Does Helldivers 2 have a campaign? Answered

Is there plot beyond "shoot aliens?"

Jets flying over a Helldiver holding a weapon in Helldivers 2
Screenshot by Dot Esports

Helldivers 2 puts the responsibility in your hands to determine how the Galactic War ends. Regardless of whether you’re entering the Hellpod alone or with others, we’re sure you’re wondering whether Helldivers 2 has a campaign to follow.

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Here’s everything we know about Helldivers 2‘s campaign.

Does Helldivers 2 have a single-player campaign?

Man on his knees in distress with INVASION written across the screen in Helldivers 2 opening
Is there a story to follow? Screenshot by Dot Esports

Just like the first game, Helldivers 2 doesn’t include a single-player campaign. While you can play this game solo, you won’t be able to dive into Helldivers 2‘s story faster than any of your fellow comrades. This is due to Helldivers 2 following a community-based story revolving around everyone’s progression in the Galactic War.

Helldivers 2 sees the return of the Terminid as they revolt against the Super Earth. A new threat, the Automaton, join the fold in an attempt to invade from Xzar and Severin Sectors. The Super Earth orbiting planets are under pressure to withstand the factions‘ attacks. This is where you, the Helldiver, comes in. It’s down to your gun skill, strategy, and comradery to save the Sol System from invasion.

Helldivers 2: Liberation Campaign, explained

Liberation Campaign success brief on closing of Orion Sector in Helldivers 2
Learn more about Helldivers 2‘s lore by reading the Major Order debriefs. Screenshot by Dot Esports

While there isn’t a single-player mode exactly, Helldivers 2 includes a Liberation Campaign, which acts as a story-mode for all Helldivers. This campaign continuously plays out, regardless of its server issues and concurrent player count. The Liberation Campaign consists of Major Orders, pushing the war’s development forward. These orders give us meaning to continue playing, rather than simply landing on a planet and farming Warbond Medals.

Liberation Campaign brief on Automaton factions in Helldivers 2
The story develops with or without you. Screenshot by Dot Esports

As each Major Order comes to an end (regardless of whether the community succeed in their efforts to fulfil the main objective), the story moves onto a new threat. These threats create new Campaigns for the community to focus on, like the Defend Campaign against the Automatons. Each Campaign has a timer, meaning the story will inevitably move on once time runs out.

The Liberation Campaign unlocks new planets with unique weather conditions and chances of harboring specific enemies like the Bile Spewers. The Liberation Campaign closes sectors once they are fully liberated, shifting focus onto another faction. But when a sector closes, another opens for the invading factions to move in.

Turing planet in Helldivers 2
New sectors unlock as you liberate planets. Screenshot by Dot Esports

You aren’t limited to following the Liberation Campaign, but the incentive is there as Major Orders offer large Requisition rewards. The Liberation Campaign is the main goal in Helldivers 2. Arrowhead wants us to see the Galactic War to its end, rather than simply grinding for max level. The Liberation Campaign hopes the Helldivers will come out the other side as the heroes of the story. But it’s up to you to determine how the war ends.

So it comes down to you, Helldiver. Get involved, fight off giant bugs and robots while sticking to the Major Order objective so you can see the Galactic War unfold in front of your eyes as a committed soldier to the cause.

Author
Image of Hadley Vincent
Hadley Vincent
Writer for Dot since Oct. 2023. Just a Psychology graduate trying to find the meaning of life through gaming. An enthusiast of indie horror and anime, where you'll often find them obsessing over a great narrative and even better twists that'd make M. Night jealous. Their shocking twist? They think The Last of Us II is a masterpiece.
Author
Image of Michael Beckwith
Michael Beckwith
Staff writer at Dot Esports covering all kinds of gaming news. A graduate in Computer Games Design and Creative Writing from Brunel University who's been writing about games since 2014. Nintendo fan and Sonic the Hedgehog apologist. Knows a worrying amount of Kingdom Hearts lore. Has previously written for Metro, TechRadar, and Game Rant.