Helldivers 2 was one of my most-played games in 2024, and a big part of the appeal is the serious stakes of defending the noble human bastion of Super Earth, mixed with the goofy tone of gaslighting from high command and antics on the battlefield. The game’s core concepts are widely appealing, taking large doses of inspiration from Starship Troopers, The Terminator, War of the Worlds, and other sci-fi classics. It’s not a surprise that the game is being developed into a feature film; out of all of the games in Sony’s library, Helldivers 2 seems most naturally suited for a big-screen adaptation. But there’s one critical element the movie needs to keep if it’s going to live up to the game: the in-game antics.

If you haven’t played Helldivers 2 or watched much footage of the game, you could easily think it’s an undiluted power fantasy. The Helldivers are the most potent of Super Earth’s forces, and they serve as a vanguard against the insectoid Terminids, the robot armies of the Automatons, and the psychic Illuminate. Super Earth soldiers fight for liberty, “managed democracy,” and freedom — in theory. In practice, Super Earth leadership seems to be serving up a load of bull. High command

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