EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 6 (v2025.01.22 & ALL DLC)

A ruined Earth provides the stage for a gloriously excessive alien-war shooter where skyscraper-sized insects, walking machines, and impossible invaders overwhelm entire city blocks. EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 6 continues the series’ knowingly pulpy military sci-fi story after humanity’s apparent victory leaves only a fraction of the population alive. The mood balances genuine apocalypse with B-movie spectacle: soldiers shout absurdly enthusiastic radio chatter while players level city streets with rocket launchers and orbital strikes. Its campaign steadily turns stranger and more desperate as the truth behind Earth’s long-running invasion comes into focus.

Missions drop you into wide urban zones, countryside, underground tunnels, and devastated landmarks with one straightforward priority: eliminate everything hostile before it eliminates you. Four distinct classes change the combat dramatically, from the dependable rifle-and-missile Ranger and airborne Wing Diver to the support-heavy Air Raider and weapon-laden Fencer, whose armored mobility and close-range firepower demand more practice. Progression revolves around collecting armor upgrades and an enormous arsenal of weapons, then replaying missions on tougher difficulties to refine builds and survive denser enemy swarms. Every campaign mission supports four-player online co-op, where coordinated loadouts make even the series’ most ridiculous battles feel manageable.

What separates EDF 6 from more polished military shooters is its sheer scale and commitment to chaos rather than realism. Hundreds of enemies can fill the screen at once, buildings collapse under stray fire, and a successful mission often feels less like a tactical operation than barely surviving a disaster movie. The campaign offers the biggest mission and weapon selection in the franchise, while its escalating scenarios give co-op groups plenty of reasons to return on higher difficulties. Players who enjoy the swarm combat of Helldivers, the arcade destruction of Earth Defense Force 5, or deliberately over-the-top sci-fi action find a lot to love here, though newcomers should expect rough edges and a learning curve behind its uncomplicated shooting.