Disclosure: WigSec purchased this game for review purposes. The developer and publisher have no editorial input on this content.
The Basics
Game: Helldivers 2 Platform: PC (Steam), PlayStation ESRB Rating: T for Teen (blood, violence, language) Price Model: One-time purchase with optional cosmetic battle pass (Warbonds) Online Features: Always-online co-op for up to 4 players
Helldivers 2 is a cooperative third-person shooter where players are “Helldivers”—elite soldiers spreading “managed democracy” across the galaxy by fighting aliens and robots. The game is a satirical take on military propaganda and fascism, played entirely straight for comedic effect. Think Starship Troopers: The Game.
Content Considerations
Teen-appropriate with context:
Violence: Players shoot alien bugs, robots, and occasionally friendly fire their teammates (it’s a feature). Combat produces green/yellow blood from aliens and explosions. It’s action-movie violence, not realistic or gory.
Satirical propaganda: The game’s entire framing is satirical. “Super Earth” is an authoritarian regime, and Helldivers are cheerful fascist soldiers who don’t realize they’re the bad guys. The humor works because players are in on the joke.
Mild language: Some profanity, but not excessive.
Friendly fire: Players can (and frequently do) kill teammates accidentally. This is a core gameplay mechanic. It’s played for comedy, but some players find it frustrating.
Cooperative chaos: Missions are chaotic. Players call in airstrikes, orbital bombardments, and heavy weapons. Collateral damage is expected.
The satire question: Does your teenager understand satire? The game’s anti-war/anti-fascism message only works if players recognize the absurdity. Taken at face value, it’s just “shooting aliens for democracy.”
Online and Privacy Exposure
Moderate exposure—co-op is the entire game.
Always online: There’s no offline mode. The game requires internet connection and server availability.
PlayStation Network required: Even on PC, a PSN account was initially required (this requirement was controversial and may have been adjusted—verify current status).
Matchmaking: Players can match with random teammates or play with friends. Public matchmaking means playing with strangers.
Voice chat: Available and commonly used for coordination. Can be set to friends-only or disabled.
Relatively positive community: Unlike games like Rust or DayZ, Helldivers 2’s cooperative nature produces a generally positive community. Players help each other rather than compete.
Battle pass (Warbonds): The game has premium battle passes for cosmetics. These are considered fair by industry standards (no pay-to-win, earnable through gameplay), but spending pressure exists.
Privacy Settings to Configure
PlayStation Network Account
- Use a dedicated email address
- Non-identifying Online ID
- Privacy settings at account.sonyentertainmentnetwork.com:
- Profile to Private or Friends Only
- Hide online status if desired
- Two-factor authentication
Steam Level
- Profile to Private or Friends Only
- Game activity to Friends Only
In-Game Settings
- Voice chat: Set to Friends Only if uncomfortable with strangers
- Matchmaking: Can restrict to friends-only sessions
- Text chat: Review visibility settings
Talk to Your Kid About
- The satire: Make sure they understand the game is making fun of military propaganda and authoritarianism. “Super Earth” is not aspirational.
- Voice chat with strangers: If they use public matchmaking, they’ll be voice chatting with unknown players. Standard rules apply—no personal information.
- Friendly fire etiquette: Accidentally killing teammates happens. Getting angry about it ruins the fun. Apologize and move on.
- The battle pass: Warbonds cost real money. Discuss spending expectations before they start. The free content is substantial.
- The community: Helldivers 2 has a notably positive community, but online games always carry some risk of toxic encounters.
Bottom Line
Helldivers 2 is one of the better options for teens interested in online shooters. The T rating is appropriate—violence is sci-fi action rather than realistic, and the cooperative nature produces a healthier community than competitive shooters.
The satirical framing adds value for players who understand it, turning mindless shooting into commentary on propaganda and militarism. That said, if your teenager isn’t picking up on the satire, it’s still a fun co-op game—just without the extra layer.
Privacy exposure is moderate. The PSN requirement (verify current status) and always-online nature mean some exposure, but cooperative games generally have friendlier communities than PvP games. Configure voice chat settings based on comfort level—friends-only sessions eliminate stranger interaction entirely.
The battle pass (Warbonds) is worth discussing beforehand. It’s one of the fairer implementations in gaming, but spending pressure exists. Set expectations before they start playing.