Home News > Helldivers 2 Board Game: Exclusive Preview

Helldivers 2 Board Game: Exclusive Preview

by Daniel May 30,2025

If you're a fan of cooperative multiplayer games, you might remember the excitement that Helldivers 2, developed by Arrowhead, brought to the scene last year. Set in a universe where democracy spreads across galaxies by blasting aliens and robots with an endless stream of bullets, it captured hearts worldwide. Now, Steamforged Games, fresh off their Elden Ring board game success, is bringing Helldivers 2 to life on the tabletop. The board game is live for backing on Gamefound, and IGN had the opportunity to preview a prototype and chat with designers Jamie Perkins, Derek Funkhouser, and Nicholas Yu about this new adaptation.

Helldivers 2: The Board Game

17 ImagesWith development beginning shortly after the video game's release, Helldivers 2: The Board Game brings the intense firefights, chaotic surprises, and teamwork-driven experience of the original to life. It introduces new twists to the formula while staying true to what made the game beloved.

Helldivers 2 remains a cooperative, objective-based skirmish game for one to four players (solo players are encouraged to control two characters). Players assume roles as different Helldiver classes, each with unique perks, action cards, and a powerful "Act of Valor" ability. The demo showcased classes like the Heavy, Sniper, Pyro, and Captain. Each character can equip a primary and secondary weapon, a support gun, a grenade, and three strategems, with suggested loadouts listed on class cards. However, experienced players can customize their setups before each game.

Gameplay unfolds on grid-based boards that expand as you explore, requiring you to add new tiles to reveal sub-objectives and the locations of primary objectives—like destroying Terminid hatcheries in my prototype session. As exploration progresses, tougher enemies emerge, and the mission timer adds pressure, keeping games tense and exhilarating.

The prototype focused on a single objective: destroying Terminid hatcheries. The final product will offer multiple options. Enemies include two factions: Terminads and Automatons, each featuring ten unit types. While Steamforged Games often introduces expansions via stretch goals, I predict we’ll see the Illuminate join the fray eventually.

A key concern was how the game would capture the overwhelming nature of the video game. Would it rely on sheer numbers, similar to Zombicide, or focus on stronger but fewer foes like Nemesis? Helldivers opts for the latter, introducing progressively challenging enemies as missions unfold.

Turns involve players and enemies adding action cards to a shared pool, which is shuffled and placed on an initiative tracker (similar to Elden Ring). Combat relies on dice rolls, with each weapon type determining the number and type of dice rolled. Damage is calculated by totaling the roll, with one wound inflicted per every five points. I appreciate this system—it simplifies combat without bogging down gameplay with modifiers.

A standout feature is the "Massed Fire" mechanic, designed to replicate the video game's teamwork element.

![](/uploads/47/67f5727cbd8db.webp>“In the video game, cooperation is key,” Nic explained. "If you face an armored enemy, you need to flank or use support weapons. In a board game, implementing that felt complicated. So, we introduced 'Massed Fire,' where allies within range can contribute to a single target. It encourages teamwork and rewards coordination."

Players can still go solo if they prefer, but this mechanic reduces downtime and increases engagement during others' turns.

Enemies follow simple rules: they inflict damage based on their cards, causing players to draw wound cards. Three wounds result in death, though respawns are possible depending on difficulty settings. Reinforcements deplete over time, adding tension.

One element missing from the board game is the galactic war narrative. The designers chose to omit this to ensure the game felt distinct rather than derivative.

Despite these changes, the core spirit of Helldivers shines through. Jamie emphasized their commitment to maintaining the game's identity: "Even with new mechanics, it should still feel like Helldivers—unexpected challenges, risky stratagems, dwindling reinforcements."

Derek added, "We kept the essence of Helldivers intact—the mission objectives, the chase, and the constant threat of enemies."

Currently, the game is 75-80% finalized, aligning with Steamforged's preferred launch stage. Flexibility remains for community feedback and balance tweaks. Despite recent tariff concerns affecting the board gaming industry, Jamie assured that development proceeds uninterrupted.

My time with the prototype highlighted enjoyable features like random events and the Massed Fire mechanic. Epic moments arose frequently. That said, I’d love to see more chump enemies for quick victories and deeper mechanics for enemy attacks. Adding varied outcomes based on dice rolls might enhance combat dynamics.

I’m excited to see what Steamforged has in store. My early impressions leave me eager to explore new classes, objectives, and enemy combinations. Only one question remains: where are we dropping next?