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Undeniably better than its predecessor, Death Stranding 2 polishes core mechanics and solves the combat issues of the first game. Still, it still tries to be way more accessible: it’s easier to traverse, and easier to understand what is happening with the story, diminishing the impact of finally reaching your destination and making the next plot-twist way too easy to predict.
The earliest moments of Death Stranding 2, which have Sam trying his best at parenting, suggest a more frank emotional journey than the one we got. The series continues to hides its heart behind verbosity and lists of proper nouns.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach continues the same gameplay from the original without any meaningful innovations or ideas. That said, the brilliant story and unparalleled music and performances make this worth a look.
9
Clawson_Strikke
[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]
5
NightHunter1
Absolutely lazily made game. The majority of elements were just copypasted with barely any difference from the first game, down to the story. Just think about it, the first game took 3 years to be made from scratch, the second one took 5 with ready assets and mechanics. The new game doesn't evolve any ideas of the one in the smallest meaningful way. Everything gameplay/mechanics wise it adds I can nothing but a bunch of gimmicks that are not that interesting to use, and I usually like experimenting. It's so uninspiring that it even reuses the first of 3 (?) story bosses near the end in almost exactly the same fight, and it was just a barely interesting mecha in the first place. It also some amount of the vibe and direction of the first game, where it had only Low Roar and Silent Points making the atmosphere of some story deliveries. Now it's a whole lot of bands, and the consistency is definitely somewhat lost here. Fair to say that I enjoyed most of the music and it went to my player regardless. The good part that should be mentioned is that it's still a beautiful game that runs well and is bug free, some sceneries can be reminiscent of the first game and the feeling of beauty of life it gave. It can be nice to slowly reflect of stuff for a little while, but it's definitely not worth the time and money overall.
10
Feelinside
Thanks for one more great adventure! The first Death Stranding was amazing but this one keeps high quality level. Hideo Kojima is still greatest game developer for me, his creations took their generous place of honor in art along with cinema, music and books.

Death Stranding 2: On The Beach

Released On: 
Jun 26, 2025
Metascore
Generally Favorable
89
User score
Generally Favorable
8.8
My Score
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Metascore
Generally Favorable
95% Positive
139 Reviews
5% Mixed
8 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
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Jul 28, 2025
100
Final Weapon
Death Stranding 2: On The Beach is an unforgettable adventure that I firmly believe sits as one of the greatest games ever created. With an emotional and thrilling narrative, a technically brilliant gameplay system that builds upon its predecessor, and a best-in-class soundtrack, Death Stranding 2 advances the industry forward and innovates. Hideo Kojima and the Kojima Productions team have created something truly remarkable that will be talked about for decades to come.
Jun 23, 2025
100
Region Free
Death Stranding 2 is the encapsulation of Hideo Kojima's ambition to marry films and games into one seamless experience. For the first time, it's not him emulating the cinema he adores. Instead, it's Kojima directing a vast, emotionally charged epic that others will imitate in years to come. It is a masterpiece of storytelling and game design. A peerless exploration of grief, found family, and all that we leave behind.
User score
Generally Favorable
85% Positive
3015 Ratings
8% Mixed
276 Ratings
8% Negative
269 Ratings
  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
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Mar 12, 2026
10
Feelinside
Thanks for one more great adventure! The first Death Stranding was amazing but this one keeps high quality level. Hideo Kojima is still greatest game developer for me, his creations took their generous place of honor in art along with cinema, music and books.
Mar 12, 2026
10
AVARIX
I honestly loved my time with Death Stranding 2: On the Beach. As someone who enjoyed the first game, this sequel hit me even harder. The atmosphere, the world, the music, the weirdness — everything feels richer and more emotional. I really connected with the experience, and I actually found myself wanting to explore every corner just to soak it all in. The gameplay feels smoother, the story grabbed me from the start, and the whole journey left a strong impression on me. It’s a unique game, and I’m really glad I played it.
Jun 23, 2025
95
PSX Brasil
Technically flawless and visually stunning, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is an exceptional sequel and a clear evolution for a game that was already full of qualities. An even more engaging story with an improved narrative, as well as huge advances in its unique gameplay, are just some of the highlights of one of the best games of the year.
Jun 23, 2025
90
Meristation
Hideo Kojima keeps on working and improving the original Death Stranding formula. This sequel its better, but not as surprising as the first one.
Jun 23, 2025
90
Gamer.no
Death Stranding 2 is a bold, uncompromising sequel that doubles down on Hideo Kojima’s signature style. It’s strange, thoughtful, and beautifully crafted – a game that won’t be for everyone, but unforgettable for those it connects with.
Jun 23, 2025
80
IGN Italia
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach boldly expands the philosophical and post-apocalyptic universe created nearly six years ago by Hideo Kojima, enriching and diversifying the gameplay with dynamics, yet without managing to replicate the narrative strength, character charm, and emotional impact of the first, surprising chapter. Technically stunning and artistically inspired, this sequel manages to entertain and engage, but also leaves the impression that its narrative structure cannot always sustain the dozens of hours needed to complete the adventure without lapses in pacing and intensity.
