Death Stranding 2: On the Beach

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach continues Hideo Kojima's controversial yet strikingly distinctive 2019 debut, carrying Sam Bridges and his delivery mission into sun-scorched Mexico and other parts of the Americas. The gameplay remains faithful to the original concept — the player traverses a vast, inhospitable landscape, plans routes according to terrain and weather, balances cargo on their back, and gradually builds a network of roads, bridges, and postal stations that connects isolated survivors into a single community. Compared to the first game, new tools for moving through demanding terrain have been added, along with a wider range of combat options against both human and supernatural opponents and an improved cooperation system between players, through which one player's structures help everyone else in their own world.

On PlayStation 5, the game benefits from fast data loading and high resolution, which fully showcase its elaborate, often almost melancholic environments, from dusty deserts to rain-lashed coastlines. The visual style combines photorealistic landscapes with the strange, supernatural phenomena typical of the series, such as the invisible beings called BTs or rain that accelerates time, and together with an atmospheric, cinematically composed musical score it creates an experience that feels more like a meditative pilgrimage than a conventional action game. The story further develops themes of isolation, connection, and reconciliation and features an extensive cast of actors along with numerous cinematic sequences.

The sequel was anticipated as one of the key exclusive titles for PlayStation 5 and built on the reputation of the first game as one that splits players between enthusiasts and those who don't get its slow pace. Even with some distance from its release, Death Stranding 2 remains a demonstration of how mainstream, high-budget action games can be approached at a completely different — slower and more introspective — rhythm than is typical for big productions, while still retaining its own unmistakable identity.

Why play it: For players open to the unconventional, slow, and introspective pace of a big-budget action game — even in its sequel, Death Stranding 2 keeps its own unmistakable identity.