Helldivers 2 transcends the realm of conventional third-person co-op shooters, elevating gameplay through a vibrant community that actively collaborates with the developers at Arrowhead to craft an evolving narrative.
This title’s distinctive appeal lies in its immersive experience, whereby players embrace the role of a mere individual in a vast war machine, engaged in epic, large-scale battles reminiscent of storming the beaches of Normandy.
Furthermore, the community aspect acts as a rallying point, transforming players into formidable patriots, united in their mission to defend humanity while tackling a rogues’ gallery of enemies.
However, even the staunchest defenders of Super Earth require moments of relaxation after intense skirmishes against alien and robotic foes.
For those in search of similar gaming experiences to Helldivers 2, look no further than our curated list. Note that desertion is punishable, but don’t worry; we won’t report you to the local Democratic Officer.
While Helldivers 1 is the predecessor to Helldivers 2, its top-down perspective offers a markedly different gaming experience, leading to its omission from this list. Nonetheless, it remains a highly recommended title for those intrigued by the series.
10 Earth Defense Force 6
The E. D.F. Deploys!
The Earth Defense Force series has often been viewed through a unique lens, characterized by PS3-era graphics, over-the-top voice acting, and absurd narratives.This series embodies a charm that can be difficult to take seriously.
My introduction to this franchise occurred in college, where I humorously learned the E. D.F.battle hymn from friends, further igniting my interest in missions aimed at defending humanity.
Similar to Helldivers 2, you step into the role of a lone soldier amidst a cacophony of alien bug invaders, heroically charging into battle to protect our home planet. Picture a chaotic scenario where the Terminids and Illuminate have invaded.
If you relish the all-out chaos and absurdity inherent in Helldivers 2, Earth Defense Force 6 is sure to resonate with you. Just try not to dwell on the larger narrative of the good guys coming up short. And feel free to overlook any time-travel paradoxes.
9 Starship Troopers Extermination
I’m Doing My Part!
It’s abundantly clear that the Helldivers franchise draws inspiration from the iconic film Starship Troopers. Thus, it’s no surprise that Starship Troopers Extermination channels a similar essence.
With Casper Van Dien reprising his role as General Johnny Rico from the original movie, Extermination places you directly in the firing line against the Arachnid menace. You can join forces with teams ranging from 4 to 16 players on missions that require base building, resource gathering, and obliterating large insect foes.
The game offers an electrifying experience, perfect for those eager to annihilate waves of bugs with friends while engaging in the chaotic panorama of battle. Notably, multiplayer missions, particularly those accommodating 16 players, make you feel essential to a larger operation.
However, Extermination falls short in polish, grappling with numerous graphical and technical issues, alongside a weak single-player campaign. Ultimately, if you’re after light-hearted fun and an immersive fight against the Arachnids, Starship Troopers Extermination is worth your time.
8 Destiny 2
Conduct Mass Murder With Space Magic
As a passionate Destiny 2 enthusiast and day-one player, I often advise new players to approach the game with caution.
If you’re contemplating diving into Destiny 2, heed this warning: It’s highly recommended to have an experienced player guide you, as even seasoned fans admit the game isn’t beginner-friendly.
Disregarding PvP, Destiny 2’s PvE content offers exhilarating grind, with the power fantasy of embodying a super-soldier wielding space magic shining through effectively.
Although Destiny 2 is free to play, a sizeable portion of its best content exists behind expansions, with The Final Shape being a worthy investment.
Whether traversing the universe solo or teaming up for raids, Destiny 2 provides a variety of modes to obliterate formidable enemy hordes. Notably, if you seek a dedicated horde mode, Onslaught presents a wave-based challenge that pits you against 50 waves of increasingly difficult foes while allowing defense upgrades. Each challenge culminates in a boss after every 10 waves.
As with most MMORPGs, add-clearing roles emerge in high-tier PvE scenarios, prioritizing fast and efficient elimination of enemy hordes.