Jun 23, 2025
60
IGN France
Death Stranding 2 isn't a bad game. It's a beautiful game. But it disappoints precisely where the first one was astonishing: by levelling out the difficulty, rendering the journey anodyne, watering down what made the original game a tough, unforgettable experience. Here, Kojima seems to have given in to the temptation of comfort and past criticism, delivering a game that is more accessible but less meaningful. Far from extending his vision, On the Beach seems to mark his running out of steam.
See All 152 Critic Reviews
Mar 8, 2026
10
Sammyno_19
Un'esperienza sublime, Kojima è come sempre il "canto fuori dal coro" che sà regalare un prodotto AAAA con un mix stellare tra cast di attori, comparto grafico e lore che si inventa e di consolida ulteriormente dopo il primo titolo. Spetacolare!
Jan 18, 2026
7
T0M
Je suis un énorme fan du premier Death Stranding, qui m’a beaucoup marqué et qui est devenu l’un de mes jeux favoris. J’ai toujours pensé, même après avoir fait le deuxième, que le premier se suffisait à lui-même. Quand j’ai vu le trailer du deuxième en 2022, je me suis dit : « Que peut-il raconter de plus ? ». C’était donc avant tout de la curiosité, mais j’étais aussi hypé par celui-ci, et je n’en ressors pas déçu. Pour moi, je le trouve même meilleur que le 1 (sur certains points), tout simplement parce qu’il reprend ses bases et les améliore. Le gameplay est beaucoup plus agréable, même si j’adorais déjà celui du premier. Alors oui, il a des défauts, comme la physique des véhicules qui reste perfectible (même si c’est moins flagrant que dans le 1), ou encore l’IA. Mais l’amélioration du côté combat rend l’expérience bien plus plaisante, même si cela ne reste pas l’essence principale de Death Stranding. Côté artistique, rien à dire : c’est sublime, tout comme le premier. La musique est toujours aussi réussie, avec des OST magnifiques signées Woodkid comme To the Wilder, Story of Rainy, Minus Sixty One ou encore Any Love of Any Kind, sans oublier le fameux BB’s Theme. J’ai tout de même une préférence pour les musiques de Low Roar du 1. Et le plus important : l’histoire, que j’ai adorée du début à la fin. La mise en scène est d’un niveau qu’on voit rarement dans le jeu vidéo. Il y a des passages véritablement incroyables, et cette fin… je ne m’en suis toujours pas remis, j’ai même versé ma petite larme. Les cinématiques sont longues, tout comme dans le 1, mais elles sont tellement prenantes. J’ai adoré tous les personnages, mais parmi les nouveaux, mention spéciale à Tomorrow et Neil, qui sont incroyables. Certes, l’histoire est moins complexe et moins surprenante que celle du 1 (même si j’ai eu quelques surprises) et un peu plus simpliste, mais elle reste prenante et touchante. Elle m’a vraiment parlé. Le jeu n’est pas vraiment plus facile que le 1. Je refais actuellement le premier pour le 100 % en difficile : une fois que tu as compris comment fonctionne le système, tu roules sur le jeu. C’est facile, parfois un peu chiant, mais jamais difficile. Le 2 a beau avoir été pensé pour être plus accessible, le fond reste le même, et Death Stranding ne sera jamais une licence « grand public » : elle est même plus clivante que jamais. S’il y a bien un reproche que je ferais à Death Stranding 2, c’est d’avoir trop montré de choses dans les trailers. Donc oui, je suis un énorme fan du premier Death Stranding et j’ai adoré Death Stranding 2 sur quasiment tous les points. Il est désormais, aux côtés du 1, l’un de mes jeux préférés, et je n’ai aucun mal à dire que c’est mon jeu de l’année de 2025.
Feb 8, 2026
7
DrZomboid
Ne mogu reci da je igra dobra a ni losa. Skalira od 6 do 8, glomazna je produkcija u pitanju, apsolutno originalna pojava kao igra, dosta cudna, nekad i blesava. Bas je napravio sataras.
Jul 1, 2025
4
LesMiserables
Beyond the nauseatingly pretentious story that repeats many plot points from the first game DS2 is mad easy to it's detriment . Even if you were to handicap yourself by not driving everywhere not much would change since there's no challenge . You're offered a million gadgets and none of them matter because it's like giving you a million keys for an unlocked door . The shooting , Stealth and boss fights were done better in Kojima's games 20 years ago
Nov 27, 2025
4
Ensign1
Maestro, did you have nothing to say? The plot is built around the cherishing of the main character, as if he were a confused schoolgirl in a scary and incomprehensible world. An exciting beginning, a sagging middle by inertia and an absolutely cringe-filled ending, fastened together by a plot of self-repetitions to previous works, idiot characters and.. Idiot players? Is it necessary to talk so head-on about everything that takes place in the plot and lead the player so much by the hand? An isolated adventure with time to "think the unsaid" turned into a routine. I quit 90% of the completion.
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SummaryEmbark on an inspiring mission of human connection beyond the UCA. Sam—with companions by his side—sets out on a new journey to save humanity from extinction. Join them as they traverse a world beset by otherworldly enemies, obstacles and a haunting question: should we have connected? Step by step, legendary game creator Hideo Kojima cha... Read More
Rated Mfor Mature
  • PlayStation 5
  • PC
Jun 26, 2025
  • Kojima Productions
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