Death Stranding 2: On the Beach Reviews
In short, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach has not only met my expectations, but has also been a title that has almost touched excellence in numerous sections , although it has lacked a bit of originality in its gameplay section . The narrative section and its progress have felt very good, especially with the presence of its antagonists, adding very important roles.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Death Stranding 2: On The Beach takes everything you loved about the first game to the next level, but doesn't go out of its way to attract those who might have disliked it.
The sequel to the legendary Death Stranding brings to us exactly what we have wanted – another unique and unmissable experience from Hideo Kojima.
Review in Unknown | Read full review
It’s possibly Hideo Kojima’s magnum opus, and it’ll be a long, long time before I stop thinking about it.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach sticks close to the original’s formula, but tightens up the gameplay and expands your tools. The story leans into Kojima’s usual weirdness, with standout characters and a final act that delivers. It’s familiar in many ways, but still offers something different from anything else this year.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach reduces the classic Kojima weirdness and expands the gameplay variety and the impressive technical achievements. The main gameplay loop is still tedious in most parts and the more straight forward storytelling will disappoint fans of the first game. If you enjoyed Death Stranding and want to see how the story bits for everyone get unpacked, you should still get it.
Review in German | Read full review
When I reviewed the original Death Stranding back in 2019, I gave it a 10/10 and called it “the definitive Hideo Kojima experience and a genuine, one-of-a-kind gaming experience.” Six years later, Kojima came along and made me a liar because Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is the definitive Hideo Kojima experience and a genuine, one-of-a-kind gaming experience.
While interesting in its approach, Death Stranding 2 feels more like a retread of its predecessor’s path rather than a bold leap forward. The first game was eerily relevant in a post-COVID world, but this sequel seems to lack that focus.
Hideo Kojima set out to craft a timeless yet divisive experience—but in the end, he only succeeded at one. Death Stranding 2 may not spark controversy, but it will be remembered. It’s far from perfect, still echoing some of the original’s flaws, yet it feels profoundly personal—raw, human, and unapologetically honest. More than a sequel, it’s a culmination. A quiet masterpiece that may very well be Kojima’s magnum opus.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach should have been called Death Stranding 2: Quality of Life, because that's what this game is. From top to bottom, Kojima Productions made so many improvements to the original, making a weird delivery-sim game that is quite relaxing. Those improvements may not be enough to attract people who avoided the original, yet the players coming back are going to find a sense of calmness that you could assume Kojima wanted to deliver with his game.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is a triumphant sequel that emphatically delivers on the promise of its original.
A busier, louder, and more emotionally resplendent take on this singular hiking sim.
It’s about human connection, losing loved ones, and stepping out into the wild regardless of the horrors that may await. Learning to go on that journey and accept a willingness to grow is half the battle, and after reaching the end of this ordeal, you’ll never be the same again. Keep on keeping on.
Bosses are spectacularly designed but often simple affairs.
What keeps me coming back the most, though, and the reason I will continue to make deliveries after publishing this review, is Death Stranding 2’s boundless sincerity. The cast is fighting for connection and the future, and I am rooting for them, even when I think they’re being a little weird.
Death Stranding 2: On The Beach is fixated on revisiting past ideas, which limits its impact to being a good but not great sequel
A bigger, zanier, but not always better sequel to Kojima's bizarre open-world infrastructure simulator
Ultimately, playing through Death Stranding 2 was an emotional and utterly enjoyable experience, full of thrills and impossible to put down during its bigger moments.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is one of the most visually stunning games I've ever played, putting at the forefront a narrative that twists and turns in spectacular (Kojima-only) ways. Action is far more of a focus this time, a big departure from its predecessor, and a slew of new toys makes package delivery that much more of a thrill-ride.
A surprisingly iterative sequel that’s nonetheless superior to its predecessor and despite some dull moments, and an incoherent narrative, this is still the best Metal Gear game in a decade.