Helldivers 2’s co-op, sci-fi action is about as dystopian as you can get. The opening cutscene greets you with a warning that “undivided attention is mandatory” before urging you to join the Helldivers to “spread Managed Democracy throughout the galaxy.”
What’s ‘Managed Democracy’, you might ask? Well, it’s a system where an algorithm decides how to allocate your votes. If that sounds like it wouldn’t result in a free or fair election, that’s because it wouldn’t. Citizens of Super Earth - that’s Helldivers 2’s human faction - live under an authoritarian regime disguised as democracy. Super Earth is our own planet but given a veneer of futuristic prosperity. Scratch the surface, though, and you’ll find something horrible. It’s a lot like Reese’s Pieces, except, instead of a delicious center, you’re left with Napalm.
