Helldivers 2 has a reputation for its cheeky humor, and its latest city names continue that trend. One of the new super-cities in the game is named Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch 2, a nod to the real Welsh village with the famously long name.
It’s kinda wild, right? The original village, often shortened to Llanfairpwllgwyngyll for practicality, is known for its mouthful of a name that roughly translates to “The church of St. Mary of the pool, of the white hazels, near to the fierce whirlpool and the church of St. Tysilio, of the red cave.” The game’s version humorously adds a “2” in several places, as if the village got a sequel or maybe a reboot. Maybe that’s what they were going for.
Arrowhead Games, the developers behind Helldivers 2, have been having a bit of fun naming their in-game super-cities. Alongside this tongue-twister, players can find cities named Gun (chosen by over 82,000 players), Shed, Free Trade, Filibuster, Democracy Always, Birth, Administrative Center O2 (Sector 4), New Newtonville, and Ol’ Oldham. It’s a pretty eclectic mix.
And here’s a question for you: How on earth do you pronounce that name? Thankfully, a viral video from Channel 4 presenter Liam Dutton from nearly a decade ago nails it perfectly. You can watch it here:
In real life, the long name was likely a publicity stunt from the 1800s to attract tourists. It’s funny how that playful spirit lives on in Helldivers 2, especially since these cities are now battlegrounds against the Automatons, the game’s alien invaders.
Helldivers 2 players have already shown their mettle by defending Super Earth against other threats, so maybe they’ll be just as successful protecting this amusingly named city. Yikes, I wonder if the Terminid will have trouble saying the name before they invade.
It’s clear Arrowhead is having a bit of a laugh with these names, which adds a nice layer of charm to the game’s intense action. After all, a game about saving humanity can use a bit of whimsy.
What do you think about a city named after a real-world village with a name longer than most sentences? Have you come across any other quirky place names in games that stuck with you?
