Exterminauts Devs Talk Helldivers Comparisons And How It Separates Itself
Behaviour Interactive’s Exterminauts has drawn inevitable comparisons to Helldivers 2 following its Gamescom reveal, but the developers say the two cooperative PvE shooters differ in meaningful ways. While both games feature squad-based gameplay, powerful weaponry, and alien creature encounters, Exterminauts carves out its own identity through a distinct thematic approach.
Speaking at the convention, creative director Vincent Regimbart emphasized that Exterminauts adopts a workplace comedy angle rather than a military framework. “Our game is not war: It’s work,” he explained, describing the setting as “a workplace that fights back.” This tonal shift represents a fundamental difference from Helldivers 2’s deadpan sci-fi militarism, positioning Exterminauts as something more lighthearted and humorous in its approach to cooperative alien-slaying.
The comparison is understandable given the surface-level similarities—both are cooperative shooters with destructible environments and varied arsenals—but Behaviour Interactive appears committed to using humor and workplace absurdity as the vehicle that separates their title. The shift in theme aims to make the gameplay feel less weighted by war narrative and more grounded in relatable workplace chaos, even as players battle off waves of hostile creatures.
Whether Exterminauts can successfully differentiate itself through tone alone remains to be seen, but the developers’ confidence in their thematic angle suggests they believe there’s room for another cooperative shooter in this space, provided it offers a distinct experience beyond mechanical similarities.