rapid, intense conflicts, offering an array of weaponry and skills for players to utilize. The story unfolds as you progress through different missions across various locations globally. You're part of a team chosen to counteract the alien threat plaguing Earth. To achieve victory, you need to work closely with your teammates using different strategies. As for its setting, expect stunning environments from urban landscapes filled with towering skyscrapers to desolate, war-torn areas—all beautifully rendered and richly detailed.

2. Gauntlet: Slayer Edition

If you're enthusiastic about Helldivers and traditional subterranean quest games, Gauntlet: Slayer Edition is one game you should certainly experience.

Gameplay, Story & Setting

Gauntlet: Slayer Edition delivers a fresh interpretation of the beloved Gauntlet title with an overhead perspective hack-and-slash quest. In this updated version, players have the selection from four distinct heroes, each boasting specialized skills and combat approaches, to confront swarms of adversaries and formidable leaders. The story revolves around your chosen hero's quest to conquer the Gauntlet, a legendary labyrinth rumored to hold unimaginable treasures. However, it's not easy to navigate through its intricate layout, filled with devious traps and relentless enemies. The setting is fantasy-themed, featuring dimly lit dungeons, fiery pits, and eerie crypts that add to the overall thrill and suspense of your journey.

3. Warhammer: End Times - Vermintide

Warhammer: End Times - Vermintide takes you into the grim universe of Warhammer Fantasy Battles for an epic co-op combat experience reminiscent of Helldivers 2’s team-based action.

Gameplay, Story & Setting

In this immersive first-person action game, you step into the role of one of five valiant heroes facing off against legions of Skaven, menacing rat-like creatures. The gameplay seamlessly integrates ranged warfare with close-quarters combat, offering an intense battle experience. Every individual within the group boasts distinct capabilities and expertise in weaponry, enhancing the team's ability to endure and thrive. The story is set during the End Times, a dark period in the world of Warhammer where cities are being overrun by Skaven. What is your team's mission? To push back against this menace before it swallows everything in its path. Set within the city of Ubersreik, each street and district presents a distinct atmosphere—from war-ravaged cityscapes to underground sewers teeming with Skaven forces.

4. Dead Nation: Apocalypse Edition

Another alternative game that captures Helldivers' frantic pace and challenging gameplay is Dead Nation: Apocalypse Edition.

Gameplay, Story & Setting

In this overhead perspective action game, you confront and eliminate wave after wave of relentless zombies. The gameplay is intense with a high emphasis on strategy—each type of zombie presents different threats and requires unique tactics to defeat. The narrative centers on the final few humans in a world swarmed by the living dead. As a member of this resilient group, your mission is to traverse the desolate remains of civilization, defending yourself against the relentless hordes of reanimated corpses, all while piecing together the events that precipitated the collapse of human society. As for its setting, expect desolate cityscapes and eerie streets shrouded in darkness—a fitting backdrop for the apocalyptic theme.

5. Tom Clancy's The Division

For fans of Helldivers' cooperative strategy and tactical combat, Tom Clancy’s The Division provides a unique blend of role-playing game elements with third-person shooter mechanics.

Gameplay, Story & Setting

In this immersive interactive adventure, participants step into the shoes of agents within the Strategic Homeland Division, frequently referred to as The Division. Their objective is to restore balance and tranquility in a New York City greatly impacted by a vast outbreak. You can team up with other agents to complete missions and combat hostile factions. The narrative reveals itself as you traverse various districts of the metropolis, discovering evidence that sheds light on the descent of civilization into turmoil following a catastrophic outbreak. The setting is an impressively detailed recreation of New York City—from its iconic landmarks to its less-traveled streets—all rendered desolate yet hauntingly beautiful due to the catastrophe that befell it.

Each game listed offers something unique while still providing challenging gameplay similar to Helldivers 2. So whether it's fending off alien invasions or surviving in a post-apocalyptic world, these alternatives promise just as much excitement and thrills.