Helldivers 2 came into the gaming world with a bang earlier this year. But now Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 is challenging the throne. The market for co-op shooters has gotten two good games this year. With the stumbles that Arrowhead Game Studios has had, Saber Interactive might be poised to lift the crown.
With the promises that Saber has made for the future, it’s becoming increasingly clear that playing as a Space Marine could very well overshadow playing as a Helldiver, and not just in terms of player numbers. The two games do serve different audiences so the winner may not be clear-cut for everyone.
Space Marine 2 Offers a Better Feature Set And Possibly Better Post-Launch Support
With over 225,000 concurrent players at launch, Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2 has had the biggest opener for the Warhammer 40K franchise, an impressive feat for the IP. The game’s success is likely to continue with an extensive 2024-2025 roadmap for more content down the line.
— Guardbro (@GuardTm) September 9, 2024
One of the key differences between the two games lies in their pacing and mission variety. Helldivers 2 is structured around the Galactic War, where players work together to progress slowly over time, rallying for big events. While this can lead to exciting moments when major battles unfold, there are often long stretches of downtime.
The Warhammer game on the other hand offers a more a simpler loop through its Operations mode, with constant action and the thrill of hacking down enemies in epic battles. Arrowhead is currently making a comeback though after some poor post-launch updates so let’s see what happens.
A BUFF A DAY KEEPS THE BUGS AWAY
Excited to share more details about upcoming update, which will include significant changes aimed at improving your experience in Helldivers 2.
From now on, every day we will shed more and more light on the September 17th update. #BuffDivers
— HELLDIVERS™ 2 (@helldivers2) September 10, 2024
Customization and progression systems are another area where Saber has succeeded Arrowhead. In Space Marine 2, the depth of customization extends from weapons to armor pieces, allowing players to tailor their loadouts and appearance to fit their preferred playstyle.
The Two Universes Offer Vastly Different Experiences Compared to One Another
Another major advantage that Saber has added to the game is its accessibility for solo players. While Helldivers 2 is best enjoyed with friends, Space Marine 2 allows players to fill team slots with AI bots when playing offline. This gives it an edge in terms of flexibility.
Arrowhead has also made the world feel big with game modes such as the Galactic War mode and its humor-filled universe, but it simply can’t compete with the vastness of the Warhammer universe and the immersion that playing as a Space Marine provides. Helldivers 2’s chaotic nature, while fun in short bursts, becomes exhausting over time.
Comment
byu/Sgtpepperhead67 from discussion
inHelldivers
The game lacks the narrative depth and immersive world-building that Space Marine 2 has proven to have. The Warhammer 40K universe is rich with lore, and the game taps into that to give players a universe filled with memorable characters, intense battles, and a compelling story.
It’s not that Helldivers 2 lacks appeal. The game’s chaotic nature, fast-paced combat, and strategic gameplay are still attractive to many players. But it has struggled to hold attention in the long term with smaller issues that players have had.
Are you the target audience for either of these games? Let us know in the comments!
