Democracy is calling, will you answer?
There is something to be said about that feeling of slipping on your favorite outfit. One that you know is just so comfortable and familiar feeling, this was the feeling I had when I booted up Helldivers 2 on my Series X. You don’t need to wipe your eyes; this isn’t a joke; Helldivers 2 is now on Xbox. I reviewed this game when it launched on PC and PS5 in 2024 and for the most part, Xbox players are getting the same game with all the upgrades, warbonds that have been released up until now, but it’s also getting some extra bugs that came along for the ride.
Helldivers 2 wastes no time throwing you into the meat grinder. Missions open with a dramatic orbital drop pod sequence, and from there it’s all about objectives, enemies, and surviving long enough to call in evac. The moment-to-moment gunplay feels sharp on Xbox, with responsive aiming and a satisfying heft to the weapons. The Xbox of course can’t mimic the adaptive triggers of the PS5 but the rumble features here does enough to emulate the experience. Each drop in Helldivers 2 the chaos is palpable; friendly fire is always on, so every grenade or orbital strike is just as likely to vaporize your buddy as it is the swarm of bugs bearing down on you.
MSRP: $39.99
Platforms: Xbox (reviewed), PlayStation, PC
Price I’d Pay: $39.99
And that’s the real draw here. Few games make co-op feel this volatile and hilarious. One mission might end in total triumph, everyone sprinting into the dropship at the last second, and the next could dissolve into absolute carnage as a mistimed airstrike wipes the squad. The emergent comedy is baked into the design. Even when we lose no one is angry in the same way they are at losing in Marvel Rivals or Overwatch.
While the base gameplay loop remains just as fun as it ever was, this port to Xbox is not without its issues. Lawd, where to begin; I guess let’s start with the HUD. For some reason its default is HUGE, I use a 77-inch television and even on my tv it was entirely too much. Luckily there is an option to resize all of these elements. But what players on Xbox can’t do much about is the muddy looking graphics, everything just looks very washed out for some reason. And then there are the issues on the ground, dropships come in and clip through the ground, only to kind of shimmy back up. I have had missions where the extraction beacon spawns below ground, meaning we had to wait out the timer for the emergency dropship to come in for pick up; this was a hellacious mission let me tell you.
But that’s what’s so special about Helldivers 2 I guess, even though I have had so many issues, I have had even more fun. The tension of holding off a bug swarm while waiting for your evac ship, the laughter after a failed mission where everything goes sideways, the sheer satisfaction of pulling off a flawless extraction; few shooters can match that blend of chaos and camaraderie.
Helldivers 2 on Xbox is more than just a port; it’s a chance for new players to experience one of the wildest, most unpredictable co-op shooters out there. It’s not perfect: UI issues, glitchy dropships and mission objectives, and the live-service trappings might not sit well with everyone. But in the right conditions, with the right squad, it’s one of the most fun experiences you can have on the console.
Review copy of game provided by publisher.
