Looking for games like Helldivers 2? These titles deliver the same chaotic co-op energy, mission-based gameplay, and unforgettable “everything went wrong” moments.
HELLDIVERS 2
Release Date: February 08, 2024
Genres: Shooter, Tactical
From massive swarms to high-stakes tactical runs, here are the best alternatives to keep that co-op chaos going.
TL;DR – Games Like Helldivers 2
- Best overall: Deep Rock Galactic, Darktide, World War Z
- Most chaotic: Earth Defense Force 6
- Most tactical: GTFO, No More Room in Hell
- Best classic: Left 4 Dead 2
- Best mission chaos: PAYDAY 2, Aliens Fireteam Elite
If Helldivers 2 got its hooks into you, you probably know exactly why: chaotic co-op missions, overwhelming enemy swarms, friendly fire disasters, and that constant feeling that everything can go wrong in the best possible way.
It is not just about shooting things — it is about teamwork under pressure, clutch revives, barely escaping with your life, and laughing when your teammate accidentally drops an orbital strike on your entire squad.
So if you are chasing that same energy, these games deliver different flavors of co-op chaos, mission-based gameplay, and extraction-lite tension.
EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 6
If Helldivers 2 feels like controlled chaos, Earth Defense Force 6 is pure, unapologetic insanity. You are thrown into battles against absurd numbers of giant insects, aliens, and machines, often with explosions filling the entire screen. It is messy, loud, and intentionally over-the-top — and that is exactly why it works.
You pick a class, gear up with ridiculous weapons (like rocket launchers that level entire blocks), and jump into missions where survival is never guaranteed. The game thrives in co-op, where coordination quickly turns into chaos as everyone spams explosives and tries not to wipe the team.
Earth Defense Force 6
Release Date: July 25, 2024
Genres: Shooter
Why You Might Like It
- Massive enemy swarms and nonstop chaos
- Co-op missions with tons of replayability
- Over-the-top weapons and destruction
- Pure “everything is exploding” energy
Aliens: Fireteam Elite
Aliens: Fireteam Elite leans heavily into tight corridor combat and squad-based survival. You and two teammates push through missions filled with xenomorphs pouring out of vents, walls, and ceilings — and the pressure builds fast.
Unlike Helldivers’ open battlefields, this is more controlled and claustrophobic. Positioning, chokepoints, and loadouts matter a lot. You are constantly watching your ammo, setting up defensive lines, and trying not to get overrun.
Aliens: Fireteam Elite
Release Date: August 24, 2021
Genres: Shooter, Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
Why You Might Like It
- Intense co-op survival against swarms
- Strong teamwork and class synergy
- Mission-based structure like Helldivers
- Constant pressure from all directions
Left 4 Dead 2
This is one of the foundations of modern co-op chaos. Left 4 Dead 2 is still one of the best examples of how to throw a team into overwhelming odds and see what happens.
The AI Director dynamically adjusts the pacing, meaning every run feels slightly different. Sometimes you cruise, sometimes everything collapses instantly. Special infected force teamwork — if someone gets grabbed, the squad has seconds to react.
Left 4 Dead 2
Release Date: November 16, 2009
Genres: Shooter
Why You Might Like It
- Classic co-op chaos with unpredictable pacing
- Strong emphasis on teamwork and positioning
- Replayable mission structure
- Constant “things just went wrong” moments
Warhammer 40,000: Vermintide 2
Swap guns for melee and you get Vermintide 2, a brutally satisfying co-op experience where hordes crash into your team like a wall.
Combat is more physical and weighty, focusing on blocking, dodging, and cleaving through enemies. But the structure is familiar: push through missions, survive waves, complete objectives, and try not to get overwhelmed.
Warhammer: Vermintide 2
Release Date: March 08, 2018
Genres: Shooter, Role-playing (RPG), Adventure, Indie
Why You Might Like It
- Horde combat with intense melee focus
- Strong co-op dependency
- Mission-based progression
- Dark, gritty atmosphere
Deep Rock Galactic
Rock and stone. If you know, you know.
Deep Rock Galactic is one of the best co-op games out there, period. You play as space dwarves mining resources in dangerous caves, constantly under threat from alien swarms.
Deep Rock Galactic
Release Date: February 28, 2018
Genres: Shooter, Adventure, Indie
Why You Might Like It
- Excellent class-based teamwork
- Procedurally generated missions
- Chaotic swarm combat
- Strong co-op identity and replayability
Warhammer 40,000: Darktide
Darktide takes the Vermintide formula and adds guns, making it feel closer to Helldivers.
You fight through hordes of enemies in brutal, chaotic encounters where positioning, teamwork, and awareness are everything.
Warhammer 40,000: Darktide
Release Date: November 30, 2022
Genres: Shooter, Role-playing (RPG), Adventure, Indie
Why You Might Like It
- Horde combat with guns and melee
- Strong co-op focus
- Constant pressure from enemy waves
- Very close to Helldivers-style chaos
World War Z
If what you want most from Helldivers 2 is sheer scale, World War Z absolutely delivers. This game is built around overwhelming zombie swarms that flood entire spaces, climb over each other, and force your squad to hold the line while everything falls apart around you.