7 Warframe
Leave None Standing
As hyper-enhanced cyber-ninjas armed with an arsenal of weapons, Warframes are figurative meat grinders capable of dismantling any foe encountered.
My time playing Warframe was brief yet exhilarating, and there wasn’t a second I didn’t feel invincible while dispatching Grineer, Corpus, and Infested enemies, even as a newcomer.
With various game modes available, Survival elevates Warframe into the realm of horde shooters, tasking you with enduring an endless onslaught of enemies for as long as possible before extraction or demise.
Survival can be limitless, with players showcasing endurance runs that demonstrate just how formidable Warframes can be.
With optimal builds, you could devastate entire rooms repeatedly until boredom or fatigue ensues.
Similar to Destiny 2, Warframe’s learning curve can be steep, given the virtually infinite customization options, from Warframes to weapons and cosmetics.
The community is notably warm and supportive, with a common acknowledgment that “fashion” holds the true endgame.
6 Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War
“Revive Me, I Got The Ray Gun!”
Among the numerous engaging game modes in the Call of Duty franchise, Zombies stands out as consistently enjoyable. It’s a fair assertion that 13-year-olds blasting zombies in Call of Duty became an iconic aspect of gaming culture in the late 2000s and early 2010s. Just ask anyone who grew up on Black Ops 3.
While not all CoD titles feature a horde mode, several are exclusive to the Black Ops series. I fondly recall playing split-screen modes with friends, frantically battling Nazi zombies in classic maps such as Kino der Toten.
I truly immersed myself in CoD Zombies during Cold War, a title that introduced significant improvements and leveled progression persistence across multiplayer. For newcomers, this innovative approach allows for easier weapon leveling devoid of the competitive frustrations often found in PvP multiplayer.
The arsenal across CoD Zombies fluctuates between iterations, but Cold War’s weapons exuded a particular potency. The upgrades provided by perks are transformative, crucial for evolving your operatives into relentless zombie-killing powerhouses.
5 Titanfall 2
Ready For Thrills, Chills, and Kills?
Titanfall 2 reigns among the finest first-person shooters ever created, and I stand firm on this belief.
With groundbreaking movement mechanics such as wall running and sliding, combined with fluid gunplay and mech combat, Titanfall 2 features accessible gameplay balanced by higher skill potential. Unfortunately, this talent has been overlooked by the gaming community due to Respawn’s choices and external cheating issues.
While it may see no more than 2000 players on a daily basis, the game remains playable and offers various PvP modes to delve into. However, for horde shooter enthusiasts, let’s discuss Frontier Defense.
Frontier Defense introduces a collaborative mode where players safeguard a Harvester from waves of IMC forces, made up of grunts, drones, and AI Titans.
Every few waves, players can purchase enhancements like turrets and mines to ramp up defenses, yet the crux of the mode centers around skillfulness during combat, both inside and outside the confines of your Titan.
At higher difficulty levels, the gameplay escalates into frenetic chaos, featuring a surge of nuke and arc Titans that can easily overwhelm players. I personally favor the Monarch Titan, which, despite being a support unit, can be transformed into a ferocious killer, swiftly vanquishing enemy hordes.
Titanfall 2 frequently undergoes sales, with prices dipping as low as $2.99, and consistently receives an “Overwhelmingly Positive”rating on Steam.
4 Warhammer 40, 000: Darktide
Stave Off The Blight Of Chaos
In the grimdark universe of Warhammer 40K, war is an omnipresent reality.
While typically recognized for its epic conflicts featuring space marines, Warhammer 40K: Darktide narrows its focus for a more intimate experience.
Instead of commanding a hulking space marine, you play a lesser instantiation of the Imperium of Man, part of a four-man squad dedicated to eliminating hordes of Chaos-worshipping cultists attempting to unleash Nurgle’s plague upon the galaxy.
