Helldivers 2 Board Game: Exclusive Preview

Last year's multiplayer gaming scene saw a remarkable success with Arrowhead's Helldivers 2, a game that captivated players with its mission to spread democracy across the stars through intense battles against aliens and robots. Now, following their acclaimed adaptation of Elden Ring, Steamforged Games is bringing the fast-paced and frenetic action of Helldivers 2 to the tabletop. The board game is currently available for backing on Gamefound, and IGN had the opportunity to play a prototype and discuss the project with designers Jamie Perkins, Derek Funkhouser, and Nicholas Yu.

Helldivers 2: The Board Game

17 ImagesDevelopment on Helldivers 2: The Board Game started shortly after the video game's launch, aiming to encapsulate the essence of what made the original so thrilling. This cooperative, objective-based skirmish game supports one to four players, with solo players recommended to control two characters. Each player assumes the role of a Helldiver class, such as Heavy, Sniper, Pyro, or Captain, equipped with unique perks, action cards, and a powerful "Act of Valor" ability used once per game. Players customize their loadouts with primary, secondary, and support weapons, grenades, and strategems, though recommended setups are provided.

Gameplay unfolds on grid-based boards that expand as players explore, revealing sub-objectives and primary mission locations, such as Terminid hatcheries to destroy. As missions progress, increasingly difficult enemies spawn, and a round-limited timer adds urgency and tension to the experience. The final release will offer multiple objectives, with the base game featuring two of the three main factions: Terminids and Automatons, each with 10 unit types. There's potential for the Illuminate to be introduced through future expansions.

One key aspect of the adaptation was how it would manage the feeling of being overwhelmed, akin to the video game. Helldivers 2 opts for fewer but stronger enemies, promoting a more tactical and intense combat experience. Turns involve players and enemies adding action cards to a pool, which are shuffled and placed on an initiative tracker, similar to Steamforged's Elden Ring game. Combat is resolved through dice rolls, with weapons determining the type and number of dice used. Damage is calculated by totaling the dice roll, with every five points inflicting a wound on an enemy. This streamlined approach enhances the focus on dealing damage rather than managing complex modifiers.

A notable new feature is the 'Massed Fire' mechanic, designed to replicate the cooperative shooting experience from the video game. When one player targets an enemy, others within range can join in, encouraging teamwork and reducing player downtime. On the enemy side, combat is straightforward, with damage and effects dictated by their cards, leading to players drawing wound cards, each causing a detrimental effect. If a player accrues three wounds, their character dies, but they can respawn based on the chosen difficulty level, regaining their full loadout.

While the galactic war aspect of the video game doesn't make it to the board game, the designers have positioned it as a training simulation for Helldivers, adding a unique lore element. The team's goal was to retain the core Helldivers experience, including unexpected events, stratagems that can misfire, and a dwindling pool of reinforcements, all while introducing new mechanics suitable for the tabletop format.

Currently, the game's core mechanics are about 75-80% finalized, with room for community feedback and further refinements. Despite recent concerns about tariffs affecting the board gaming industry, Jamie Perkins reassures that Steamforged Games is moving forward as planned.

My experience with the prototype was engaging, with the random events and 'Massed Fire' mechanic creating memorable moments. However, I felt a desire for more smaller enemies to clear out, aligning with my preference for the video game's style. The enemy combat could also benefit from more dynamic outcomes to match the game's overall chaos.

I'm excited to see what additional surprises Steamforged Games has in store for Helldivers 2: The Board Game. The prototype has left me eager to explore new Helldiver classes, mission types, and combinations of enemies and biomes. My friends and I are already planning our next drop.