Helldivers 2 is one of the funniest games in recent memory

GamesActionHelldivers 2Helldivers 2 is one of the funniest games in recent memoryWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

(Image credit: Arrowhead Games)

helldivers 2

In this rapidly changing world, it’s some comfort to me that ragdolling remains as funny now as it did 20 years ago. Flailing limbs are one of the two main sources of humor inHelldivers 2, which has been one of the funniest game launches in a while.

What makes the human cannonballing especially funny in Helldivers 2 is that it’s often your own friends that do it to you. PC Gamer’s Morgan Park was showing off his AC-8 Autocannon in my first session when he clipped a crate and knocked both of us on our asses:

The second, more substantial way Helldivers 2 is funny is also a collaboration between the game and its players, who’ve embraced its Starship Troopers-style ultranationalism (ultraplanetism?) with the the kind of zeal you’d expect from the disposable soldiers they’re embodying.

Roleplaying as a member of “The Galaxy’s Last Line of Offence” produces instant comradery among players, both in any given co-op scenario and online generally, which has led to dark gags like group mushroom cloud salutes and referring to the grim Automaton missions as “robot Vietnam.” It’s both aThird Wave-stylewarning and an excellent set-up for TikTok skits.

The best so far has beensarahebaus' parodyof propaganda aimed at military spouses, a checklist of tips for “wives and girlfriends of Helldivers soldiers.”

My other favorite take on the social underpinnings of the space war comes fromthewestsidewizard on TikTok, who imagines a post-war future in which elderly Helldivers refuse to move on:

The biggest gaming news, reviews and hardware deals

As PC Gamer’s Evan Lahti put it, “the tiny ways Helldivers 2 reinforces that you’re fighting a pointless war are so funny,” such as being sent to retrieve ridiculous objects like “Super Solid State Hard Drives.”

The tiny ways Helldivers 2 reinforces that you’re fighting a pointless war are so funny. One of the primary macguffins is a “SSSD Hard Drive.” You’re telling me I’m out here dying in Robot Vietnam for something called a Super Solid State Hard Drive? pic.twitter.com/HQrjadL1m6February 14, 2024

Aside from contributing to its overall greatness—we gave Helldivers 2 an86% in our review—Helldivers 2’s sense of humor may be helping it ride out its early server troubles. The rough launch hassaddled it with a “Mixed” ratingon Steam, but players are also channeling their Super Earth comradery to get through the errors together with memes, commiserating both with each other and with the developers.

the one technician checking on the Helldivers 2 servers pic.twitter.com/OrQ5pCatRYFebruary 20, 2024

Me watching all my friends play Helldivers 2 while I wait for the servers pic.twitter.com/Q4TSzLnx6rFebruary 19, 2024

Helldivers 2 weapons: Best guns of Super EarthHelldivers 2 stratagems: Understand the ordinanceHelldivers 2 loadouts: Finest kits for bug-killingHelldivers 2 armor: Which suits to wearHelldivers 2 medals: Where to claim more currency

Helldivers 2 weaponsHelldivers 2 stratagemsHelldivers 2 loadoutsHelldivers 2 armorHelldivers 2 medals

More about actionAll Zenless Zone Zero 1.5 livestream codesAssassin’s Creed Shadows is delayed again ‘to better incorporate player feedback gathered over the past three months’LatestDragonflight got WoW back on its feet, now we get to see if Blizzard can make the Worldsoul Saga runSee more latest►

More about actionAll Zenless Zone Zero 1.5 livestream codesAssassin’s Creed Shadows is delayed again ‘to better incorporate player feedback gathered over the past three months’

More about action

All Zenless Zone Zero 1.5 livestream codesAssassin’s Creed Shadows is delayed again ‘to better incorporate player feedback gathered over the past three months’

Zenless Zone Zero codes - Miyabi and section four

All Zenless Zone Zero 1.5 livestream codes

Image of Yasuke striking an enemy in Assassin’s Creed Shadows

Assassin’s Creed Shadows is delayed again ‘to better incorporate player feedback gathered over the past three months’

LatestDragonflight got WoW back on its feet, now we get to see if Blizzard can make the Worldsoul Saga runSee more latest►

Latest

Dragonflight got WoW back on its feet, now we get to see if Blizzard can make the Worldsoul Saga run

World of Warcraft The War Within screenshots

Dragonflight got WoW back on its feet, now we get to see if Blizzard can make the Worldsoul Saga run

See more latest►

Most Popular

Call of Duty’s $28 Squid Game skins are the perfect crossover for our capitalist dystopia, and Activision knows exactly what it’s doing

These are the 14 biggest upcoming RPGs of 2025—get ready for another amazing year for the genre

Five new Steam games you probably missed (January 6, 2025)

I’ve seen enough: No more forcing singleplayer studios to make mediocre live service games

6 games that could be bigger hits than you’re expecting in 2025

What are your 2025 gaming resolutions?

The FBI put a $5 million bounty on the ‘Cryptoqueen’ last year but still hasn’t found her, so take your pick: Russia, South Africa, or murdered on a yacht in 2018

The Witcher season 4: Everything we know about Hemsworth’s debut on The Continent

8 bold gaming predictions for 2025

The PC game releases we’re most excited about in January

HARDWARE BUYING GUIDESLATEST GAME REVIEWS1Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads2Best graphics card for laptops: the mobile GPUs I’d want in my next gaming laptop3Best mini PCs in 2025: The compact computers I love the most4Best 14-inch gaming laptop: The top compact gaming laptops I’ve held in these hands5Best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2025: My pick from all the mini mobo marvels I’ve tested1Thank Goodness You’re Here! review2Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island review3WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review4Ikea Utespelare desk review5Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini wireless mouse review

HARDWARE BUYING GUIDESLATEST GAME REVIEWS

1Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads

A bunch of the best Steam Deck accessories on a blue background.

1Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads

Best Steam Deck accessories in Australia for 2025: Our favorite docks, powerbanks and gamepads

2Best graphics card for laptops: the mobile GPUs I’d want in my next gaming laptop

Best graphics card for laptops: the mobile GPUs I’d want in my next gaming laptop

3Best mini PCs in 2025: The compact computers I love the most

Best mini PCs in 2025: The compact computers I love the most

4Best 14-inch gaming laptop: The top compact gaming laptops I’ve held in these hands

Best 14-inch gaming laptop: The top compact gaming laptops I’ve held in these hands

5Best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2025: My pick from all the mini mobo marvels I’ve tested

Best Mini-ITX motherboards in 2025: My pick from all the mini mobo marvels I’ve tested

1Thank Goodness You’re Here! review

Thank Goodness You’re Here review

1Thank Goodness You’re Here! review

Thank Goodness You’re Here! review

2Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island review

Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island review

3WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review

WD Black SN850X 8 TB NVMe SSD review

4Ikea Utespelare desk review

Ikea Utespelare desk review

5Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini wireless mouse review

Asus ROG Harpe Ace Mini wireless mouse review

The biggest gaming news, reviews and hardware deals#

The biggest gaming news, reviews and hardware deals