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Starship Troopers inspired a generation of artists to do their part, and it’s easy to see why. In the original film, director Paul Verhoeven blended social satire with sci-fi savagery. The result? A film about nationalism, xenophobia, and exploding the guts out of any bug that so much as points an antenna in the wrong direction. It was cheesy but brilliant, and two games arguably carry on its legacy better than any others: Helldivers 2 and Starship Troopers: Extermination. Whether you’re a veteran of the Deep Space Vanguard or a newcomer to the Arachnid War, Extermination offers a unique spin on the genre, and thanks to Casper Van Dien, it’s about to get a whole lot better.
Johnny Rico Joins the Extermination Campaign
Casper Van Dien’s back in action on the bug front. Johnny Rico and the new Knights Peak label are leading the game out of early access to an official 1.0 release in October 2024. As a fan of the original film, I’m hyped for Van Dien’s involvement and hope that serious improvements to the base game accompany it. Starship Troopers: Extermination is getting a 25-mission single-player mode, as well as new enemies, locations, and more. The game already features a hefty 16-player PvE mode, so the addition of a full-fledged single-player campaign feels like the perfect way to celebrate 1.0 in style.
If you’re unfamiliar with Offworld’s game, it’s far from a mere Helldivers 2 clone, and not just because Extermination was released in early access almost a year earlier. Although they share DNA, they’ve mutated in unique directions, and direct comparisons do a disservice. Whereas Helldivers 2 tasks players with roaming a wide map filled with Shriekers and other pests, Extermination tasks them with building a base and holding the line against the bug onslaught. This blend of FPS and base-building mechanics gives Extermination a unique tactical layer, and the large team size means a healthy amount of chaos.
Welcome to the Roughnecks
Acquiring resources and building walls, bunkers, and turrets while fighting off an army of bugs gives Extermination a rhythm unlike anything else. Before going all in on Starship Troopers, Offworld honed its craft with the critically acclaimed shooter Squad. Freed of the constraints imposed by Squad‘s real-world setting, Extermination allowed Offworld to show off its goofier (though no less bloody) side. Extermination embraces its Starship Trooper roots but expands beyond them, and bringing Casper Van Dien aboard for 1.0 feels like the perfect homage. It’s a nod to nostalgia and an omen of good things to come all at once.
Early access games always suffer from growing pains, and Starship Troopers: Extermination is no different. The closer the game gets to 1.0, however, the more reasons I see to join the war effort. The devs need to squash some non-Arachnid bugs, and better optimization needs to happen, but neither issue should dissuade you from checking out Rico’s return. Verhoeven’s film is a messy but spirited cult classic, beloved for its absurdity rather than in spite of it. Extermination follows like the Deep Space Vanguard into those same trenches. Grab your Morita and look alive. We’ve got bugs to kill come October.
Starship Troopers: Extermination is available for PC in early access and will be released on PlayStation 5 and
