One of the standout multiplayer gaming successes of last year was Arrowhead's Helldivers 2, where players spread democracy across the galaxy by combating aliens and robots with an array of firepower. Following their recent release of the Elden Ring board game, Steamforged Games is now adapting the fast-paced and intense experience of Helldivers 2 into a tabletop format. The board game is currently available for backing on Gamefound, and IGN had the opportunity to try out a prototype and discuss the project with the game's designers, Jamie Perkins, Derek Funkhouser, and Nicholas Yu.

Helldivers 2: The Board Game

17 ImagesDevelopment of Helldivers 2: The Board Game began shortly after the video game's launch early last year. It captures the essence of what made the original so popular and exciting, including intense firefights, chaotic surprises, and a focus on teamwork, while also adding unique twists to the gameplay.

Helldivers 2 remains a cooperative, objective-based skirmish game where one to four players (solo players are recommended to control two characters) collaborate to complete their mission while fending off waves of enemies and unexpected events. Each player selects a distinct Helldiver class—Heavy, Sniper, Pyro, or Captain—each with a unique perk, a set of action cards, and a one-use-per-game "Act of Valor" ability. Players equip themselves with primary, secondary, and support weapons, a grenade, and three strategems, with recommended loadouts provided on their class cards, though players can customize their gear as they gain experience.

Gameplay unfolds on dynamic grid-based boards that expand as players explore, revealing sub-objectives and primary mission locations, such as Terminid hatcheries in the prototype I played. As the mission progresses, increasingly difficult enemies spawn, and a mission timer adds urgency, keeping the gameplay tense and fast-paced.

While the prototype focused on destroying Terminid hatcheries, the final game will offer multiple objectives. The base game includes two main factions—the Terminids and the robotic Automatons—with each featuring 10 unit types. Although not confirmed, there's potential for the Illuminate faction to be added through an expansion, given Steamforged's history with stretch goals.

I was particularly interested in how the board game would replicate the video game's feeling of being overwhelmed and outnumbered. Helldivers 2 opts for a tactical approach with fewer but more challenging enemies, similar to games like Nemesis, rather than overwhelming players with sheer numbers like Zombicide.

Turns involve players and enemies adding action cards to a pool, which are then shuffled and placed on an initiative tracker, reminiscent of Steamforged's Elden Ring game. Combat relies on dice rolls, with a unique feature that triggers a random event every four action cards, often throwing a wrench into the players' plans.

On the Helldivers' side, combat is managed through dice rolls, with each weapon providing specific dice types and numbers. Damage is calculated by the total value of the roll, with every five points equating to one wound on an enemy. This straightforward damage system avoids the complexity of modifiers and defense values, emphasizing the Helldivers' elite training.

A standout feature the designers are proud of is the 'Massed Fire' mechanic, which simulates the video game's cooperative firing on a single target. Nic explained, "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 the weak points if you don't have a support weapon. We implemented 'massed fire,' allowing other Helldivers within range to join in on the attack, incentivizing group play."

While players can choose to explore independently, the 'Massed Fire' mechanic reduces downtime and increases player engagement during others' turns. Enemy attacks are simpler, with fixed damage or effects determined by their card, leading to players drawing wound cards. Three wounds result in character death, but players can respawn based on the chosen difficulty level, returning with a full loadout.

One aspect of the Helldivers 2 video game that doesn't translate to the board game is the galactic war feature. The designers considered including it but ultimately decided against it, aiming to create a unique experience rather than a direct simulation of the video game. Jamie shared an interesting piece of lore: "We're positioning the board game as a training simulation. Helldivers would use it to hone their skills."

The designers, Nic, Jamie, and Derek, have focused on ensuring the board game retains the essence of Helldivers, despite the medium change. Nic emphasized, "We wanted to keep the feel of Helldivers with unexpected events, stratagems that might misfire, and a dwindling pool of reinforcements." Derek added, "We needed to maintain the core loop of mission objectives and the thrill of uncovering new objectives while fending off enemies."

Jamie estimates that the game's core mechanics are about 75-80% finalized, which is typical for Steamforged's campaigns, allowing room for community feedback and further refinement. Despite recent concerns about tariffs affecting the board game industry, Jamie assures that their plans remain unaffected.

After playing the prototype, I found the systems in place to be engaging, particularly the random events and 'Massed Fire' mechanic, which led to memorable moments. However, I felt the gameplay could benefit from more smaller enemies to clear out, akin to the video game's experience. Additionally, enemy attacks could use more variability to match the game's overall chaotic feel.

I'm excited to see what other surprises Steamforged has in store for Helldivers 2. The prototype has left me eager to explore new classes, game types, and combinations with different enemies and biomes. My friends and I are already planning our next mission.

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