Yes, you can play Helldivers 2 solo, but it's not an experience that's going to be for everyone. To be clear, you won't find a dedicated single-player mode which means the solo experience is simply diving into Helldivers 2 missions without any squadmates, facing the full force of the enemies alone. It's certainly doable on the lower difficulties but quickly gets substantially harder as you up the difficulty. If this still sounds like a good idea to you, I've explained how to play Helldivers 2 solo below and have laid out some tips for lone divers.
How to play Helldivers 2 solo
To play Helldivers 2 solo, you obviously need to make sure you're alone on your Destroyer when you choose a mission. Then you should also head into the options menu and turn Matchmaking Privacy to 'friends only' or 'invite only'. This'll ensure random players can't join you when you start a mission and that you'll be diving down alone. However, if you decide midway through your mission that you do want some help, you can deploy an SOS Beacon using the appropriate Stratagem to signal to other players you need help, giving them the chance to join your squad and help.
But should you play Helldivers 2 solo? I and other members of the GamesRadar+ guides team wouldn't recommend it unless you're really up for the challenge. It's entirely possible, but with Helldivers 2 being a tough game intended to be played with a full squad, it can be very hard playing on your own. The easiest Helldivers 2 difficulties (Trivial and Easy) are manageable solo, but Medium and Challenging are a noticeable step up. Then it starts becoming near impossible for solo players in Hard, Extreme, and beyond.
Tips for playing Helldivers 2 solo
Despite my warnings against playing Helldivers 2 solo, sometimes it is preferable to matching with randoms in Quickplay. Check out these general Helldivers 2 tips as well as these solo-specific pointers:
- Cover all bases for fighting enemies: Since you're a one-Helldiver army, you must be able to tackle the full range of enemies. Bring explosives, anti-tank weaponry, and small arms weapons, if possible, then fill any gaps with Stratagems so that you can kill every enemy type and destroy bug nests, bot fabricators, and squid ships with relative ease. If you want some weapon pointers, our list of the best Helldivers 2 primary weapons may help.
- Sentry turret and Guard Dog Stratagems can be very useful: These are some of the best Helldivers 2 Stratagems for solo missions as you can call them in and let them do their thing, providing additional firepower and – in the case of turrets – something for the enemies of Super Earth to target that isn't you.
- Speed is key: Helldivers missions get more chaotic the longer they last. Enemies spawn in frequently and really start to stack up when the timer runs low. If you're solo, you should focus on the main objectives as much as possible to get in and out fast. Wearing light armor will also help with your overall speed and stamina regeneration.
- Avoid fights as best you can: Bug Bursts and Bot Drops are usually triggered by wandering into an enemy patrol, so it's best to always be vigilant. Check your minimap for clusters of red dots often and avoid said clusters to minimize the number of fights you get into and ammo you use. Enemies are also persistent, especially the Helldivers 2 Terminids, so running away from a large fight rarely works!
- Redacted Regiment is the most useful Warbond for solo missions: This stealth-focused reward pass is one of the best Warbonds in Helldivers 2 and the gear within is especially well-suited for playing solo. In particular, the armor sets with the Reduced Signature passive are a massive help, letting you sneak past Automatons and Illuminate very easily.
- Don't forget the SOS Beacon: As mentioned, if you want help mid-mission, you can of course call in an SOS Beacon to try and connect other Helldivers to your game. An extra body might just make all the difference.
Many of these solo tips also apply to completing Helldivers 2 Commando Missions, which require serious stealth, and make sure you also read our general Helldivers 2 tips!
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