In the lead-up to the launch of the first Death Stranding back in 2019, it’s safe to say the stakes were high. Hideo Kojima had left Konami, founded his own development company in Kojima Productions Co., Ltd. and created one of the more ambiguous games we had seen in quite some time. Was it a horror game? An action game? The answer was somewhere in between.
While Death Stranding still stands as one of the more critically divisive games out there, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach certainly turned heads when it was announced back in December of 2022. Plenty of fans and newcomers alike were ready to go, keen to invest in Kojima’s new and unique ideas.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is, in many ways, a tremendous improvement over the original. Don’t get me wrong, it is still really strange. And I mean, really, really strange. But in the same breath, it’s mechanically more diverse, with more combat encounters spliced in between delivery missions, interlaced with an equally ambiguous, yet emotional tale that builds on the events of the first game.
Many elements carry over, though. The long, drawn-out walks, the need to monitor and arrange cargo and craft various tools and structures to help you on your way. But there are plenty of new elements like weapons to wield and structures to build, making this not only a deeper, more versatile experience with multiple ways to play, but one that feels more accessible as a result.
Connect Again
Given the context of the plot, please be aware of brief spoilers for the original Death Stranding.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach takes place 11 months after the original, with protagonist Sam Bridges, played by actor Norman Reedus, now living a normal life with Lou, once known as BB-28, the baby who guided you on your journey in the first Death Stranding.
However, Sam is soon visited by Fragile, played by actress Léa Seydoux, who informs Sam that even after uniting the cities of the now U.C.A. (United Cities of America), he must now travel to Mexico to assist them in accessing the Chiral Network, which essentially allows cities to communicate with each other.
Without spoiling too much more, an incident in the early hours of the narrative sets Sam on a trip to Australia, where he must attempt to reconnect and bind together a new country on a larger scale, also affected by the same devastating BT entities, along with some deadly new enemies with their own secretive ambitions.
The opening hours of the game slowly reintegrate you into the world of Death Stranding, along with all of its mechanics and supporting characters. There is a fair amount of exposition in its early hours, most of which existing fans will have to sit through again.
While a Death Stranding recap can be accessed in the main menu before starting the game, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach still feels the need to weave in most of this into its narrative.
Troy Baker is also back as Higgs, along with cameos from people like George Miller, which is just incredibly charming. There’s even a new character named Neil, portrayed by actor Luca Marinelli, who I think most people will absolutely adore, not only for his prominent role in this story, but for his solid performance.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is doing so much more with everything it already has to incorporate, and it’s doing a fantastic job throughout its 30-35 hour story. It’s well-acted, emotionally charged and at times, impossible to look away from.
It’s certainly still ambiguous in terms of Sam’s ultimate goal and the purpose behind it. But even if it takes a couple of hours to get going, it generally feels more streamlined and easier to latch onto, while holding many of its mysteries and deeper nuances closer to its chest.
It all just feels more confident and refined, happy to exist in the world it had introduced in 2019, with the task of expanding and applying the heart and meat in between.
Deliver Us
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach will immediately feel familiar to fans of the first game. You’ll generally have to head from point to point delivering important cargo to various parts of the country, and then using Sam’s Q-Pid to connect each station to the Chrial Network.
You’ll still need to arrange cargo accordingly and manage your weight in the process, all while planning and navigating via the safest route to your next destination. There’s plenty of terrain to cover, and plenty of quiet moments for to to both admire and reflect.
You’ll still need to craft and pack the right tools for the job, including fresh boots to keep you protected from the harsh terrain, things like ladders and climbing ropes to help you traverse higher ledges and flooded rivers.
You’ll still be able to craft a range of accessories and structures like Watchtowers to help you get a better view of the terrain, and even Timefall Structures to keep your cargo protected from the rain that ages anything it touches, as you take care of business.
There are even vehicles for you to unlock and craft, to help you get around easier, although they can provide their own challenges, as they too need to be managed and utilised accordingly.
The same multiplayer elements from the first Death Stranding are available here, with players able to leave notes and even certain items in lockers for Sam to find, or simply out in the open world.
With all of these returning elements, On the Beach still finds time to pack in a little more, with the inclusion of more consistent combat encounters and new weapons.
