Helldivers 2 launched in 2024 to immense success, mixing third-person shooter mechanics with physics-based comedy, a continuous onslaught of enemies, and an excessively satirical setting. Two-and-a-half years later, it is nonetheless extremely fashionable: in accordance with SteamDB, it is climbed again as much as round 80,000 peak concurrent gamers per day due to the current Devoid of Liberty replace.
Recreation growth is an extended course of, however it felt inevitable that such a stable gameplay loop would ultimately attempt to be emulated by one other crew, and that is precisely what Exterminauts is. It takes the tried-and-tested Helldivers 2 system and places its personal spin on it. And there is lots to like.
Exterminauts is the Helldivers 2 alternative we have been ready for
The place Helldivers has Tremendous Earth, Exterminauts is all about finishing contracts for capitalist organizations often known as mega corps. Within the former, the expendable troopers you play as are common military corps referred to as as much as be a Helldiver, whereas within the latter, you are primarily simply an worker: half exterminator, half repairman, half first-responder, is the way it was phrased in a behind-closed-doors presentation at Gamescom 2026.
Nevertheless, the place Helldivers is all about repelling alien forces to defend Tremendous Earth, Exterminauts is about mining a useful resource often known as polymorphic plasma. As soon as upon a time, people arrange tools to reap it on a planet often known as Tian, however doing so drove the native fauna wild. Slightly than cease completely, the mega corps merely moved their base off-world, and began sending down exterminauts to take care of the aggression. In any case, you are expendable.
Alongside one other member of the press and one of many devs at Behaviour Interactive, I performed one spherical of Exterminauts and had an absolute blast. We ventured from one goal to the following, mowing down hordes of grotesque, ingenious alien creatures by utilizing a wide range of weapons and talents. For instance, my grenade was primarily a black gap, pulling in enemies within the neighborhood, or I might supercharge my overdrive weapon — one thing each exterminaut is supplied with, that makes use of polymorphic plasma to fireside — to emit an enormous blast of power. Cost it for too lengthy, nevertheless, and it will explode in your face.
One phrase utilized by the devs that caught with me was an oxymoron: “managed chaos.” Is it actually chaotic if it is managed? However the thought behind issues wanting like they’re out of hand but nonetheless being nicely inside the plan is a good way of describing what Exterminauts — and Helldivers 2 — symbolize. And whereas the comparisons are not possible to not make, this is not some low-cost knockoff. Behaviour Interactive is onto a winner right here, even when it’s a little comparable. In any case, imitation is the sincerest type of flattery.
Exterminauts shall be launched for PlayStation 5, Home windows PC, and Xbox Collection X. It does nto have a launch date.