Short version first, because that is what you came for. No, Helldivers 2 is not on Xbox Game Pass, and the developer has said it has no plans to add it. It is a premium game you buy once, so this guide answers the Game Pass question fast and then points you to co-op and action picks that fit your budget and your squad.
Last updated: June 19, 2026. Prices checked: June 2026. Sources: Steam, Epic, publisher pages and partner stores. We refresh prices and sale notes regularly.
Best picks at a glance
- Straight answer: Helldivers 2 is buy-to-own, not on Game Pass. HELLDIVERS 2 is the game you actually want.
- Best premium edition: HELLDIVERS 2 Super Citizen Edition if you want the cosmetic and Warbond extras.
- Best cheap co-op alternative: HELLDIVERS Dive Harder Edition, the top-down original, for a few bucks.
- Best looter-shooter co-op on a budget: Borderlands: Game of the Year Enhanced.
- Best for 2 players: Untitled Goose Game, chaos for two with zero learning curve.
- Best for big groups: Duck Game and Stick Fight: The Game.
- Best couch session: Stick Fight: The Game.
- Best cross-platform: HELLDIVERS 2, PC plus PlayStation plus Xbox in one matchmaking pool.
- Best solo deep-dive: The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Game of the Year Edition.
Quick list
| Game | Best for | Players | Platforms | Entry cost | Why pick it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HELLDIVERS 2 | Squad shooter nights | 1-4 | PC, PlayStation, Xbox | ~$26-$40 | The actual game you searched for, cross-play included |
| HELLDIVERS 2 Super Citizen Edition | Fans who want extras | 1-4 | PC, PlayStation, Xbox | ~$45-$60 | Warbond, armor and cosmetic bonuses on top |
| HELLDIVERS Dive Harder Edition | Cheap co-op fix | 1-4 | PC | ~$3-$8 | The top-down original, friendly-fire chaos intact |
| Borderlands: Game of the Year Enhanced | Looter co-op | 1-4 | PC, PlayStation, Xbox | ~$8-$30 | Billions of guns, full campaign with friends |
| Borderlands Game of the Year | Classic looter run | 1-4 | PC | ~$5-$20 | Older bundle, dirt cheap on sale |
| Stick Fight: The Game | Party brawls | 1-4 | PC | ~$5 | Instant fun, online and local |
| Duck Game | Couch chaos | 1-4 | PC, PlayStation, Switch | ~$13 | Fast rounds, hilarious deaths |
| Untitled Goose Game | Two-player mischief | 1-2 | PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch | ~$20 | Co-op honking, easy to share |
| Wargame: Red Dragon | Big strategy battles | 1-8+ | PC | ~$10-$30 | Massive Cold War RTS skirmishes |
| Skater XL | Skating sim | 1-10+ | PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch | ~$15-$30 | Physics-driven trick playground |
| Game Dev Tycoon | Solo sim builder | 1 | PC, Switch | ~$8-$12 | Cozy studio management loop |
| There Is No Game: Wrong Dimension | Puzzle laughs | 1 | PC, Switch | ~$13 | Meta puzzle comedy, fully solo |
| Sultan's Game | Dark narrative strategy | 1 | PC | ~$13-$18 | Roguelike intrigue and tough calls |
| Hero's Adventure: Road to Passion | Open-world wuxia | 1 | PC | ~$15-$20 | Sandbox RPG with huge freedom |
| The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion GOTY | Solo fantasy RPG | 1 | PC | ~$5-$15 | Hundreds of hours of questing |
| Fallout: A Post Nuclear RPG | Retro CRPG | 1 | PC | ~$3-$10 | The original wasteland classic |
So, is Helldivers 2 on Game Pass? The full answer
People keep asking because the Xbox launch made it look like a subscription title was coming. It was not. Helldivers 2 released on Xbox, but the co-op shooter is not coming to the Game Pass service. The studio has been blunt about it staying off the service for the foreseeable future.
What that means in practice:
- You buy the game once and own it. It is a premium product priced around $40, and Xbox players have to pay that cost rather than get it through a subscription.
- The standard edition lists at $39.99 across PlayStation, PC and Xbox.
- Sales and partner-store keys routinely cut that. We have tracked it in the mid-$20s on key stores, so check the comparison page before paying list.
Best co-op shooters and squad games
If the appeal of Helldivers 2 is "drop in, shoot bugs, laugh at friendly fire," these scratch the same itch. Every game here genuinely supports co-op, no filler.
- HELLDIVERS 2 (1-4): the headline act. Third-person, stratagem chaos, and a live war that keeps shifting. Cross-platform play means your friend group does not need to share a console.
- HELLDIVERS Dive Harder Edition (1-4): the original top-down twin-stick version. Same democracy-spreading energy for a fraction of the price, and the friendly-fire still ends friendships.
- Borderlands: Game of the Year Enhanced (1-4): a looter-shooter built for four. Endless guns, a sharp sense of humor, and a campaign that scales as you add players. If you want the older, cheaper package, Borderlands Game of the Year does the same job for less.
