Darkswarm is a terrifying new Helldivers rival, and alpha signups are live now

Part of the reason Helldivers 2 was my favorite game of last year was that it managed to maintain the frantic, pulse-pounding action of Arrowhead's original top-down entry. I've always loved the dynamic that the overhead perspective brings to co-op games such as Valve's fantastic, oft-overlooked Alien Swarm. As a result, I'm extremely interested in Darkswarm, built by Bitfire Games and published by Deep Rock Galactic studio Ghost Ship. Working with your friends to save humanity from certain doom, it's about to enter closed alpha, and you can sign up from today to join the playtest.

DarkSwarm puts you in the shoes of an elite mercenary squad of up to four players. It's class-based, with distinct roles and upgrade options for each, and you can complement your chosen loadout with a variety of weapon choices and cosmetic skins to ensure you stand out from your teammates. The trailer below promises all that close-quarters, hectic chaos that makes Helldivers one of our best co-op games, with a wide range of tight, indoor corridors and more open outdoor spaces to navigate as you complete tasks and blast the hordes.

The procedurally generated levels are spread across four distinctive biomes, and that factor combined with the semi-destructible elements means that no two missions should feel quite alike. While there's always certain to be a lot of shooting, you can also employ more tactical means, whether that be using stealth to catch your foes off-guard, dropping down traps to secure entry routes, or hacking terminals to turn the tide in your favor.

I'm certainly eager to give Darkswarm a try, and the good news is that we won't be waiting long. Bitfire is about to launch its first alpha test, and you can sign up now if you'd like to take part. "We're so thankful to our amazing playtesters who've already helped shape the game into what it is today," CEO Hans Oxmond says, "and we're looking forward to continuing to build the game alongside our community as we push towards our launch in the future."

The Darkswarm closed alpha launches Tuesday September 2. You can sign up now via Steam if you'd like to take part. Just head to the game's store page and click the 'request access' button to register your interest.

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