Ethan Crossfield 
A new Steam co-op shooter, Canyons, is positioning itself as a Fallout-like alternative to Helldivers 2’s replay-driven formula—using procedural generation and adaptive horde events to keep expeditions feeling different and challenging.
What happened: Fallout flavor meets Helldivers 2-style co-op
Canyons is an upcoming co-op shooter on Steam that blends Helldivers 2’s co-op gameplay with a Fallout-like post-apocalyptic setting. Players assume the role of a Crusader, pushing through an unforgiving world where zombie-like creatures known as the Awakened threaten survival.
The story framework centers on the Order of the Double Cross and its Crusaders. According to the game’s premise, the Order has forged Sacred Blood Pacts with powerful Awakened, allowing Crusaders to leverage those abilities while scavenging for resources. It’s a setup that leans into both combat pressure and resource gathering, while keeping the co-op focus at the center of the experience.
Why it matters: a procedurally generated canyons loop designed for repeat play
Helldivers 2’s popularity is tied to how often players can return—its co-op structure encourages near-infinite replayability. The source describes that Helldivers 2 uses procedural generation to vary elements of missions, though it still keeps objectives predetermined based on mission type.
Canyons aims to go further with a procedurally generated world. The game’s core loop happens when players board their Crawler and begin expeditions into its canyons. While some handcrafted segments exist, the key promise is that unique events and procedurally generated levels make each run feel different. The developer framing suggests that—if players can survive—Canyons offers a theoretically endless world to explore.
The expedition’s pressure comes from the Awakened, including hordes. Where Helldivers 2’s missions are described as having a time limit that eventually disables Stratagems and increases difficulty, Canyons is presented as more free-form: players can keep going deeper into procedurally generated areas as long as they can hold off enemy hordes. The longer the team survives, the more loot they can collect, and the more opportunities for additional instances of world generation.
What to watch next: dynamic horde density and consistent co-op difficulty
A major system highlighted for Canyons is dynamic Horde density. The game adjusts the size of swarm events based on how many players are in a party, aiming to scale the Awakened pressure to the team’s composition. The source distinguishes between larger, more refined Awakened that wander the canyons and the Horde itself—a mindless, aggressive swarm of zombie-like enemies capable of overwhelming groups that aren’t prepared.
RedRuins Softworks has indicated the design intent behind the mechanic is balancing and game design: horde density changes dynamically according to team size.
This matters because Helldivers 2 players on Steam are described as sometimes encountering spikes in enemy spawns, influenced by factors such as who hosts the lobby and hardware differences. Canyons’ approach could translate into a more consistent co-op experience, with difficulty tuned more precisely for each party size.
Canyons does not have a firm release date yet, but it is available on Steam for players to wishlist while development continues.
Practical takeaways for co-op players and fans
- Expect run-to-run variation: Canyons mixes handcrafted sections with procedurally generated levels and events in its canyon expeditions.
- Plan around survival time: staying alive longer is tied to deeper exploration and more loot opportunities.
- Bring the right squad size: Horde events are designed to scale with party members, which should affect how aggressive each expedition feels.
- Prepare for swarm pressure: the Horde is described as a mindless, overwhelming swarm that can punish unready teams.
- Wishlist early: with no confirmed release date, Steam wishlisting is the current way to track the project.
| Game | Procedural Generation Emphasis | Mission Structure (as described) |
|---|---|---|
| Helldivers 2 | Randomized map elements via pre-made seeds; mission objectives predetermined by mission type | Time-limited missions where difficulty escalates after Stratagems are disabled |
| Canyons | Procedurally generated world with unique events and levels; theoretically infinite exploration if players survive | Free-form expedition into procedurally generated canyons without the same time-limit framing |
Expert View
Canyons is betting that “replayability” doesn’t have to come only from mission scripting—it can come from letting the world itself keep changing while combat systems scale intelligently. If dynamic Horde density delivers on its promise, the game could reduce the co-op friction players sometimes feel when enemy pressure swings unpredictably. For the platform, it’s also a smart signal: Steam’s co-op audience is clearly still hungry for procedural worlds, but they want them paired with systems that keep team-based difficulty fair and readable.
