HELLDIVERS 2 vs Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II
Chaotic 4-player democracy versus polished 3-player bolter power — pick your co-op fantasy.
Updated 25d 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 Sep 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 Sep 9.
| Measure | HELLDIVERS 2 | Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II |
|---|---|---|
| Value Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II wins on value | ||
| Price now | $34.99 −13% · GameBillet | $14.99 −75% · GamesPlanet US |
| All-time low | $25.47 | $14.95 |
| Cost / hour | $1.10/hr $34.99 · 32 h main story | $1.59/hr $14.99 · 9 h main story |
| Off its low | +37% low was Mar 2025 | At its low low was Sep 2026 |
| Main story | 32 h | 9 h |
| Health Too close to call | ||
| Steam reviews | 76% 1.2M reviews | 84% 225k reviews |
| Recent reviews | 83% 6k votes · vs 76% lifetime · improving | 81% 3k votes · vs 84% lifetime |
| Peak players | 144,799 Aug 2026 · ↑ 231% MoM | 25,166 Aug 2026 · ↑ 1% MoM |
| Launch peak | 32% of Feb 2024 launch peak · as of Aug 2026 | 14% of Sep 2024 launch peak · as of Aug 2026 |
| All-time peak | 458,208 Feb 2024 | 186,199 Sep 2024 |
| Support | ||
| Last patch | 4 weeks ago | 3 weeks ago |
| Patch cadence | 4 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.
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 a 32-hour campaign with chaotic 4-player co-op and friendly fire—a longer ride overall.
- You enjoy strategic loadouts and managing 30-second stratagem cooldowns.
- You can tolerate live-service balance swings and a shrinking playerbase.
Pick Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine II if
- You prefer tighter 3-player co-op with chunky melee and bolter combat—less chaos, more control.
- You're a Warhammer 40K fan wanting a reverent universe or enjoy grindy Operations replayability.
- You want a quick 9-hour campaign and a more stable PvE-centric community.
Bottom line
Choose Helldivers 2 for a longer, chaotic co-op grind; choose Space Marine 2 for stable, polished 3-player action with a Warhammer coat of paint.