The Outer Worlds, Helldivers are Two Sides of the Same Coin

Helldivers 2 kicked off the year with a massive surprise filled with a lot of great humor and wit. In a far off future, the world of Super Earth stands as the pinnacle of democracy in Helldivers 2, but with a huge catch; people have to die violently for it. A lot. In the race to eradicate the Terminids and Automatons from existence, the titular Helldivers are aptly named, as the various battlefields featured in the game are truly hell itself.

Despite the terror, there is a deliciously morbid sense of humor attached to this ultimate sacrifice, and it could lead one to think of another game with a great sense of humor; The Outer Worlds. In a world where sci-fi RPGs can sometimes feel heavily similar, The Outer Worlds set itself apart by leaning heavily into an absurdist form of satire focused on corporate corruption.

Helldivers 2 and The Outer Worlds Have Similar Approaches to Different Issues

Helldivers 2 and the Absurdity of Ultra Authoritarianism

Helldivers 2 may not focus on corporate corruption, but it does poke fun at the absurdity of fighting for an ultra-militaristic authoritarian government. The whole idea of “managed democracy” is hilarious, and Helldivers 2 does a wonderful job at demonstrating how expendable soldiers can be when a society focuses solely on the prospect of winning. Super Earth can sometimes seem wonderful on the surface, thanks to extensive propaganda, but the actual reality of how many Helldivers die in a fiery blaze or get shredded to pieces by a Terminid illustrates just how costly that can be.

Of course, the threats of Terminids and Automatons are so prevalent that it arguably gives Super Earth no choice but to build a strong military presence. Nevertheless, the goal of becoming a Helldiver has become so deeply ingrained into Super Earth’s society that dying in the name of “managed democracy” is something to celebrate instead of being tragic. Combat is the heart of Helldivers 2, and developer Arrowhead Game Studios does a beautiful job at treating the game’s satire with a balanced nuance.

The Outer Worlds Tackles Unchecked Corporate Control

On the flip side, The Outer Worlds calls out how unfettered capitalism can bring about a horribly oppressive environment. When profits become the main focus of a society, everything else falls to the wayside. Although The Outer Worlds and Helldivers 2 both critique different forms of uncontrolled power, The Outer Worlds goes much harder on being whimsical with its humor.

The Outer Worlds sets itself apart with its approach to humor, and it can be downright goofy, which makes it a special game to experience. From the very beginning of the game, when players accidentally land on and crush the smuggler contact they’re supposed to meet, The Outer Worlds makes it incredibly clear what its tone will be going forward. The upcoming sequel to The Outer Worlds looks like it will bring even more humor to the forefront; it’s just a question of what Obsidian wants to poke fun at this time.

Both games offer some hilarious criticisms of real world problems while masked under a sci-fi blanket. The Outer Worlds and Helldivers 2 tackle political satire in a really beautiful way that showcases how video games are more than just ways to pass time. While The Outer Worlds shows the bleakness of a future run by corporate greed, Helldivers 2 shows the underlying horrors of civic duty, but both games do it with a cheeky smile.

Helldivers 2

Helldivers 2 is a third-person cooperative shooter developed by Arrowhead Games Studios for the PC and PlayStation 5 where players take control of a Helldiver set to protect the citizens of Super Earth by traveling to hostile alien worlds and destroying threats. Players undergo missions, defeat enemies, and use special items called Stratagems to help turn the tide of battle in this punishing release.

Franchise

Helldivers

Released

February 8, 2024

Developer(s)

Arrowhead Game Studios

Genre(s)

Shooter

Multiplayer

Online Co-Op

ESRB

M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Intense Violence

Metascore

83

Platforms That Support Crossplay

PC & PS5

Number of Players

1-4

PS Plus Availability

N/A