Want more in this lane? Games like Deep Rock Galactic, Risk of Rain 2 and Vermintide 2 are the obvious cousins, and they show up on our action hub regularly.
Best party and couch picks
Smaller wallet, bigger laughs. These are the ones to fire up when people are physically in the room or piling into a Discord call.
- Stick Fight: The Game (1-4): pure physics-brawler nonsense. It costs about the same as a coffee, loads in seconds, and is impossible to play angry.
- Duck Game (1-4): lightning-fast deathmatches where the round is over before you finish laughing. The single best "one more round" trap on this list.
- Untitled Goose Game (1-2): the gentlest chaos here. Two players, one or two horrible geese, and a village to ruin. Perfect for a partner or a friend who does not play much.
That chart is approximate June 2026 list math (before sales). It is the clearest reason the cheaper party titles fill the gap while Helldivers 2 is on a wishlist waiting for a discount.
Best strategy and large-group games
If "big group" to you means commanding armies rather than four-stacking, this is your shelf.
- Wargame: Red Dragon (1-8+): a sprawling Cold-War-gone-hot RTS with enormous multiplayer battles. The learning curve is real, but the scale is unmatched at the price.
It is one of those games doing one thing exceptionally well (mass armored warfare) even if the menus feel like homework. Stick with it and it sings.
Best solo games to own (no subscription required)
Not everything needs a squad. Since the whole point here is "buy it once, keep it forever," these single-player titles are the anti-Game-Pass argument: yours permanently, often for pocket change.
- The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Game of the Year Edition: a fantasy RPG you can lose a whole summer to. Cheap, deep, endlessly modded.
- Fallout: A Post Nuclear Role Playing Game: the original isometric CRPG that started the series. A few dollars for a piece of history that still bites.
- Hero's Adventure: Road to Passion: an open-world wuxia sandbox with absurd freedom. Become a healer, a thief, a martial-arts legend, or all three.
- Game Dev Tycoon: a cozy management sim about building a game studio. Pure solo comfort food.
- There Is No Game: Wrong Dimension: a meta puzzle comedy that keeps breaking its own fourth wall. Short, smart, single-player only.
- Sultan's Game: a dark, card-driven strategy roguelike full of grim choices. One run pulls you into the next.
Browse more in the RPG hub and the indie hub if you want a longer solo backlog.
Honourable / adjacent picks
These touch the theme but do not belong in the core co-op list, so here is the honest placement.
- Skater XL: a physics skateboarding sim. It has online sessions, but it is a chill creative sandbox rather than a squad shooter, so it sits here, not in the co-op section.
- HELLDIVERS 2 Super Citizen Edition: the same game with cosmetic and Warbond extras. Great value if you want the bonuses, but it is an edition of the base game, so do not treat it as a separate pick.
FAQ
Is Helldivers 2 on Xbox Game Pass in 2026? No. Helldivers 2 is on Xbox going forward, but it is not coming to Game Pass. You buy it once and keep it.
Is Helldivers 2 on PlayStation Plus? It is not part of the monthly PS Plus game catalog as a free title. It is a paid game on the PlayStation Store, with PS Plus only required for the online multiplayer, as with most online console games.
How much does Helldivers 2 cost? The standard edition lists at $39.99 on PlayStation, PC and Xbox. On sale and via partner-store keys we have seen it in the mid-$20s, so always compare before buying.
Do I need Game Pass or PS Plus to play Helldivers 2 online? On consoles you need an online subscription to play with others, which is standard. Online console multiplayer requires an Xbox Game Pass subscription on Xbox, sold separately. On PC there is no subscription requirement at all.
Is Helldivers 2 cross-platform? Yes. PC, PlayStation and Xbox players can squad up together, so you do not all need the same hardware. Buy on the cheapest platform and still play with everyone.
What is the cheapest way to get a Helldivers fix? HELLDIVERS Dive Harder Edition, the original top-down game, usually costs only a few dollars and delivers the same friendly-fire chaos in 2D.
What is a good co-op alternative if I do not want to pay $40? Borderlands: Game of the Year Enhanced for four-player looting, or Duck Game and Stick Fight: The Game for cheaper party chaos.
Will Helldivers 2 ever come to Game Pass later? There is no announced plan for that. Arrowhead has stated it has no plans to release Helldivers 2 on Game Pass. Treat it as a buy-to-own title and watch for sales.
Bottom line
So, is Helldivers 2 on Game Pass? No, and there is no plan to change that, so it stays a buy-once game across PC, PlayStation and Xbox. The smart move is simple: wishlist it, wait for a dip, and grab a party or co-op pick from this list to play tonight while you wait. Compare live prices across Steam, Eneba, Kinguin, Epic and GOG on our full catalog, check today's deals, and keep an eye on free giveaways and the next Steam sale so you never pay list price again. On Steam Deck? Most of these run great, see Steam Deck compatible games.
Alex, Scout Team