Diablo IV vs HELLDIVERS 2
Two live-service loot loops diverge: Diablo IV sands down its 2023 rough edges while Helldivers 2 leans into chaos that sheds players.
Updated 24d ago
Skip the $49.99 Standard button — the $69.99 Age of Hatred Collection adds both expansions for twenty dollars more. The 2026 repairs are free either way.
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 9; 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 9.
| Measure | Diablo IV | HELLDIVERS 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Value Diablo IV wins on value | ||
| Price now | $12.49 −75% · Steam | $34.99 −13% · GameBillet |
| All-time low | $12.49 | $25.47 |
| Cost / hour | $0.48/hr $12.49 · 26 h main story | $1.10/hr $34.99 · 32 h main story |
| Off its low | At its low low was Sep 2026 | +37% low was Mar 2025 |
| Main story | 26 h | 32 h |
| Health HELLDIVERS 2 wins on player health | ||
| Steam reviews | 65% 75k reviews | 76% 1.2M reviews |
| Recent reviews | 67% 504 votes · vs 65% lifetime | 83% 6k votes · vs 76% lifetime · improving |
| Peak players | 12,872 Aug 2026 · ↓ 70% MoM | 144,799 Aug 2026 · ↑ 231% MoM |
| Launch peak | — | 32% of Feb 2024 launch peak · as of Aug 2026 |
| All-time peak | 63,808 May 2026 · now at 20% | 458,208 Feb 2024 |
| Support | ||
| Last patch | — | 4 weeks ago |
| Patch cadence | — | 4 in last 90 days |
| Steam Deck | Gold | 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.
Diablo IV
Three years of repairs finally arriving at once. Players who stayed through every season say the endgame is the best it has been.
Paying again. Skills behind an expansion paywall is the complaint that recurs most, followed by an endgame they still call grindy and unbalanced.
from our July 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 Diablo IV if
- You prefer a live-service loot hunt with free endgame fixes and a 26-hour campaign
- You're fine with Blizzard's always-online requirement and seasonal resets
- You'll buy the Age of Hatred Collection to get both expansions cheaply
Pick HELLDIVERS 2 if
- You want chaotic 4-player co-op with friendly fire and no PvP
- You enjoy a galactic-war metagame that resets after Major Orders
- You're OK with PSN linking and occasional server caps at peak hours
Bottom line
Pick Diablo IV if you want a loot-driven ARPG with a longer tail and free repairs; choose Helldivers 2 for immediate co-op chaos, but accept its shrinking population and server quirks.