[Hego Damask]

Review Aggregator:

OpenCritic - 90 average - 97% recommended

Critic Reviews


ACG - Jeremy Penter - Buy

Improved in almost all ways compared to the original but without removing what made fans love the original.

Atarita - Eren Eroğlu - Turkish - 86 / 100

Death Stranding 2 builds upon the foundations of its predecessor with a more polished and ambitious experience, successfully addressing many of the original's shortcomings. While its emotionally resonant story stands out, the narrative momentum occasionally falters due to pacing inconsistencies.

But Why Tho? - Matt Sowinski - 9 / 10

It's Kojima at his most Kojima, a visionary building a type of experience that only he can. Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is an adventure worth taking.

CGMagazine - Jordan Biordi - 9 / 10

Death Stranding 2: On The Beach takes its predecessor's foundation and builds a bigger, better game on top-keeping everything that worked, and improving what didn't 10-fold.

CNET - Oscar Gonzalez - Unscored

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.

ComingSoon.net - Tyler Treese - 9.5 / 10

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is yet another stellar entry from one of gaming's greatest minds. The whole team at Kojima Productions has delivered a startling project that is massive in scale, building upon the original's mechanics in interesting ways.

Console Creatures - Bobby Pashalidis - 9 / 10

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is a bigger and bolder expansion that will once again split fans and critics. The improvements across the board are felt immediately, bringing about a significant amount of much-needed change to the formula. Between the changes to stealth and combat, the new structures you can build, and the new settings, cast, and music, Death Stranding 2 has proven that Kojima is not only on point but also an auteur of the industry. There is nobody like him doing what he does, and I sincerely doubt there will be.

Dexerto - Brad Norton - 5 / 5

Death Stranding 2 is phenomenal. It's among Kojima's very best work not just for its narrative, but for the near-limitless variety in its gameplay opportunities.

While it may very well end up being the final game in the series, at least with Kojima at the helm, we can only hope someone else picks up the mantle and continues to iterate on one of gaming's most unique experiences. After all, why else would we have connected?

Echo Boomer - David Fialho - Portuguese - Essential

A work of art is not defined by perfection, but by the confidence with which it is created, the intent that drives it, and the lasting impression it leaves on those who play, watch, read, or listen. Even if Death Stranding 2: On the Beach didn't grip me at first as I had hoped, by the end — much like its predecessor — it left me deeply moved and with a strange, immediate sense of longing. Just hours after finishing it, I started it all over again — not out of a need for completion (which I could have continued from my first run), but simply because I still can't bring myself to leave this world and these characters. To me, this rare kind of involvement — at once interactive, emotional, and philosophical — is what makes video games such a special form of expression.

Eurogamer - Lewis Gordon - 4 / 5

A busier, louder, and more emotionally resplendent take on this singular hiking sim.

GameSpot - Diego Nicolás Argüello - 7 / 10

Death Stranding 2: On The Beach is fixated on revisiting past ideas, which limits its impact to being a good but not great sequel

Gaming Nexus - Jason Dailey - 10 / 10

Hideo Kojima once again proves to be a singular creative force in the video game industry, crafting a sequel in Death Stranding 2: On the Beach that is not just essential for fans of the first game, but an essential experience for all gamers.

HCL.hr - Zoran Žalac - Unknown - 82 / 100

A true cargo-carrying experience: it's not all that fun at the beginning of the trip, it gets better once you warm up, and provides the best feeling when you finally get rid of everything that's been weighing down your back.

IGN - Simon Cardy - 9 / 10

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is a triumphant sequel that emphatically delivers on the promise of its original.

Kakuchopurei - 90 / 100

My 35+ hours with Death Stranding 2: On The Beach was laced with so many emotions and feelings: boredom, excitement, joy, confusion, and satisfaction. It still has the trademarks of a Kojima-written narrative -"Muffin Man"-style dialogue, bats*** insane moments, subtle-as-a-sledgehammer storytelling with obvious symbolism.

But that's what makes this sequel all the more endearing; you may cringe at some moments, but you won't be bored with the thread being spun here. Nor will you be left out of the lurch with the interactive experience you're getting.

KonsoliFIN - Niko Lähteenmäki - Finnish - 4 / 5

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is, in my book, a near-perfect sequel. Many of the criticisms aimed at the first game have been addressed with smart changes that make it significantly more approachable. Visually and aurally, it's even more stunning than its predecessor, and the new plot twists are truly gripping. Only the masochists who loved the utter bleakness of the first game might not appreciate the improvements that Kojima Productions has made.

