Death Stranding 2: On the Beach [PlayStation 5] | REVIEW

Hideo Kojima’s work has always polarised audiences, but with Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, he has created something that simply stands as one of the greatest video game sequels ever made. Building upon everything that the first game established while also expanding each mechanic, element of world design, and narrative theme, this is an experience that manages to strike a perfect balance of personal and emotional adventuring with… well… that classic Kojima weirdness you know and love. It’s a long journey that certainly demands your attention, but believe me, it rewards it at every turn.

Check out some screenshots down below:

Picking up shortly after the events of the first game, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach places Sam Porter Bridges in a self-imposed exile, raising Lou in the quiet wilderness of Mexico. This domestic peace is short-lived, however, as Fragile makes a return to his life, offering a mission to connect Mexico to the Chiral Network through her new company, Drawbridge. This setup quickly expands into a globe-spanning quest that takes Sam as far as Australia, with the unforeseen consequences of reconnecting America coming to light and emphasising a new danger. It puts a heavier emphasis on its characters’ personal stories than the first time around, delivering a more emotionally resonant narrative – but don’t worry, it still maintains the bizarre and cryptic undertone that made the first game so damn alluring.

It is worth noting that narrative tone this time is less sombre and more confidently weird, embracing campy sci-fi ideas alongside grounded emotional beats. The game introduces a variety of compelling new characters including Dollman, Tomorrow, Rainy, and Tarman, alongside returning favourites such as Fragile and Higgs, with each holding their own unique and creative place in the tale to ensure that the cast remains captivating. Dollman, in particular, adds comic relief and practical utility, offering insights into the world while also functioning as a scouting tool (it’s wacky but wonderful). And sure, some moments are undoubtedly bizarre purely for the sake of it and can feel somewhat disconnected, but the majority of the game’s quirks feel purposefully woven into the broader themes of connection, grief, and hope. It’s really wonderful.

Gameplay-wise, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is simply a masterclass in iterative design and shows a real evolution over its predecessor. While the first game’s traversal could feel like a slog at times, here the terrain is more varied and less punishing, especially in Australia where vast open plains, dense forests, flooded ravines, and scorching deserts create diverse challenges that’ll test your skills without growing monotonous or cumbersome. The traversal tools have been vastly expanded too, allowing players to construct highways, ziplines, monorails, and even teleporters to help get around, making the logistics of delivery more engaging (even after sinking hours and hours into both the main questline and the many side tasks on offer). Environmental hazards add to the immersion, with earthquakes causing landslides, bushfires blocking paths, and sandstorms forcing players to adapt on the fly – these dynamic events not only keep traversal interesting but make the world feel alive and reactive, with the world of Death Stranding 2: On the Beach one of finest I’ve explored in any video game.

“Death Stranding 2: On the Beach builds upon the foundation of the original to offer one of the best sequels seen in gaming.“

Combat has also received a significant overhaul and helps give the experience a more action-orientated twist. Where the first game discouraged violence, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach embraces it as a meaningful gameplay pillar. Your arsenal is large and varied, from non-lethal rubber bullet weapons to high-impact shotguns, assault rifles, rocket launchers, and mounted vehicle cannons, whilst stealth mechanics are also deeper, allowing silenced takedowns, decoy grenades, and environmental cover to infiltrate enemy camps. And the encounters with BTs? They’re so damn intense, with each not only incredibly eerie but also emphasising this sense of danger that feels impossible to shake off. Whilst I’ll admit that I didn’t always enjoy the combat situations in the first game, this time, I loved them.

One of Death Stranding 2: On the Beach’s greatest strengths is the freedom it affords the player. Whether you want to deliver packages methodically, sneak past patrols, or charge in with a truck mounted with twin machine guns, the choice is entirely yours, with both the world design and the equipment at your disposal offering unbounded flexibility in your approach. Missions are designed to accommodate multiple playstyles, and whether you’re delivering pizza (again?!) or transporting life-saving medical equipment, the game treats every task with importance, creating a sense of purpose in even the smallest jobs. Death Stranding felt like those ‘one and done’ kind of experience, but somehow, Hideo Kojima has made the art of being a postman feel incredibly special all over again.

And, of course, as the original ‘strand’ game, the social strand system remains as important as ever, connecting you with other players in meaningful, non-intrusive ways. Seeing structures, vehicles, and tools left by others provides not only practical assistance but emotional reassurance – you’re never truly alone in Kojima’s world, whilst contributing your own resources to build roads or monorails feels rewarding. It helps reinforce the game’s core theme of connection, whilst leaving a few likes to another player whose structures helped me out always brought a smile to my face.

Check out some screenshots down below:

Visually, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is absolutely breathtaking. The environments are photorealistic, showcasing the PlayStation 5’s capabilities with dynamic weather, detailed character models, and masterful environmental storytelling. The performance is incredible too – especially on the PlayStation 5 Pro, with this the first game that feels like it REALLY delivers a spectacle worthy of the console’s hefty price tag. The soundtrack is another highlight, curated with Kojima’s signature style that’ll undoubtedly see countless players adding all new tracks to their Spotify playlists. Each track feels like it is introduced at the perfect moment, heightening emotional beats and creating reflective atmospheres during long deliveries. It was one of the things that the first game did incredibly well, but you know what? I think Death Stranding 2: On the Beach betters it.

Developer: Kojima Productions
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Platform(s): PlayStation 5 (Reviewed)
Website: https://www.kojimaproductions.jp/en/death-stranding-2