Back before Helldivers 2 won everyone’s hearts and minds, I poured a huge number of hours into Arrowhead’s preceding co-op shooter, which was much the same but played from a top-down perspective. It’s a format that works really well for enhancing that sense of survival alongside your peers, as proven by others such as Valve’s free Steam game Alien Swarm. The latest to embrace this particular angle is sci-fi roguelike Section 13, which was recently launched out of early access, and we’ve got 25 Steam keys up for grabs in a new giveaway.
Section 13 began life under a different name, first arriving in early access back in July 2023 as Blackout Protocol. After more than a year, developer Ocean Drive Studios decided to shift its slow, tactical gameplay into something faster-paced, and introduced upgrade systems and persistent progression between runs akin to that seen in the likes of Hades and many other such entries on our best roguelikes list.
Faced with a large-scale containment breach at an off-the-books blacksite, your unfortunate squad are deemed sufficiently expendable, and sent to investigate in an attempt to restore order. You can head in alone or with up to two more friends in co-op, but opt for the latter and you should expect to face the satisfying chaos created by the perpetual risk of friendly fire. If that proves too much to handle, however, you can switch it off, ensuring that you only need to worry about hostile attacks.
Along with a wide range of weapons to put to use, all of which can be upgraded and customized in numerous ways, Section 13 includes dodge rolls, timed reloads, and special abilities to get you out of a tight spot. You’ll find various attachments, synaptic enhancements, and even genetic modifications as you explore, allowing you to adapt and hone your build alongside those of your allies.
While injury and death are the most obvious hazards, Ocean Drive takes the atmosphere up a notch by measuring your fear level; fail to keep it under control, and you could fall foul of a debilitating panic attack at a crucial moment.
Section 13’s 1.0 launch arrived in May, rounding out the full story experience with its final map and boss fight. The update also introduced more enemy types and two additional pieces of tactical gear, a drone and a deployable shield.
If you want to try it for yourself, we at PCGamesN have 25 Steam keys for Section 13 to give away. Full instructions to enter can be found in the box below. The giveaway is already live and closes Monday July 7 at 9am PT / 12pm ET / 5pm BST / 6pm CEST, so get your entry in quickly.
If you’d rather just grab a copy, Section 13 is 20% off until Thursday July 10. Just head straight to Steam, where you’ll also find a demo available to download for free.
Hungry for more? Here are the best co-op games on PC right now, along with a veritable buffet of the free Steam games we recommend in 2025.
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