Summary
- Several upcoming co-op shooters (Arc Raiders, Exoborne, Project Spectrum, Toxic Commando) aim to rival Helldivers 2.
- Arc Raiders and Exoborne focus on tense extraction runs, loot, customizable gear, and high-mobility combat.
- Project Spectrum and Toxic Commando add paranoia, friendly-fire risk, horror elements, and classic co-op horde action.
With the success of Helldivers 2, players are already thinking about what could be the next big cooperative shooter that will revolutionize the gaming world. However, as Arrowhead has left the bar quite high, there are only a few possible titles that could dispute Helldivers 2' s reign over co-op shooting fun.
This list spotlights some of the upcoming titles that could become the next Helldivers 2, according to gameplay footage, feedback on recent test runs, and potential for online cooperative play.
Arc Raiders
A Promising Extraction Third Person Shooter
ARC Raiders
- Released
- October 30, 2025
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Extraction, Shooter, Third-Person Shooter, Survival
Set in a post-apocalyptic world where humans have built their refuges underground, Arc Raiders will send players into dangerous missions to the surface, where dangerous machines and other Rogue Raiders can kill them at any given time. The game is being developed by Embark Studios, and will be published by Nexon on October 30, 2025.
It has all the qualities of a good third-person shooter, and from all we saw through gameplay and footage, it will be a ton of fun. With the team behind it being veterans from DICE and EA, players should expect tons of action in a world that is dominated by vicious machines. So it has a mixture of games like Generation Zero, some cool aesthetics, and breathtaking scenarios. The mechanics seem to be quite simple: Deploy, Loot, Extract, and shoot everything that moves. But, Raiders also have abilities that they can improve, as well as an arsenal of customizable weapons in their bases. The more successful extractions they perform, the better equipped they will be the next time they deploy.
Exoborne
Cool Futuristic Extraction Shooter
Exoborne
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Violence, Blood
- Developer(s)
- Sharkmob AB
- Publisher(s)
- Sharkmob AB
- Engine
- Unreal Engine
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer
WHERE TO PLAY
- Genre(s)
- Action
Exoborne is a game that has tons of inspiration from titles like Escape from Tarkov and Tom Clancy's The Division 2, but with an aesthetic that reminds players of a particular game now nearly forgotten: Dark Sector. Still, the mechanics of this game push players into huge sandbox arenas where they will need to loot, shoot, and extract before others steal all their precious things. Weather is a big thing in this game, and for moments, it also looks like a multiplayer Just Cause, something really cool since mobility and combat engagement are directly linked to the weather conditions. Players can also use huge towers hidden in the scenario called Stratus to modify the weather conditions, altering the gameplay of others, and using it to their own advantage.
The game also has PvEvP elements and tons of cool-looking weapons from SMGs to Snipers. Aiming shifts the perspective from third person to first person, and the gameplay recently revealed that there's aerial combat, meaning the players can hover in the air and shoot at the same time when the weather conditions call for it. It looks like an intense game that could end up being extremely competitive in the near future.
Project Spectrum
Psychological Survival Horror And Team Co-Op Shooter
Project Spectrum
- Developer(s)
- Team Jade
- Publisher(s)
- TiMi Studio Group
- Multiplayer
- Online Multiplayer, Online Co-Op
- Genre(s)
- First-Person Shooter, Horror
Another interesting title that could be the next big hit is Project Spectrum, a game developed by Team Jade, which showcased a teaser during Gamescom. It looks like a mixture of Fear the Wolves, Escape from Tarkov, and F.E.A.R., where perception plays a fundamental role, tricking the players at any given time. It is not just Player vs. Environment here, since the worst enemy of this squad-based game is what they carry with them to the match.
Friendly fire will play a fundamental role, and if players let the fear overtake them, they could end up becoming the enemy instead of an ally, or failing to recognize a teammate from an enemy and end up killing them by mistake. Some huge Phasmophobia vibes there, though in reality, there are not too many details shared with the audience, so players will need to wait to see if it's worth all the hype, once more gameplay is revealed in the future.
John Carpenter's Toxic Commando
And Awesome Upcoming Zombie Horde Smasher
John Carpenter's Toxic Commando
- Released
- March 12, 2026
WHERE TO PLAY
- Developer(s)
- Saber Interactive
- Publisher(s)
- Focus Entertainment
- Multiplayer
- Online Co-Op
- Genre(s)
- First-Person Shooter, Zombie, Action
And finally, a game that has been rumored for a long time has revealed some more gameplay: John Carpenter's Toxic Commando, a mixture of Action Shooter with co-op Horde-Fighting survival horror. It looks like a spiritual successor to games like Left 4 Dead and the sadly failed Back 4 Blood, but players should expect a lot of gory action and supernatural enemies, just like those that appear in the classic movies from the 80s and early 90's: Lots of rock, bullets, and soldiers trying to do their job as hordes from the underworld try to devour it all.
The game is prepared for teams of four players, and will obviously have matchmaking for those who enjoy the randomness of playing with strangers. With a big pair of shoes to fill, John Carpenter's Toxic Commando could not only become the next big co-op hit after Helldivers 2, but also a common destination for those who come looking for a good zombie-killing game. Something fans haven't seen in over a decade.