I was already a huge fan of the first Death Stranding. It was one of the most emotionally profound and therapeutic gaming experiences I’d ever had, and I’ve revisited it twice over the years. I always rated it a solid 9/10, with only minor criticisms around pacing and a few gameplay system frictions.
Death Stranding 2 takes everything the first game did and evolves it in every possible way. I have to start with the story, because I haven’t been this emotionally shaken by a game since Red Dead Redemption 2. It’s a narrative about loss, grief, connection, and above all, love. Without spoiling anything, I can say that its journey will take a long time to fully process—this is a story that speaks directly to the soul, one that everyone should experience. Just make sure you’ve either played the first game or at least watched its cutscenes before diving in.
The gameplay loop has been enriched with countless quality-of-life improvements, new activities, new structures, and fresh mechanics that make the already satisfying core of DS1 an absolute joy here. There’s noticeably more combat this time, which helps break up the slower traversal segments, while traversal itself feels far more dynamic thanks to the world acting as a living character in its own right. Natural disasters, sudden combat encounters, or simply moments where stunning music kicks in all make the journey between point A and B unpredictable and engaging. I personally spent around 20 of my 50 total hours just rebuilding monorails and road networks deeply satisfying work that’s made even better by the return of shared player structures, still as rewarding as ever …
Visually, Death Stranding 2 is breathtaking—quite possibly the most photorealistic game I’ve ever played. The art direction is impeccable, face animations verge on lifelike, and the environmental vistas are jaw-dropping from start to finish. Running in 4K, it’s pure eye candy, and thanks to the DECIMA Engine, it all performs flawlessly on both PS5 models.
The soundtrack is equally masterful. The first game introduced me to Low Roar, and DS2 continues this tradition of musical discovery with artists like Hania Rani and Grimm Grimm. Having one of my all-time favorite musicians, Woodkid, compose the main themes is a dream come true—his work elevates the story’s most powerful moments to something truly unforgettable. Low Roar returns, as do the Silent Poets, and Ludvig Forssell delivers another outstanding score. The new in-game music player, letting you play tracks at any time, makes these songs an inseparable part of the experience.
Final Verdict
Death Stranding 2 isn’t just one of the best games of the year it’s one of the defining games of the generation, and maybe of all time. It’s a journey I’ll carry with me for years to come.