LevelUp - Spanish - 0.9 / 10

It's a video game, but also an experience that stimulates all your senses; a work capable of stirring emotions and surprisingly discovering that gaming can be just as moving as a song, a play, or a movie. As a game, it meets and surpasses its predecessor; as a creative expression, it reaffirms the talent of Hideo Kojima and Kojima Productions, as well as their stubbornness to continue innovating and pushing the boundaries of the medium. It's not perfect; it slips in places, but it's undoubtedly one of the best games of the year.

Loot Level Chill - Chris White - 10 / 10

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is one of the greatest games of all time, blending freedom in its gameplay with a story and soundtrack that will be remembered for decades.

Merlin'in Kazanı - Samet Basri Taşlı - Turkish - 87 / 100

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach has managed to be a beautiful game that will make fans of the first game very happy with its rich cast, magnificent music and eccentric humor.

Nexus Hub - Sam Aberdeen - 10 / 10

Death Stranding 2: On The Beach is one of the best games of the generation and Kojima Productions at the peak of its craft - so precisely fine-tuned, emotionally resonant and at times, completely and confidently bonkers.

One More Game - Chris Garcia - 9 / 10

Death Stranding 2: On The Beach builds meaningfully upon the foundation laid by its predecessor, delivering a more dynamic and visually arresting sequel anchored by an emotional narrative that doesn't let go until the finish. It invites returning porters and newcomers alike to rediscover its strange, beautiful world with a renewed sense of wonder, reminding us that Kojima magic is very much alive.

Death Stranding 2: On The Beach is absolutely essential and a must-play title that could easily get Game of the Year nods yet again. Hideo Kojima and Kojima Productions have delivered a unique and gripping experience, guiding us through the wilderness and reminding us that every step, no matter how uncertain, brings us closer to connection.

Oyungezer Online - Eren Eryürekli - Turkish - 9 / 10

Kojima has once again managed to deliver an emotional and deeply layered story that will have us trekking through mountains and valleys for 90 hours - it simply doesn't get better than this. Our second journey through this world, brought to life by the magic of Decima Engine, promises to be a far more satisfying experience in every aspect, finally realizing its true potential as an unforgettable adventure.

PPE.pl - Wojciech Gruszczyk - Polish - 9.5 / 10

In 2019, Hideo Kojima surprised the world with the story of the courier, only to continue his story a few years later. Death Stranding 2 is a game for Sam's fans who want to know his further fate. Give yourself to the story of the story, the characters and the world.

PSX Brasil - Bruno Henrique Vinhadel - Portuguese - 95 / 100

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.

Pizza Fria - Álvaro Saluan da Cunha - Portuguese - 10 / 10

The feeling that remains is that we are faced with a work that marks not only this generation of consoles, but also a new chapter in Hideo Kojima's career and in the history of video games as a great means of artistic expression.

PlayStation LifeStyle - Jason Faulkner - 10 / 10

Death Stranding 2 isn't the revolution that the first game was. Instead, it refines almost all aspects of the original to make an excellent, well-polished experience.

PlayStation Universe - Joe Richards - 9.5 / 10

Death Stranding 2: On The Beach is a triumph in what it sets out to achieve. This isn't a game interested in converting willing consumers into fans, it's a game that takes bold steps in order to succeed what came before it. If you needed proof that Hideo Kojima is still the titan of the industry that he's hailed as, this game is that proof. I was left truly speechless by the end, and I have a feeling that many others will too.

Push Square - Liam Croft - 10 / 10

In what will prove to be one of the defining games of the PS5 generation, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is a profound achievement of design, gameplay, narrative, and visuals. As all four meet in the middle, Kojima Productions has crafted a cinematic spectacle that flawlessly transitions between action and traversal, all wrapped up in the most absorbing of narratives. An immense upgrade on the first game, Death Stranding 2 is an unequivocal masterpiece.

Quest Daily - Shaun Fullard - 9 / 10

DEATH STRANDING 2: ON THE BEACH is a sequel through and through, not straying too far from the style and set-up established within the first game. Instead, choosing to improve upon the formula in almost every way, putting more focus on action, pacing, and enemy encounters.

Restart.run - Jesse Vitelli - 3 / 5

Death Stranding 2 is a game that pulls from the same playbook as the original, one that wants you to know it was made by the creator of Metal Gear Solid, and doesn't use its 55- hour runtime to pull on the threads that are interesting about the world. Instead, its focus on combat and retreading similar ground gets tiring fast. There are moments of something special here, but they can't shine past their own shadows.

SECTOR.sk - Michal Korec - Slovak - 8.5 / 10

Death Stranding 2 may not match the sales figures of its predecessor, nor recapture the magic of the original. However, it is a well-crafted sequel with expanded gameplay, new territories, a great plot, and lots of Metal Gear Solid elements waiting to be discovered after all these years.

