Doom: The Dark Ages vs HELLDIVERS 2
Solo crusade or four-player chaos — one demands slow parries, the other rewards loadout mayhem.
Updated 26d ago
The shield-saw parry trades Eternal's dash-juggling for something heavier and just as sharp — Revelations alone earns the price, if you can stand the slower pace.
Still the best chaotic 4-player co-op shooter on PC despite the playerbase falling from 458k peak to 30k after Arrowhead's balance churn.
By the numbers
Prices checked Sep 7; they move faster than we refresh, so confirm on the store page.
Recent-review figures are Steam's own last-30-days window, read Sep 7.
| Measure | Doom: The Dark Ages | HELLDIVERS 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Value HELLDIVERS 2 wins on value | ||
| Price now | $44.39 −11% · Fanatical | $34.99 −13% · GameBillet |
| All-time low | $19.17 | $25.47 |
| Cost / hour | $3.12/hr $44.39 · 14 h main story | $1.10/hr $34.99 · 32 h main story |
| Off its low | +132% low was Feb 2026 | +37% low was Mar 2025 |
| Main story | 14 h | 32 h |
| Health Doom: The Dark Ages wins on player health | ||
| Steam reviews | 88% 46k reviews | 76% 1.2M reviews |
| Recent reviews | 89% 1k votes · vs 88% lifetime | 83% 6k votes · vs 76% lifetime · improving |
| Peak players | 5,265 Aug 2026 · ↓ 62% MoM | 144,799 Aug 2026 · ↑ 231% MoM |
| Launch peak | 17% of May 2025 launch peak · as of Aug 2026 | 32% of Feb 2024 launch peak · as of Aug 2026 |
| All-time peak | 31,401 May 2025 | 458,208 Feb 2024 |
| Support | ||
| Last patch | 8 weeks ago | 4 weeks ago |
| Patch cadence | 3 in last 90 days | 4 in last 90 days |
| Steam Deck | Gold | Gold |
Shared scale — same months across the bottom, same player-count axis up the side, so the two lines are directly comparable. A shorter line means a younger game.
What players say
Patterns from long-haul reviewers, taken from each game's verdict. Not live sentiment — each side is dated below.
Doom: The Dark Ages
The campaign and Revelations DLC form a complete package, with the shield-saw parry the move every veteran calls the standout.
Pacing shifts from Eternal's sprint to a tank-like weight divide fans; some find the puzzle detours break the kill flow.
from our August 2026 verdict
HELLDIVERS 2
The core co-op PVE loop remains engaging and fun for hundreds of hours despite ongoing frustrations.
Persistent balance changes, performance bugs, and poor developer communication erode trust and enjoyment over time.
from our May 2026 verdict
Key differences
Which one is for you?
Pick Doom: The Dark Ages if
- You prefer solo campaigns with a tight 14-hour main storyline.
- You loved Doom 2016 but found Eternal's speed and platforming overwhelming.
- You enjoy mastering parry-and-shield mechanics over coordinating with a squad.
Pick HELLDIVERS 2 if
- You want a co-op game for you and three friends with friendly fire.
- You like strategic loadout planning and 30-second stratagem cooldowns.
- You can tolerate a falling playerbase and matchmaking hiccups at peak times.
Bottom line
If you want a solo medieval Doom with precise parries, pick Doom: The Dark Ages; if you crave 4-player co-op chaos with build variety, go HELLDIVERS 2.