On Steam, you can try out a crazy cooperative shooter for free. This answers a rarely asked question: What would Helldivers 2 be like if you were fighting against mushrooms?
The shooter that provides the answer to this question is called Mycopunk: It is the first game from the developer Pigeons at Play. Devolver Digital is involved as the publisher in the project. There is already a demo for the cooperative shooter available on Steam.
You can watch a trailer for Mycopunk here:
Robots versus mushroom beings with a touch of Helldivers 2
What is the game about? You are a robot who gets one last chance to escape the junkyard. This chance is to join the danger squad of New Atlas and stop a planetary mushroom catastrophe that is infesting the planet.
- Evoleo writes about the reveal trailer on YouTube: “Finally, a Deep Rock Galactic-Lethal Company-Borderlands-like cooperative shooter that I can play with my 3 friends.” burgerstockphoto adds: “Maybe add a bit of Helldivers to that.”
Visually, the game reminds you of titles like Deep Rock Galactic, Borderlands, or Lethal Company with its cartoon look. In terms of story, expect something more like Helldivers 2: the SAXON corporation that has hired you seems rather dubious and authoritarian. Of course, that doesn’t prevent you from risking your digital life in the fight against hordes of mushroom creatures.
The demo sends you on two missions where you fight against the mushroom invasion. You will have access to futuristic weapons and some electric tools that you can tinker with. Partially, you will be required to equip your weapons with some pretty crazy upgrades.
Steam demo receives “very positive” reviews
The demo on Steam is already being very well received: Of the 61 reviews that exist so far, 91% are positive.
- Shizuyoko has already spent over 11 hours in the demo. His conclusion: “Great demo, full of fun activities with friends, but also playable solo” (via Steam)
- Etrice has spent just under 2 hours in it and writes: “Very, very cool game/demo that feels like a combination of two games I personally have played: Roboquest and Deep Rock Galactic. It’s not perfect and could use a few adjustments, but I’m still excited to see what the developers come up with.” (via Steam)
- Neryss is thrilled after over 2 hours: “Okay, I’m in love – the game especially has fantastic art direction! The gameplay feels smooth and rewarding, the classes are fun to play, and the weapons are great, with clever gimmicks that are more than just gimmicks. […] If you like DRG [Deep Rock Galactic], you should definitely give this game a try” (via Steam)
When will Mycopunk be released? An exact date for the full release has not yet been set. However, the developers reveal on the Steam page for the demo that the game is expected to be released in 2025.
Helldivers 2, which may have served as inspiration for the developers – perhaps more directly, perhaps less so – had a challenging summer in 2024. Ironically, the game’s overwhelming success is said to have contributed to this. You can read more about it here: The boss explains how 6 million Call of Duty players led his Helldivers 2 into its worst crisis so far
