Helldivers 2 style FPS Starship Troopers Extermination is briefly free to play

Helldivers 2 still remains a revelation, and one of the most gloriously satisfying co-op games in years, but if you’re craving a change of scenery, a new Starship Troopers: Extermination free weekend is the ideal chance to try the rival co-op FPS out. Built in the bug-blasting fictional universe that inspired Helldivers and launched into full release in October 2024, it’s earned itself a ‘very positive’ 81% Steam review score from nearly 30,000 player ratings. Now, you can try it for free on Steam if you’re quick, and even grab it at half price if you like what you see.

No matter how tempting any game looks, being able to try it before you buy is always welcome, and that’s especially true with the best co-op games, as you can much more easily convince the whole squad to join you if no-one has to pull out their wallet. So why not round up your Helldivers crew for a few rounds of Starship Troopers: Extermination and see if it ranks among the best FPS games? With six classes and support for up to 16 players at once, there’s room for everyone to join, raising the stakes to a suitable level of bombast for the series.

Since the game’s full release, developer Offworld has made a whole heap of upgrades, from fresh missions to new weapons, mods, and tools. Additional perks let you shape the Galactic War to your preferred strategy and loadout, new ‘staged reload’ mechanics bring more on-the-fly decision making and tactical depth to engagements, and dynamic weather systems ensure the battlefield is constantly shifting. It’s also updated the squad invites and chat system, and introduced a FedNet camera to “relive your greatest victories (and most heroic last stands).”

There’s still much more to come; next on the cards is update 1.6, which Offworld calls “a major milestone in our ongoing fight against the Arachnid menace.” This will include a full overhaul to the bug spawning system that’s been in the works “for many months,” and should improve the ability for matches to scale and offer more flexible and interesting encounters. “It will be a powerful step forward in allowing the ever-watchful Game Master to dynamically influence the battlefield,” the developer teases.

The 1.6 patch will also introduce Bug Holes, which work much like the active nests of Helldivers 2 – you’ll have to decide whether it’s worth diving deep into enemy territory to scratch out a potential spawn point, or if you should consider dropping an M-55 Nuke on the whole thing. Alongside this, a new game mode called Critical Strike will see you locating and extracting Achnigeon, a potent resource that could prove vital to the war effort.

Now’s an excellent time to jump on the Starship Troopers train, then, and you might as well do so right now while it’s temporarily a free Steam game. If you like what you see, it’s even cheap to keep; a half-price Steam sale discount brings the game down to a very appealing $15, so if you and your buddies have a good time you won’t have to break the bank to keep going once the free weekend ends.

You can play Starship Troopers: Extermination for free on Steam until Sunday August 3 at 10am PT / 1pm ET / 6pm BST / 7pm CEST. If you like it, you can buy the full game at 50% off through Monday August 4, meaning you’ll pay $14.99 / £12.49. Head here to sign up for the UCF’s Mobile Infantry and do your part in the fight against the bugs.

Make sure your communication cuts through the chaos by grabbing the best gaming headset for PC. Still on the hunt for more intergalactic action? We’ve rounded up the best space games in 2025 to ensure you’ll find your next destination.

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