It feels closest to Helldivers in terms of spectacle. You are constantly mowing down huge numbers of enemies, pushing objectives, and trying to stay in control while the situation gets worse by the second. It is fast, loud, and very easy to enjoy with friends.
World War Z
Release Date: April 16, 2019
Genres: Shooter, Adventure
Why You Might Like It
- Huge enemy swarms and cinematic chaos
- Co-op mission structure that feels familiar
- Fast-paced shooting and strong crowd control
- Great for short, intense sessions with friends
GTFO
If Helldivers 2 is chaotic fun, GTFO is controlled panic. This is a much more hardcore co-op game where communication, planning, and discipline matter just as much as aim. You are not charging forward and hoping for the best — you are sneaking, coordinating, and trying to prevent everything from collapsing at once.
The tension is what makes it special. Every mission feels dangerous, every mistake matters, and when things go wrong, the entire run can spiral into disaster almost instantly. It is much less lighthearted than Helldivers, but the team dependency and pressure are incredibly strong.
GTFO
Release Date: December 09, 2019
Genres: Shooter, Adventure
Why You Might Like It
- Extremely high tension co-op gameplay
- Strong focus on teamwork and communication
- Mission-based structure with real stakes
- Rewarding if you enjoy punishing co-op games
PAYDAY 2
PAYDAY 2 trades alien swarms for heists, but the chaos feels very familiar. Everything starts with a plan, roles are assigned, and the squad tries to stay in control — then the alarms go off, enemies flood in, and suddenly the whole mission becomes a desperate scramble to survive and finish the job.
That is why it works so well for Helldivers players. It captures that same feeling of a co-op mission going completely off the rails, where teamwork and improvisation decide whether you clutch it out or wipe. It is less about spectacle and more about controlled mission chaos, but the energy is very close.
PAYDAY 2
Release Date: August 13, 2013
Genres: Shooter, Role-playing (RPG), Tactical
Why You Might Like It
- Co-op missions with high replayability
- Chaos ramps up fast when plans fail
- Strong teamwork and role specialization
- Excellent “hold your ground” moments
Remnant II
Remnant II is less about huge swarms and more about high-pressure co-op encounters, but it still fits Helldivers fans surprisingly well. You and your squad move through dangerous worlds, fight brutal enemies, and take on bosses that can wipe the team fast if coordination breaks down.
What makes it such a good fit is the clutch factor. Hard fights force real teamwork, builds matter, and every victory feels earned. It is more intense and boss-focused than Helldivers, but it gives you that same co-op satisfaction when the whole team barely survives something that looked impossible.
Remnant II
Release Date: July 25, 2023
Genres: Shooter, Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
Why You Might Like It
- Challenging co-op gameplay with real pressure
- Strong boss fights and memorable encounters
- Build variety and long-term replayability
- Great for players who enjoy clutch moments
Outriders
Outriders leans more into looter-shooter territory, but the combat has a similar kind of aggressive momentum. The game pushes you forward constantly, rewarding pressure, ability use, and squad synergy instead of cautious play.
With a full team, things get especially fun. Powers chain together, encounters turn explosive fast, and missions become a constant stream of movement, damage, and improvisation. It is not as chaotic in the same sandbox way as Helldivers, but it definitely scratches that “full squad causing mayhem” itch.
OUTRIDERS
Release Date: April 01, 2021
Genres: Shooter, Role-playing (RPG), Adventure
Why You Might Like It
- Fast-paced co-op combat with strong momentum
- Ability-driven gameplay and flashy fights
- Solid build customization
- Very satisfying with a full squad
The Division 2
The Division 2 is more grounded and tactical than Helldivers 2, but it still delivers a very satisfying squad-based co-op loop. You move through hostile environments, use cover, coordinate abilities, and push through missions where team positioning really matters.
It is not as wild or explosive, but it is great if what you enjoyed most in Helldivers was working as a unit under pressure. On top of that, its progression system gives it strong long-term appeal, especially if you want a co-op game you can keep grinding with friends.
Tom Clancy's The Division 2
Release Date: March 15, 2019
Genres: Shooter, Role-playing (RPG), Tactical, Adventure
Why You Might Like It
- Tactical co-op shooting with strong squad play
- Mission-based structure that feels easy to jump into
- Strong progression and build systems
- Great for longer-term co-op sessions
Which Games Feel Closest to Helldivers 2?
Helldivers 2 is special because it turns teamwork into both a weapon and a liability — and not many games balance that as well.
But if you are chasing that same mix of chaos, coordination, and unforgettable co-op moments, every game on this list gets you a piece of that experience.
Author Recommendations
Helldivers 2 is a very unique game in terms of its structure, and it is still difficult to find something that matches it 1:1.
I can confidently recommend The Division 2, which I have been spending a lot of time with recently especially the endgame, which is incredibly engaging.
It is also worth going for a classic like PAYDAY 2. Whether you play solo or with a good squad, you can easily have hundreds of hours of fun with this one.