HELLDIVERS 2 vs High On Life 2
Helldivers 2 is the long-haul co-op war you play with friends for months; High On Life 2 is a 12-hour comedy shooter you finish over a weekend.
Updated 15d ago
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.
Falls short of HoL1's voice-cast peak — HoL2 trades sharper writing for skateboard mechanics, leaving the gunplay split 56/44 among critics.
By the numbers
Prices checked Oct 9; they move faster than we refresh, so confirm on the store page.
Recent-review figures are Steam's own last-30-days window, read Oct 9.
| Measure | HELLDIVERS 2 | High On Life 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Value HELLDIVERS 2 wins on value | ||
| Price now | $31.99 −20% · GameBillet | $33.99 −15% · Steam |
| All-time low | $25.47 | $33.99 |
| Cost / hour | $1.00/hr $31.99 · 32 h main story | $2.88/hr $33.99 · 12 h main story |
| Off its low | +26% low was Mar 2025 | At its low low was Oct 2026 |
| Main story | 32 h | 12 h |
| Health HELLDIVERS 2 wins on player health | ||
| Steam reviews | 76% 1.2M reviews | 72% 3k reviews |
| Recent reviews | 86% 4k votes · vs 76% lifetime · improving | 64% 63 votes · vs 72% lifetime · souring |
| Peak players | 92,006 Sep 2026 · ↓ 36% MoM | 124 Sep 2026 · ↓ 1% MoM |
| Launch peak | 20% of Feb 2024 launch peak · as of Sep 2026 | 4% of Feb 2026 launch peak · as of Sep 2026 |
| All-time peak | 458,208 Feb 2024 | 2,937 Feb 2026 |
| Support | ||
| Last patch | 2 weeks ago | 4 months ago |
| Patch cadence | 4 in last 90 days | 0 in last 90 days |
| Steam Deck | Gold | Platinum |
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.
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
High On Life 2
Improved puzzles and humor over the first game are the highlights long-time players consistently enjoy.
Recurring bugs and soft locks across levels are the frustrations that undermine many playthroughs.
from our May 2026 verdict
Key differences
Which one is for you?
Pick HELLDIVERS 2 if
- You have a regular squad for chaotic 4-player co-op with friendly fire
- You want a live game that keeps getting balance patches
- You prefer strategic loadout picks over twitchy aim duels
Pick High On Life 2 if
- You finished High on Life 1 and want more Squanch-style absurdism
- You want a self-contained 12-hour shooter you can beat in a weekend
- You enjoy Borderlands-style comedy and can tolerate uneven gunplay
Bottom line
Pick Helldivers 2 if you want a co-op game to keep playing for months; pick High On Life 2 only if you specifically loved HoL1's humor and want a short, self-contained shooter.