SavePoint Gaming - Jake Su - 9.5 / 10

More of the same when it comes to a quality experience is never a bad thing, but Death Stranding 2 doesn't have the same wow factor that came with every little detail of the first. It is still an incredible, indie-esque realisation of a grand vision that only Kojima can come up with, and being exceptional instead of groundbreaking is still worth giving a thumbs up to.

Sirus Gaming - Kurt John Palomaria - 9 / 10

But even with its stumbles, Death Stranding 2 stuck with me. It's messy. It's over the top. It's absolutely not for everyone. But it moved me. And for a game about carrying things, that feels like the point. It's strange. It's human. It's heavy. Death Stranding 2 is worth the weight.

The Outerhaven Productions - Cody Perez - 3.5 / 5

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.

TheSixthAxis - Tuffcub - 8 / 10

Despite repeating huge chunks of Death Stranding 1, almost beat for beat, Kojima pulls it out of the bag in the end. The core gameplay loop remains satisfying enough to get you through to the good stuff, but I can't help but feel disappointed just how similar this game is to its predecessor.

Toisto - Joonatan Itkonen - 5 / 5

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.

Too Much Gaming - Carlos Hernandez - 5 / 5

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach delivers higher visual fidelity, consistent performance across the board, and a few new tricks that make gameplay more accessible, challenging, and fun. If you have the patience and come in with an open mind, you'll be in an exclusive group of people who will struggle to describe this experience to anyone else.

WellPlayed - Adam Ryan - 10 / 10

Immensely self-assured in the quality of its foundation, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach masterfully iterates and refines, while introducing considered additions that complement the experience, not complicate it.

Worth Playing - Chris "Atom" DeAngelus - 9 / 10

Death Stranding 2: On The Beach is an improvement over Death Stranding in almost every way I can think of. It's larger, full of more things to do, and generally a more enjoyable experience. The plot is crazier than ever, which might be a plus or minus depending on your tastes, but if nothing else, it isn't boring. The only complaint I can think of is that the game is perhaps a touch too easy at times, and even that isn't a huge problem. If you liked the first game, it's very easy to imagine you liking the sequel. Just be prepared for things to be as unfathomably ridiculous as possible at every turn.

​

 

[HE1NZ]

Is it a ripoff of 1959 movie?

 

[Tapped]

Sounds like most people expected, more of the same but with some added refinement. I didn't like the first game much, pushed myself through to the finish line and never touched it again so I'm skipping this at launch but I might pick it up on sale some time down the line.

 

[regawdless]

Woah woah those are some great reviews.... Will I.... No it can't be.... But maybe.... Would I touch another Cringejima game?

 

[Zeta Dragoon]

Never played any of Kojimas games but I hear MGS is like an Ace Combat tier over the top setting?

As I hear or have read the series is quite insane:

1 was a Megaton hit for Playstation and Kojima and revolutionizing game design alongside Super Mario 64, Ocarina of Time, Half-Life and Final Fantasy VII and Tomb Raider.

2 is one of the most divisive games ever made, and along with Deus Ex predicted a lot of shit happening today.

3 is considered one of the best games ever made.

4 was too when it came out, though there has been no re-release since except for the current implied Vol 2 with the current Vol 1 Remaster of 1-3.

5 is a incomplete masterpiece that has some of the best stealth/open world gameplay ever put into a game.

The whole series, but Revengence is one of the most memetic games ever made. Right up their with early Resident Evil.

And Death Stranding literally invented the Stranding genre?

 

[Amorous Biscuit]

Woah woah those are some great reviews.... Will I.... No it can't be.... But maybe.... Would I touch another Cringejima game?

You will drink the Kojimbo slop and you will enjoy it!

Very excited for this to come to PC at some point in the future. I unironically loved postman-simulator and this sounds like more of the same. Keep on keepin' on!

 

[Zeta Dragoon]

You will drink the Kojimbo slop and you will enjoy it!

Very excited for this to come to PC at some point in the future. I unironically loved postman-simulator and this sounds like more of the same. Keep on keepin' on!

Would you recommand the first postman? And MGS series also? Not a huge fan of stealth games unless they somehow manage to be fun at same time.

I find it ironic Death Stranding 2 reviews and later release this week are right after the founder of FedEx passed away a few days ago..

 

[regawdless]

Ok. But how inclusive is it.

 

[Amorous Biscuit]

Would you recommand the first postman? And MGS series also? Not a huge fan of stealth games unless they somehow manage to be fun at same time.

