HELLDIVERS 2 vs Splatoon Raiders
A chaotic 4-player co-op bug hunt versus Splatoon's PvE loot raid — which loop you'll actually stick with depends on your platform and patience for churn.
Updated 8d ago
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.
Splatoon's looter loop gets an 8/10 glow-up — the raid-and-loot PvE core earns its keep
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 | HELLDIVERS 2 | Splatoon Raiders |
|---|---|---|
| Value | ||
| Price now | $34.99 −13% · GameBillet | $49.99 eShop |
| All-time low | $25.47 | — |
| Cost / hour | $1.10/hr $34.99 · 32 h main story | — |
| Off its low | +37% low was Mar 2025 | — |
| Main story | 32 h | — |
| Health | ||
| Steam reviews | 76% 1.2M reviews | — |
| Recent reviews | 83% 6k votes · vs 76% lifetime · improving | — |
| Metacritic user score | — | 9.3/10 1,943 ratings |
| Peak players | 144,799 Aug 2026 · ↑ 231% MoM | — No PC release |
| Launch peak | 32% of Feb 2024 launch peak · as of Aug 2026 | — |
| All-time peak | 458,208 Feb 2024 | — |
| Support | ||
| Last patch | 4 weeks ago | 7 weeks ago |
| Patch cadence | 4 in last 90 days | 2 in last 90 days |
| Steam Deck | Gold | — |
What players say
Patterns from long-haul reviewers, taken from each game's verdict. Not live sentiment — each side is dated below.
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
Splatoon Raiders
The loot-and-raid loop hooks fast, with co-op play keeping sessions alive past the first week.
from our August 2026 verdict
Key differences
Which one is for you?
Pick HELLDIVERS 2 if
- You want chaotic 4-player co-op with friendly fire and strategic loadouts
- You enjoy 30-second stratagem cooldowns and a metagame that resets after Major Orders
- You play on PC and won't link a PSN account after the 2024 region-locking blowup
Pick Splatoon Raiders if
- You want a PvE looter shooter with inking mechanics on Switch
- You've 100%'d Octo Expansion and want that level of depth again
- You play co-op campaigns with friends and don't mind mission repetition after 20 hours
Bottom line
Pick Helldivers 2 if you're on PC and want a defined 32-hour co-op arc despite balance churn; pick Splatoon Raiders if you're on Switch and prefer its PvE loot loop over competitive multiplayer.