Last year, Arrowhead's Helldivers 2 emerged as a standout hit in the multiplayer gaming scene, captivating players with its mission to spread democracy across the galaxy through intense battles against aliens and robots. Following their successful adaptation of Elden Ring into a board game, Steamforged Games has now turned their attention to transforming the fast-paced, frenetic action of Helldivers 2 into a tabletop experience. The board game is currently available for backing on Gamefound. IGN had the opportunity to play a prototype and discuss the project with designers Jamie Perkins, Derek Funkhouser, and Nicholas Yu, gaining insight into this exciting new adaptation.

Helldivers 2: The Board Game

17 ImagesDevelopment on Helldivers 2: The Board Game began shortly after the video game's launch, aiming to encapsulate the elements that made the original so thrilling. This cooperative, objective-based skirmish game allows one to four players (with solo players recommended to control two characters) to work together to achieve mission objectives while fending off waves of enemies and unexpected events. Players select different classes of Helldivers, each with unique perks, action cards, and a powerful one-per-game "Act of Valor" ability. The prototype featured the Heavy, Sniper, Pyro, and Captain classes, each equipped with a customizable kit including primary, secondary, and support weapons, a grenade, and three strategems.

Gameplay unfolds on grid-based boards that expand as players explore, revealing sub-objectives and primary mission goals, such as destroying Terminid hatcheries in the prototype. As the mission progresses, increasingly challenging enemies spawn, and a mission timer adds urgency, maintaining the game's frenetic pace. The final release will offer multiple objectives and include two main factions: Terminids and robotic Automatons, each with 10 unit types. While not confirmed, the potential for an expansion featuring the Illuminate faction adds an exciting prospect for future content.

A key question was how the board game would replicate the video game's sense of being overwhelmed. Instead of overwhelming numbers of weak enemies, Helldivers 2 opts for fewer but stronger foes, fostering a more tactical and intense combat experience. Turns are structured around 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 dice-based, with weapons determining the type and number of dice rolled, and damage calculated by total roll values, with every five points causing a wound. A unique feature is the 'Massed Fire' mechanic, which encourages teamwork by allowing multiple players to focus fire on a single target within range, enhancing group play and reducing downtime between turns.

Nic explained the 'Massed Fire' concept: "In the video game, you're encouraged to work together as a team. If you have a heavily armored enemy, you need to flank and shoot at weak points. We implemented 'massed fire' to reward and incentivize group work in the board game." While players can choose to explore independently, the 'Massed Fire' mechanic promotes collaboration and keeps players engaged during others' turns.

Enemy attacks are straightforward, with set damage or effects causing players to draw wound cards, each wound imposing a detrimental effect. If a player accumulates three wounds, their character dies, but they can respawn with a full loadout depending on the chosen difficulty level.

One notable aspect not included in the board game is the galactic war from the video game. Jamie Perkins shared a lore-friendly explanation: "We're positioning it as a training simulation. So, you get this board game as a Helldiver to learn how to be a better Helldiver." Despite this omission, the designers are committed to ensuring the board game retains the essence of Helldivers, with unexpected events, strategems that can backfire, and a dwindling pool of reinforcements.

With the game's core mechanics about 75-80% finalized, Steamforged Games is open to community feedback and further refinements. Jamie emphasized that recent concerns about tariffs will not hinder their plans, and the studio is prepared to adapt as necessary.

After playing the prototype, the random events and 'Massed Fire' mechanic stood out as particularly engaging. While appreciating the tactical focus on larger, more challenging enemies, there's a desire for more smaller enemies to create a sense of chaos akin to the video game. The static nature of enemy attacks could benefit from added variability to match the game's overall dynamism.

Anticipation is high for what other features Steamforged Games might unveil for Helldivers 2. The prototype has already sparked excitement for exploring new classes, mission types, and environments. As players eagerly await the full release, the question on everyone's mind is: Where are we dropping next?

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