I find it ironic Death Stranding 2 reviews and later release this week are right after the founder of FedEx passed away a few days ago..

I'd definitely recommend the first DS. It's certainly not for everyone and it suffers from issues typical to Kojima games (overly expository dialogue and lengthy cutscenes) but it really is unique in terms of gameplay.

MGS series is a must play in my eyes and whilst they are "stealth action" games, people who are horrible at stealth games (like myself!) won't struggle too much as there's no instant fail stealth bollocks or anything like that. They're more just a vehicle for the batshit stories Hideo wants to tell us about nuclear proliferation, war and PMCs.

Try them out!

 

[HE1NZ]

Never played any of Kojimas games but I hear MGS is like an Ace Combat tier over the top setting?

As I hear or have read the series is quite insane:

1 was a Megaton hit for Playstation and Kojima and revolutionizing game design alongside Super Mario 64, Ocarina of Time, Half-Life and Final Fantasy VII and Tomb Raider.

2 is one of the most divisive games ever made, and along with Deus Ex predicated a lot of shit happening today.

3 is considered one of the best games ever made.

4 was too when it came out, though there has been no re-release since except for the current implied Vol 2 with the current Vol 1 Remaster of 1-3.

5 is a incomplete masterpiece that has some of the best stealth/open world gameplay ever put into a game.

The whole series, but Revengence is one of the most memetic games ever made. Right up their with early Resident Evil.

And Death Stranding literally invented the Stranding genre?

MGS games are movies for movies sake. Kojima only started developing gameplay during the making MGS4, previous titles had no gameplay, just some Pacman shit. MGS5 was the first MGS that can actually be called a videogame and it's a good one, but development took too long or something and there are portions of the game after credits that seems unfinished.

I should try DS at some point. Kojima's evolution suggests he gets better over time.

 

[Pyrate]

Per the DF video, one of the best looking games to date, and no raytracing path tracing whatever crap in sight.

Other devs are ripping you off.

 

[Pyrate]

MGS games are movies for movies sake. Kojima only started developing gameplay during the making MGS4, previous titles had no gameplay, just some Pacman shit. MGS5 was the first MGS that can actually be called a videogame and it's a good one, but development took too long or something and there are portions of the game after credits that seems unfinished.

 

[HE1NZ]

 

[Goatmilk]

Would you recommand the first postman? And MGS series also? Not a huge fan of stealth games unless they somehow manage to be fun at same time.

I find it ironic Death Stranding 2 reviews and later release this week are right after the founder of FedEx passed away a few days ago..

I hate these obvious corporate tie ins.

 

[Zeta Dragoon]

I hate these obvious corporate tie ins.

What? I thought it was a coincidence. FedEx founder literally just passed away, and Death Stranding has been called a FedEx simulator at times.

 

[kiNeMs]

Fuck me. That's a score. The other one got like 70 or something didn't it?

 

[Amorous Biscuit]

Fuck me. That's a score. The other one got like 70 or something didn't it?

The first had an 82 MC score.

 

[ExpandKong]

What? I thought it was a coincidence. FedEx founder literally just passed away, and Death Stranding has been called a FedEx simulator at times.

That's what Kojima wants you to think

 

[El Rey]

Damn didn't realize this game was coming out so soon. I still got to beat part 1, this one looks amazing.

Obligatory:

 

[DonDonDonPata]

I'm hyped!

 

[Goatmilk]

What? I thought it was a coincidence. FedEx founder literally just passed away, and Death Stranding has been called a FedEx simulator at times.

Little suspicious don't you think?

Kojima's army is everywhere man.

WAKE UP SHEEPLE.

 

[regawdless]

I'm hyped!

Bridge Burn Man becoming Bridge Build Man.

 

[DonDonDonPata]

Bridge Burn Man becoming Bridge Build Man.

Other than MHK I may be the biggest Death Stranding fanboy on Dpad, not certain.

My wife is hyped too. We played through the entire game together including the minor side quests and missions. During "boring" parts we would talk about the story and speculate or talk about other things. Felt a lot like when we first began playing Minecraft creative mode together. She's excited.

 

[rofif]

no rt, no nanite, no ue5 crap... and Kojima makes this amazing looking, incredible game.
Praise the GOAT !!!!!!!!

Damn didn't realize this game was coming out so soon. I still got to beat part 1, this one looks amazing.

Obligatory:

What if this song is actually in the game lol.
I love how this is the KOJIMA song and it's not in any game lol

 

[QuantumZebra]

Ok. But how inclusive is it.

 

[Arkam]

Damn, now i have to go back and finish DS. Pretty sure i was in the last 1/3 of the game… but it's been long enough so that i only vaguely remember the plot.

