Summary
- Helldivers 2 and The Outer Worlds offer political commentary in their gameplay through satire.
- Helldivers 2 exposes the grim reality of war and military propaganda and reflects real-world recruitment tactics.
- The Outer Worlds portrays the dangers of unchecked capitalism with megacorporations influencing economies and politics.
For those who want to explore the cosmos, there are a few offers within the gaming world, including titles like Starfield and No Man's Sky. Fans of The Outer Worlds who have enjoyed its narrative may want to consider Helldivers 2. Though they look like extreme opposites at first, there are a few interesting things they accomplish similarly.
Both games have a highly satirical side, and they love unwinding sociopolitical concepts, though they can be easy to miss when caught up in the gameplay. Helldivers 2 and The Outer Worlds make a nice pair for players who want a bit of political commentary with their shooters.
Helldivers 2: Best Primary Weapons, Ranked
Deliver managed democracy one planet at a time by using the best primary weapons available in the Helldivers 2 arsenal.
Misery of the Military in Helldivers 2
Helldivers 2's intro features a call for the best of the best to join the elite squad of Helldivers ready to defend Super Earth and spread liberty and freedom across the galaxy. It seems like a noble cause at first, but the satire begins to show itself when the game reveals how the Super Earth Armed Forces function. The heroism promised by higher ranks and greater remuneration does not seem so nice once one learns that the Helldiver deaths are real. Intergalactic warfare isn't the path to the highest values; it's a suicidal mission for an unfeeling political power where very few make it back alive.
Similarly, military recruits in the real world often use propaganda to lure young adults into armed conflicts. Some have even resorted to using video games, as seen with America's Army. Once again, though the promise is heroism, the true consequences of engaging in warfare are often grim.
Capitalism Goes Too Far in The Outer Worlds
It's a good thing if someone can build a business and watch it grow. However, this process has to be carefully monitored, as it can result in monopolies forming that control entire industries. Furthermore, with this economic power comes political influence, allowing businesses to influence world governments. Though there are laws in place to prevent this, some businesses have managed to become megacorporations that are economically and politically influential.
How Powerful are the Megacorporations of The Outer Worlds?
The idea of corporate feudalism is taken to its extreme in The Outer Worlds. Megacorporations control entire planets, which they colonize and terraform. As is the case in Helldivers 2, things take place on a galactic level, and the dystopian reality of the situation is kept alive through propaganda players glimpse during the loading screens.
Some shooter games lure players in with their shiny guns, while others are known for their difficulty or multiplayer elements. The Outer Worlds and Helldivers 2 stand out from the crowd due to their smartly presented narratives that shape the setting without sacrificing exciting gameplay. With these titles, it's still possible to shoot stuff for fun, but they both contain a lot of food for thought.
Helldivers 2
- Released
- February 8, 2024
WHERE TO PLAY
The Galaxy’s Last Line of Offence. Enlist in the Helldivers and join the fight for freedom across a hostile galaxy in a fast, frantic, and ferocious third-person shooter.
URGENT BROADCAST – SUPER EARTH ARMED FORCES
Freedom. Peace. Democracy. Your Super Earth-born rights. The key pillars of our civilization. Of our very existence. But the war rages on. And everything is once again under threat.
Join the greatest military force the galaxy has ever seen and make this a safe and free place to live.
BECOME A LEGEND
You will be assembled into squads of up to four Helldivers and assigned strategic missions. Watch each other’s back – friendly fire is an unfortunate certainty of war, but victory without teamwork is impossible.
LOADOUTS
Rain down freedom from above, sneak through enemy territory, or grit your teeth and charge head-first into the jaws of combat. How you deliver liberty is your choice; you’ll have access to a wide array of explosive firepower, life-saving armor and battle-changing stratagems… the jewel in every Helldiver’s arsenal.
REQUISITION
Super Earth recognises your hard work with valuable Requisition. Use it to access different rewards that benefit you, your squad, your destroyer ship and our overall war effort.
THREATS
Everything on every planet wants you dead. That’s what we’re dealing with. Each enemy has distinct and unpredictable characteristics, tactics, and behavior – but they all fight ferociously and without fear or morality.
THE GALACTIC WAR
Capturing enemy planets, defending against invasions, and completing missions will contribute to our overall effort. This war will be won or lost depending on the actions of everyone involved.
We stand together, or we fall apart.
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, In-Game Purchases, Users Interact
- Developer(s)
- Arrowhead Game Studios, Nixxes
- Publisher(s)
- Sony Interactive Entertainment, PlayStation Publishing
- Multiplayer
- Online Co-Op
- Franchise
- Helldivers
- Number of Players
- 1-4 players (online)
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC
- Genre(s)
- Third-Person Shooter, Extraction Shooter, Action, Science Fiction
- Metascore
- 83
- Platforms That Support Crossplay
- PC & PS5
