Should you bother playing Helldivers 2 solo?

Helldivers 2 is the latest foray into the live-service genre for PlayStation, but like with most online shooters, you just can’t help but wonder if the game is worth playing solo. I've put a fair amount of time into the game, both in co-op and in solo, so here's my experience of whether you should bother playing Helldivers 2 as a lone wolf.

The Helldivers 2 solo experience

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You can play the game solo, but it is always online, meaning you can't rinse through missions without an internet connection. However, that doesn't mean you have to play with other people.

The only downside to this is the missions are very tough. I have been playing a fair amount by myself and although it is still enjoyable, you constantly feel like you’re being overwhelmed by enemies. Unfortunately, this does feel like a game intended to be experienced with at least a pal or two.

If you’re about to dive in on your own, you have the option to play with strangers. It isn’t ideal, but the difficulty won’t cause as many problems. From my experience so far, the community is genuinely quite nice - if you’ve ever played an online game before this could be a surprise - it’s one of the few games I’ve played where jumping on with strangers is still enjoyable. If anything, it highlights how much better the game is with friends.

All in all, Helldivers 2 is at its best with friends. It's worth playing with strangers, but on your own, it offers a significant challenge that could be quite overwhelming for some.