HELLDIVERS 2 vs Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II
Four-player friendly fire mayhem versus three-player Tyranid slaughter — both are co-op shooters, but they reward very different team sizes and commitments.
Updated 11d 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.
Saves the 40K video game catalog — Space Marine 2's chunky bolter-and-chainsword co-op keeps 8-12k peak players active in 2026 with strong PvE Operations.
By the numbers
Prices checked Aug 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 Aug 7.
| Measure | HELLDIVERS 2 | Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II |
|---|---|---|
| Value Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II wins on value | ||
| Price now | $30.95 −23% · GameBillet | $17.98 −70% · GamesPlanet US |
| All-time low | $25.47 | $17.95 |
| Cost / hour | $0.97/hr $30.95 · 32 h main story | $1.90/hr $17.98 · 9 h main story |
| Off its low | +22% low was Mar 2025 | At its low vs $17.95 low |
| Main story | 32 h | 9 h |
| Health Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II wins on player health | ||
| Steam reviews | 75% 1.2M reviews | 84% 221k reviews |
| Recent reviews | 81% 3k votes · vs 75% lifetime · improving | 86% 4k votes · vs 84% lifetime |
| Peak players | 43,782 Jul 2026 · ↓ 4% MoM | 24,918 Jul 2026 · ↓ 6% MoM |
| Launch peak | 10% of Feb 2024 launch peak · as of Jul 2026 | 13% of Sep 2024 launch peak · as of Jul 2026 |
| All-time peak | 458,208 Feb 2024 | 186,199 Sep 2024 |
| Support | ||
| Last patch | 5 weeks ago | 11 days ago |
| Patch cadence | 4 in last 90 days | 6 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.
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
Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II
The horde combat and class-based PvE operations offer deep customization and cinematic action that long-haul players find addictive.
Excessive loading screens and overpriced DLC are consistent frustrations that even dedicated players call out.
from our May 2026 verdict
Key differences
Which one is for you?
Pick HELLDIVERS 2 if
- You want chaotic 4-player co-op with friendly fire and strategic loadouts.
- You enjoy a galactic-war metagame that resets after Major Order arcs.
- You are fine with linking a PSN account on PC for crossplay.
Pick Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II if
- You loved Vermintide 2 or Darktide and want third-person Tyranid combat.
- You prefer a tighter 3-player co-op experience with a 8-12 hour campaign.
- You are a Warhammer 40K fan seeking reverent universe representation.
Bottom line
Choose Helldivers 2 for a larger squad and persistent war; choose Space Marine 2 for a polished, lore-rich campaign with stable co-op sessions.