Helldivers 2’s Emote Wheel is Only Half the Battle for Player Expression

As Helldivers 2 continues to push players to fight for democracy and Super Earth’s way of life, various updates have come to the game with the hopes of making the experience even better. Although Helldivers 2 has faced many highs and lows in its first year, the emphasis the game puts on player interaction remains a strong aspect.

Teamwork is one of the ultimate virtues for a Helldiver to embrace, as each soldier takes to the battlefield to take on Super Earth’s threats. Some updates to Helldivers 2 have brought some strong upgrades to the game since its launch, but there is still room for improvement. Although communicating with other players and building morale is a central focus in the Helldivers 2 lore, the game’s relative lack of emotes can leave in-game communication feeling as though it has been left behind. If Helldivers 2 wants to further emphasize the importance of fighting for a common goal, then allowing more player expression will help.

Helldivers 2 Adding More Emotes is Necessary For a Rich Player Experience

Making a Player’s Personality Shine

Just recently, Helldivers 2 finally added an emote wheel, hopefully hinting that more expression is on the way. At first this may seem like a small change, but it could greatly influence how players choose to interact with one another.

This wouldn’t just be a fun way to express oneself, it would bring the immersion of Helldivers 2 to the next level. It seems strange that a game with lore that is so focused on a society revolving around group effort doesn’t further explore this with a dynamic roster of emotes. Completing Major Orders in Helldivers 2 requires the participation of as many players as possible, and bringing more interesting interaction into that mix could be a great way to keep players engaged.

Current Emotes in Helldivers 2

• Explosive Handshake
• Casual Salute
• High-Five
• Scout Handshake
• Hug
• Rock Paper Scissors
• Test of Conviction
• Thoracic Collision Exultation Maneuver
• Natural Gas Extraction

There are plenty of ways that Helldivers 2 could expand its world. Whether it’s through cape customization or emotes, getting to interact with other players in ways that are unique to a game can be one of the most rewarding parts of playing. Emotes may not seem like an important part of gameplay, but connecting players through intriguing means is essential to building a community. Emotes in Helldivers 2 have presented some great in-game moments, and bringing more into the spotlight would likely only enhance the fun for many players.

Helldivers 2 Giving the Same Care to Emotes as Victory Poses

The many victory poses in Helldivers 2 are a perfect example of how allowing diverse player expression makes the overall experience more enjoyable. From finger guns to a boxer’s stance, Helldivers 2‘s victory poses only give more weight to the argument for more emotes. When it comes to multiplayer titles, many players want to let their personalities shine through in entertaining ways, and that is why emotes have become so popular in many live-service titles.

Updates like hazardous environments and Mechs have helped
Helldivers 2
have a strong first year.

Thankfully, the new emote wheel seems to be a sign of things to come. Of course, it could simply be a way to make the current emotes more easily accessible, but it leaves the door wide open for fresh choices on the horizon. Despite some rocky moments in its first year, the future of Helldivers 2 is looking promising. Only time will tell if more dynamic player expressions will be included in the future, but it could bring in-game interactions to greater heights.