ARC Raiders vs HELLDIVERS 2
Choose between ARC Raiders' tense PvE extraction and Helldivers 2's chaotic 4-player co-op—each demands a different squad mindset.
Updated 26d ago
ARC Raiders' accessible extraction loop is worth it now, but cheaters and content droughts mean wait until the anti-cheat is fixed.
Still the best chaotic 4-player co-op shooter on PC despite the playerbase falling from 458k peak to 30k after Arrowhead's balance churn.
By the numbers
Prices checked Sep 8; they move faster than we refresh, so confirm on the store page.
Recent-review figures are Steam's own last-30-days window, read Sep 8.
| Measure | ARC Raiders | HELLDIVERS 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Value ARC Raiders wins on value | ||
| Price now | $33.79 −16% · GameBillet | $34.99 −13% · GameBillet |
| All-time low | $26.75 | $25.47 |
| Cost / hour | $0.72/hr $33.79 · 47 h main story | $1.10/hr $34.99 · 32 h main story |
| Off its low | +26% low was Dec 2025 | +37% low was Mar 2025 |
| Main story | 47 h | 32 h |
| Health Too close to call | ||
| Steam reviews | 82% 415k reviews | 76% 1.2M reviews |
| Recent reviews | 48% 3k votes · vs 82% lifetime · souring | 83% 6k votes · vs 76% lifetime · improving |
| Peak players | 41,319 Aug 2026 · ↓ 17% MoM | 144,799 Aug 2026 · ↑ 231% MoM |
| Launch peak | — | 32% of Feb 2024 launch peak · as of Aug 2026 |
| All-time peak | 465,097 Jan 2026 · now at 9% | 458,208 Feb 2024 |
| Support | ||
| Last patch | today | 4 weeks ago |
| Patch cadence | 16+ in last 90 days, at minimum | 4 in last 90 days |
| Steam Deck | Platinum | Gold |
Shared scale — same months across the bottom, same player-count axis up the side, so the two lines are directly comparable. A shorter line means a younger game.
What players say
Patterns from long-haul reviewers, taken from each game's verdict. Not live sentiment — each side is dated below.
ARC Raiders
Atmosphere and audio are the anchors for long-haul fans — the abandoned world and machine hums keep 1000-hour players hooked.
Cheaters and exploiters are the dominating frustration, with veterans abandoning balanced/PvP lobbies and begging for real anti-cheat.
from our August 2026 verdict
HELLDIVERS 2
The core co-op PVE loop remains engaging and fun for hundreds of hours despite ongoing frustrations.
Persistent balance changes, performance bugs, and poor developer communication erode trust and enjoyment over time.
from our May 2026 verdict
Key differences
Which one is for you?
Pick ARC Raiders if
- You want a slower, atmosphere-heavy extraction experience with co-op PvE over PvP
- You prefer audio design and worldbuilding in shooters
- You can tolerate cheaters and want frequent patches to address them
Pick HELLDIVERS 2 if
- You want chaotic 4-player co-op with friendly fire and strategic loadouts
- You dislike solo extraction games and prefer AI enemies over human opponents
- You're comfortable linking a PSN account on PC and accepting server caps at peak hours
Bottom line
Choose ARC Raiders for a longer, slower extraction experience; pick Helldivers 2 for fast chaos, but note its playerbase fell to 10% of its 458k peak after balance changes.