Highlights

  • Helldivers 2 portrays a dark satire where players are disposable resources who die for the tyrannical system of "managed democracy".
  • The game emphasizes raising citizenship status, showing how Super Earth is far from equal.
  • Despite the sinister lore, squishing enemies and deploying dramatic explosives remains enjoyable.

Helldivers 2's compelling introduction quickly introduces players to Super Earth, which has sustained "managed democracy" throughout the cosmos. This democracy is now under threat from numerous enemies, including the bug-like, squishy Terminids and the robotic Automatons.

For the sake of liberty, freedom, and democracy, an intergalactic war must take place for Super Earth to regain its control. This project is led by The Helldivers Division of the Super Earth Armed Forces, and it wants only the bravest and most heroic members on its team. It's relatively easy to see through the satirization of military propaganda Helldivers 2 is presenting, but it's not always obvious just how sinister the situation is.

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In Helldivers 2, All Helldivers are Disposable

Helldivers are shown to be excited to be part of these missions. However, very few will make it out alive. In terms of gameplay, when a player dies in Helldivers 2, they simply respawn via a Hellpod and continue the mission. Within the game world, these aren't mere respawns -- the Helldiver has actually met a grisly end, and a new recruit has been sent. To the Super Earth Armed Forces, Helldivers are nothing more than a resource, their lives are expendable, and there's a seemingly infinite supply. Arrowhead has confirmed this, stating the following:

"If a Helldiver dies, whether by bug or by bullet, another Helldiver can be called down in their place using a reinforcement, pick up the discarded weapons of the previous corpse, and jump right back into the action. Super Earth has plenty of Helldivers to sacrifice to the cause, and every Helldiver is happy to give their life for Democracy."

A solo player has five respawns while a team of four has twenty. This puts into context just how many lives The Helldivers Division is willing to waste on each of the dozens of missions and secondary objectives available. This callous human meat-grinder makes it doubtful that any true hero would be part of such an organization.

Being a Helldiver is About Raising That Citizenship Status

Though it is presented as a paradise, there are subtle signs that Super Earth is far from perfect, and some inhabitants have greater importance than others in this "managed democracy". Citizens are granted citizenship points, and while it's not quite obvious what benefits these points provide, it is apparent that having more raises one's status.

How to Raise Citizenship Status in Helldivers 2

One of the ways to increase one's citizenship status is, somewhat predictably, through money. Buy the Super Citizen edition of the game, and the Super Citizen status is automatically given. Alternatively, enlisting as a Helldiver helps to raise a family's status. In the contract that can be seen during the tutorial, it is revealed that a successful Helldiver can score citizenship points for their family. According to the rules:

"...upon commencement of the delivery of services, the immediate family members of the Enlisted (defined as parents, siblings, heirs, and successors) shall receive 4.5 citizenship points..."

With this knowledge, it becomes clear that the entire concept of "managed democracy" and liberty is a farce. There can be no true democracy in a society where the inhabitants are not of equal status. Every mission a Helldiver goes on, every time they raise a Super Earth flag, the tyrannical system spreads and strengthens. All Helldivers, whether they know it or not, are on the side of the oppressor.

It doesn't get much darker than the lore of the Helldivers franchise. However, it's not necessary to engage with it on a deeper level, because squishing Terminids and blasting Automatons is fun, regardless of the in-world politics.