Darktide features classes emblematic of traditional shooters, presenting roles such as the tanky Ogryn Skullbreaker and the sharp-eyed Veteran Sharpshooter, each offering distinct playstyles.
Character customization extends to selecting your origin planet, personality traits, and even the crime conviction leading to your enlistment.
While the overarching narrative leaves something to be desired, the unique characters contribute to the dark humor threading through the Warhammer 40K canon.
Darktide continues evolving post-launch, striving to meet fans’ expectations for a robust horde shooter experience that balances fun with challenge.
The game embraces a light-hearted tone, making it an enjoyable option for players aiming to obliterate waves of zombie-like Heretics.
3 Left 4 Dead 2
Pills Here!
Featuring intuitive gameplay mechanics and engaging adversaries, Left 4 Dead 2 stands as one of the most influential horde shooters in the gaming landscape.
For those unfamiliar, Left 4 Dead 2 immerses players in a zombie apocalypse where you and three teammates must navigate levels while completing objectives, constantly under siege from relentless waves of zombies and special infected.
While every survivor shares similar gameplay intricacies, their unique personalities breathe life into the game, thanks to a witty dialogue that lends Left 4 Dead 2 much of its charm and character.
Whether you’re facing easy or challenging scenarios, battling through zombie hordes remains an unforgettable experience.
Veteran players often recall moments of hilarious dread—whether it’s inadvertently alarming a Witch or the gut-wrenching suspense of facing a Tank.
Even after 15 years, Left 4 Dead 2 thrives, maintaining a player count of at least 20, 000 concurrently, and it represents the quintessential horde shooter that every gaming aficionado should experience at least once.
2 Deep Rock Galactic
Rock And Stone!
In Deep Rock Galactic, players embody space dwarves, combat miners employed by the titular company, whose mission includes extracting wealth from a perilous planet’s seemingly endless array of procedurally generated caves while warding off colossal alien pests.
As a cooperative experience, players can choose from four unique classes, each with distinct responsibilities and an overwhelming zeal for mining.
The Driller, Engineer, Scout, and Gunner represent the core roles, ensuring varied gameplay experiences while collaboratively executing their mission.
Remaining true to their roles is essential if you intend to return home with riches intact—or to remain alive, for that matter—where OSHA regulations or ethical concerns are notably absent.
Antagonistic insects, ranging from minor nuisances to heavily armored monstrosities capable of impaling players with razor-sharp claws, provide a constant threat. Remember, a good bug is a dead bug.
Deep Rock Galactic thrives on its active community and regular developer engagement, making it a beloved title among fans. Many consider it part of the “big three”in horde shooting—with Helldivers 2 and Space Marine 2 rounding out the trio.
These games share a similar camaraderie narrative within squads alongside a shared disdain for their foes.The primary differentiation among these titles? The average height of their playable characters.
1 Warhammer 40K: Space Marine 2
For The Emperor!
Last but not least is one of the standout horde shooters in recent memory—Warhammer 40K: Space Marines 2. This title places you squarely in the impressive battle armor of the titular Space Marines.
These genetically enhanced and cybernetically augmented warriors utilize formidable weaponry to engage in the unending conflict against the Imperium’s foes.
Beyond the engaging single-player campaign and PvP environment, the real allure resides in its PvE elements, particularly in the Operations mode. Here, teams of three players embark on challenging missions against waves of the terrifying Terminids or Chaos cultists.
Six classes to choose from, complemented by an expansive arsenal, allows for weapon upgrades that grow in power as you progress.
The balance among classes and weaponry is well-designed for higher-level PvE content like Lethal Difficulty, ensuring a fair challenge since if everyone is overpowered, then balance is maintained. Just be wary of the Tactical class wielding a Bolt Rifle Grenade Launcher!
The gameplay in Space Marine 2 delivers a thrilling experience that satisfies an itch only the best horde shooters can reach.
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