HELLDIVERS 2 vs Split Fiction
One demands a squad and a 32-hour commitment to a live war, the other a partner and 14 hours of constant new mechanics.
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.
A fresh mechanic every ten minutes and a sci-fi/fantasy split worth two playthroughs — the best co-op game Hazelight has made, but there's no solo mode at all.
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 | Split Fiction |
|---|---|---|
| Value HELLDIVERS 2 wins on value | ||
| Price now | $31.99 −20% · GameBillet | $49.99 Epic Game Store |
| All-time low | $25.47 | $32.49 |
| Cost / hour | $1.00/hr $31.99 · 32 h main story | $3.65/hr $49.99 · 14 h main story |
| Off its low | +26% low was Mar 2025 | +54% low was Jun 2026 |
| Main story | 32 h | 14 h |
| Health Split Fiction wins on player health | ||
| Steam reviews | 76% 1.2M reviews | 97% 128k reviews |
| Recent reviews | 86% 4k votes · vs 76% lifetime · improving | 94% 843 votes · vs 97% lifetime |
| Peak players | 92,006 Sep 2026 · ↓ 36% MoM | 12,363 Sep 2026 · ↓ 4% MoM |
| Launch peak | 20% of Feb 2024 launch peak · as of Sep 2026 | 5% of Mar 2025 launch peak · as of Sep 2026 |
| All-time peak | 458,208 Feb 2024 | 258,641 Mar 2025 |
| Support | ||
| Last patch | 2 weeks ago | 19 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
Split Fiction
The constant mechanic rotation is the hook — every chapter drops a fresh twist, and long-time players say the sci-fi/fantasy blend keeps both playthroughs lively.
A few puzzles miss and require trial-and-error, but the occasional stumble is easy to forgive next to the near-constant inventiveness.
from our August 2026 verdict
Key differences
Which one is for you?
Pick HELLDIVERS 2 if
- You bounce off solo extraction shooters and want chaotic 4-player co-op with friendly fire.
- You pick strategic loadouts over twitchy aim duels and don't mind 30-second cooldowns.
- You're OK with a galactic-war metagame that resets after Major Order arcs.
Pick Split Fiction if
- You've finished It Takes Two with someone and crave more Hazelight co-op.
- You love games that constantly swap mechanics, like a new mini-game every ten minutes.
- You want a couch co-op experience that works for mixed-skill pairs.
Bottom line
Pick Helldivers 2 if you have a squad and want a live-service war with ongoing patches; pick Split Fiction if you have one partner and prefer a tight 14-hour run with zero solo mode.