Death Stranding 2 on the Beach review reveals it's both more and less radical than its divisive predecessor

Death Stranding 2 offers a more emotional experience with its moral and philosophical questions but retains action elements, releasing June 26, 2025.

: Death Stranding 2: On The Beach, releasing on June 26, 2025, on PS5, expands on its predecessor with a mix of more emotional storytelling and conventional stealth-action elements. Hidetaka Kojima's work continues its reputation for curious narrative twists, prompting players to explore familial and social connections in a digitally evolving world more accessible yet less daringly original than the first installment. The sequel combines the underpinnings of an action simulation with uniquely bizarre and striking visuals, especially on the Australian setting impacted by the Death Stranding event. Familiar characters like Sam Porter Bridges return, amid new challenges that expand upon network connections and introduce intriguing figures like Léa Seydoux's Fragile.

Death Stranding 2: On The Beach presents itself both a direct and more accomplished sequel, retaining much of the distinctive characteristic style of Hideo Kojima’s creative vision first seen in the original Death Stranding. The game's release date is June 26, 2025, available on the PlayStation 5 platform. An essential improvement of the sequel encompasses the expansion of an emotionally layered narrative centered upon the relationship between protagonist Sam Porter Bridges and his now 11-month-old daughter, Lou. Players explore a devastated Australian setting, contrasting the U.S. setting seen in the original game but retaining a similar mix of horror, post-apocalyptic grandeur, and heartfelt storytelling.

A noteworthy feature of Death Stranding 2 is its philosophical exploration surrounding the chiral network — a futuristic internet permitting instant global travel — and its potential colonizing implications. This network, a focal point of the game's plot, serves as a metaphor for modern advancements and questions the implications of digital colonization by corporations. Developers cleverly incorporate philosophical dilemmas into gameplay, allowing players to confront these musings interactively through both the narrative and the gameplay mechanics, grounding them in moral ambiguity entwined with apocalyptic urgency.

Sam and Lou's journey provides the emotional underpinning crucial to the game's narrative, showcasing life amid natural disasters caused by the meteorological elements known as timefall — rains that age whatever they touch rapidly. Despite the expanded narrative and thematic universe, Kojima retains action-oriented traditions introduced in the Metal Gear series, such as heightened enemy encounters, sword-wielding robots, and more accessible vehicular traversal options. Players can now opt for engagement strategies through new gaming features, whether it be stealth, direct combat, or utilizing gadgets, showing Kojima striving for a broader player experience.

The game introduces impactful new characters, such as the mysterious Fragile portrayed by Léa Seydoux and cinematic icons including George Miller’s Tarman and Elle Fanning's Tomorrow. Their interaction with Sam's ever-growing crew aboard the DHV Magellan offers layers of allied companionship distinct from the solo endeavors that dominated the first game. These characters bring richness to the narrative and inject moments of heartfelt interaction, vital for balancing an otherwise heavy environmental and apocalyptic theme. Sam’s character development punctuates the game's narrative arc, as his journey influences and is influenced by the surrounding world, reflecting themes of connectivity beyond physical boundaries.

Kojima is lauded for his ability to interweave unique gameplay mechanics with profound narrative messages, suggesting the need for human interaction versus dependence on digital connectivity. The gaming community recognizes this dichotomy as arguably Kojima’s clearest message yet. Between episodic bombast and tender familial connections, Kojima's work delivers contemplative narratives contextualized within intricate gameplay, anticipating both narrative satisfaction and critical examination.

Sources: Eurogamer, Kojima Productions, SIE

gamingConsole GamingEntertainment