 

[Frito_Pendejo]

MGS games are movies for movies sake. Kojima only started developing gameplay during the making MGS4, previous titles had no gameplay, just some Pacman shit. MGS5 was the first MGS that can actually be called a videogame and it's a good one, but development took too long or something and there are portions of the game after credits that seems unfinished.

I should try DS at some point. Kojima's evolution suggests he gets better over time.

Not enough black samurai in the MGS series is what I've always said…

 

[Zeta Dragoon]

Gonna be a interesting 2025 GOTY nominee lineup-
-100 Line Academy
Crimson Desert
Claire Obscure: Expedition 33
Death Stranding II: On the Beach
Donkey Kong Bananza
Fantasy Life I: The Girl Who Steals Time
Hollow Knight: Silksong (Been lots of hints and teases for a 2025 release.)
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment (Only if

Spoiler: Tears of the Kingdom and Age of Calamity Spoilers

they actually do a golden ending like Age of Calamity instead of just rehashing TotKs grim dark backstory which undid everything Link, Zelda, the Champions and everyone accomplished in BotW. Also TOTK forcing Zelda to see her family and kingdom get genocided a second time. Even Guts and Skull Knight from Berserk would cringe in sympathy at the sheer amount of horror Zelda has gone through.)

Kingdom Come Deliverance II
Metroid Prime 4: Beyond

Honorable Mentions:
Bravely Default Flying Fairy HD Remaster - One of the best JRPGs on the 3DS, a console also known for its massive JRPG library, now improved even further.
Dragon Quest I&II HD-2D Remakes (Might change if rumored changes are true.)
Digimon Story: Time Stranger (Don't sleep on this one, I think its a Dark Horse. Absolutely insane ambition and outright going for Pokemon Z-As throat)
Grim Dawn: Fangs of Askerton (if its not delayed into 2026, overshooting inital release by 2 years. Devs acknowledged its a possibility as the Expansion has become absolutely massive in scope. What did they say again, 110 percent of Ashes of Malmouth? Ie, twice the size of that already huge expansion.)
Monster Train 2
Tales of Graces F Remastered
Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition

Would add:
Trails in the Sky the 1st but

Spoiler: Spoilers

it ends on one of the biggest cliffhangers in gaming history and Trails in the Sky: The Second has yet to be confirmed, nevermind in a reasonable timeframe.)

Dishonorable Mentions:
Civilization VII
Pokemon Z-A if it ends up as bad as it looks

 

[Neil Young]

I can't wait to watch this game.

 

[Grinchy]

I'm interested, but not hyped. I still need to replay the first one with this directors cut copy I got. I really enjoyed DS1, but for some reason I'm not feeling any day 1 must-have hype for the sequel.

 

[Vyse]

MGS games are movies for movies sake. Kojima only started developing gameplay during the making MGS4, previous titles had no gameplay, just some Pacman shit. MGS5 was the first MGS that can actually be called a videogame and it's a good one, but development took too long or something and there are portions of the game after credits that seems unfinished.

I should try DS at some point. Kojima's evolution suggests he gets better over time.

Why do you make such disingenuous posts?

 

[HE1NZ]

Why do you make such disingenuous posts?

I exaggerate a bit, but my point stands. I don't like MGS 1-3 at all. They existed at the same time as Thief and Splinter Cell and pretended to belong to the same genre. Bullshit. Pacman with weird controls and tiresome puzzle boss battles.

MGS 4 and 5 are solid shooters though.

 

[ExpandKong]

Bridge Burn Man becoming Bridge Build Man.

These could be names of characters in the actual game and people would never know

Hi I'm Bridge Burnman

 

[bork]

Team real

 

[Dacon]

Ok. But how inclusive is it.

It INCLUDES all of Kojima's favorite actors. You bigot.

 

[regawdless]

These could be names of characters in the actual game and people would never know

Hi I'm Bridge Burnman

Glad you're appreciating the joke

 

[Dacon]

Why do you make such disingenuous posts?

it's just his brand dont mind him.

 

[Erdrick]

Installing the original on PS5 again. Will try and get past the first 5 hours. I really want to love this game but life gets in the way.

This looks to be more of the same, which I'm eager for as I used to love Kojima games until MGSV, but that's simply because that particular game was likely not finished how he wanted it, to be honest.

Maybe I can get hooked and stick with the original this time...

 

[ExpandKong]

Glad you're appreciating the joke

They call me Dumb Fuckman

 

[Zeta Dragoon]

Have to say just reading about first Death Stranding, it's certainly going for something different then most games now.