Death Stranding 2: On the Beach does not chase the mainstream. Hideo Kojima keeps the first game's gamble, turning delivery into a lonely cross-continental journey, then adds what was missing: deeper combat, customizable vehicles and infrastructure players build themselves. The result is more accessible yet still unmistakably Kojima.
The game launched on PS5 on June 26, 2025 and reached Windows on March 19, 2026. With a Metacritic score of 89 and 95% of critics recommending it on OpenCritic, it is one of the best-reviewed games of its release year.
Quick Facts
- Release: PS5 June 26, 2025; Windows March 19, 2026
- Developer: Kojima Productions; published by Sony Interactive Entertainment; directed and written by Hideo Kojima
- Genre: Open-world action-adventure with asynchronous online connectivity
- Critic scores: Metacritic 89 (152 reviews); OpenCritic 95% recommend; Famitsu 39/40
- Sales: Over 2 million copies after the PC release (roughly 1.6 million PS5, 425,000 PC)
Story
The story takes place eleven months after the first game. Sam Porter Bridges, a retired porter, is pulled back to connect isolated Australian survivors to the Chiral Network in the hope of preventing human extinction. The journey spans two vast lands, Mexico and Australia, where natural disasters, Beached Things, hostile robots and bandits all stand in the way.
Norman Reedus, Léa Seydoux and Troy Baker return alongside newcomers Elle Fanning, Shioli Kutsuna and Luca Marinelli. Directors George Miller, Guillermo del Toro, Nicolas Winding Refn and Fatih Akin also appear through likenesses or voice.
Behind The Scenes
Hideo Kojima began writing the original story before 2020, then rewrote it from scratch to reflect the impact of COVID-19. Norman Reedus confirmed development in May 2022 and the game was officially announced at The Game Awards in December 2022; motion capture finished in May 2024, followed by roughly a year of adjustment.
Kojima said he altered the game mid-development because test audiences liked it too much, noting that if everyone likes it, it has become mainstream. In August 2025 he revealed he had already written a concept for Death Stranding 3 but prefers someone else direct it.
Experience
Delivery and the open world
The core loop is still hauling cargo across hostile terrain, balancing Sam's load and connecting settlements to the network. Day-night cycles, earthquakes and sandstorms reshape routes, so the same stretch can demand a different approach. Vehicles arrive early and can be customized with batteries and turrets, and players build roads, bridges and even monorail lines. These structures appear in other players' worlds, where they can be liked.
Combat and stealth
The biggest change from the first game is combat. By default Sam uses non-lethal weapons, so taking down enemies does not cause voidouts. Players can fight head on, sneak in a way reminiscent of Metal Gear Solid V, or avoid encounters by choosing routes. The Automated Porter Assistant System skill tree has five branches: porter, combat, stealth, servicemanship and bridge link.
Visuals and music
The game uses the Decima engine and many critics rank it among the best-looking ever made; Destructoid called it one of the best-looking games ever. The score comes from Woodkid and Ludvig Forssell, with many of Woodkid's tracks adapting to player actions, plus artists such as Low Roar, Caroline Polachek and Chvrches. The PC port by Nixxes supports 21:9 displays and multiple upscalers, though occasional stuttering was noted.
Strengths
- Combat and stealth broaden play without breaking the series' walking rhythm
- Vehicle customization, roads and monorails give a sense of owning your route
- Performances and cinematic presentation are top tier
- Adaptive music and sound design swept multiple awards
Weaknesses
- Some critics, such as GameSpot (7/10), felt it revisits the first game's ideas more than breaking new ground
- The slow pace and layered story are not for everyone
- The PC version can stutter at times
What Critics Say
Critics largely agree on its presentation. IGN gave 9/10, calling it an inventive journey full of shock and awe, more accomplished than the first game in nearly every facet. The Guardian and Video Games Chronicle awarded 5/5, Push Square 10/10 and Famitsu 39/40. GameSpot was the dissenting voice at 7/10, calling it good but not great for revisiting old ideas.
On the awards front, the game earned a Game of the Year nomination at The Game Awards 2025 and won multiple audio categories at GANG, D.I.C.E. and the Golden Reels, plus Artistic Achievement at the 2026 BAFTA Games Awards.
Who Is It For
For players who enjoy slow, idea-driven storytelling and accept a game that puts walking ahead of action. Newcomers should catch up on the first game's story, since this one continues directly. If you need constant fast pacing, it may not be the right fit.
OtaHub Score
Verdict
Death Stranding 2 is a confident sequel: it expands combat, infrastructure and presentation while keeping Kojima's strange identity intact. The main mark against it is that some ideas sound familiar. OtaHub scores it 9.5/10.
FAQ
When was Death Stranding 2 released and on which platforms?
It launched on PS5 on June 26, 2025 and on Windows on March 19, 2026, with the PC port by Nixxes.
Do I need to play the first game first?
The story takes place eleven months after the first game and continues directly, so catching up first is recommended.
How well did it sell?
Over 2 million copies after the PC release, roughly 1.6 million on PS5 and 425,000 on PC.