Along most of your deliveries, Sam will encounter bandit camps along the way. In some cases, these camps can be avoided, but in other cases, Sam will have to go into camps and retrieve stolen items of importance, crucial for certain deliveries.
The Thick of Things
While the relatively basic hand-to-hand combat returns, Sam will also wield several weapons, including the WM.556 NL Assault Rifle and Maser Handgun from the very beginning. Weapons are non-lethal in this world, but work as a normal ranged weapon would.
This time around, however, Sam will also get the chance to wield new Electrified Poles, which are generally acquired from bandits. These poles can be swung as a melee weapon or thrown like a spear, electrifying whatever they hit.
You’ll even be able to take advantage of Dollman, a portable drone that you can launch into the sky to help you identify enemies and the layout of a particular area, before approaching.
The best part about how this all comes together is the freedom of the approach. While stealth is usually recommended for a cleaner, more forgiving approach, you can still go guns blazing if you prefer. Enemies will swarm you rather quickly by going loud, but Sam still feels competent with weapons, and the game does a good job of providing you with enough ammunition and opportunities to do so.
I initially found it strange how time would slow down when you take out an enemy, but soon found it very useful, as it gives you adequate time to aim and adjust for incoming enemies in different directions. It also just feels really cool.
Even the new setting manages to shake things up, quite literally. Shakes will cause Sam to lose balance and drop cargo, while regular sandstorms will muddy up the environment and your bearings, causing you to rely on your map more frequently or change direction entirely. Just get ready to use the L2 and R2 triggers to maintain your balance.
There’s an aerial camera that zooms out to give you a better view, but this is more for cinematic effect as opposed to being used as a navigation tool.
While On the Beach isn’t really what I would consider an RPG, it still manages to incorporate a range of skills that will naturally grow and improve based on your playstyle. Stick with stealth and you’ll soon be able to cover your footprints so you can’t be tracked. Or shoot away and improve your proficiency and effectiveness with ranged weapons.
Sam will once again have to take on BT’s undead spiritual entities of sorts, which can latch onto the souls of the living and cause a crater-like explosion. Like in the first Death Stranding, you’ll have to be careful about how you approach them, while having to pack adequate weapons and equipment.
Blood-infused weapons like Blood Grenades will need to be thrown, while traditional weapons will have no effect. You will get multiple MP-infused ranged weapons, which do have an effect on BTs down the track, but they’re not as consistent or readily available.
It’s never in your face, but it feels incredibly natural to embrace and implement into your playstyle, as you’re already experimenting more with those particular mechanics in the first place.
There’s also plenty of new equipment to unlock via additional side-missions, which can help with both traversal and combat, like the Blood Boomerang that can take out multiple BTs from a distance.
Finally, new boss battles are a true highlight in Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, even if they’re usually responsible for a huge difficulty spike compared to regular combat encounters. They’re grand, cinematic and incredibly intense.
Look the Part
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach takes place across both Mexico and Australia, each with its unique open worlds to explore. No matter which way you cut it, this sequel is drop-dead gorgeous. Even on the PlayStation 5 Pro, the introductory mission immediately blew me away with its incredible detail, textures and draw distances.
While terrains are now more dense and varied than ever, the amount of wildlife and naturally shifting and evolving environments is truly staggering. It’s cool to see how many Australian animals you can spot and admire, but beyond that, even the recurring day-to-night cycle brings about some incredible lighting effects and starry skies, complete with their own shooting stars.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach offers both Quality and Performance modes, the former of which boosts the resolution at 30 FPS, and the latter of which scales the resolution back for a 60 FPS target. Either way, it’s incredibly consistent, and the PS5 Pro only adds to the sheer level of detail and impressive lighting that goes with it.
The incredible soundtrack and original score are also worth shouting out, as they add so much to not only the emotional weight but the overall atmosphere. The game opens with Minus Sixty One, a track by French artist Woodkid, and I was immediately on board.
Final Thoughts
Like the first game, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach might feel like an acquired taste for most casual gamers, but I urge everyone to give this a go.
With a more streamlined and emotional narrative, stellar performances, incredible visuals and more engaging moment-to-moment gameplay thanks to more frequent combat, there’s just so much more to love.
This sequel might be everything the first game wanted to be, but there’s no doubt that Hideo and the team at Kojima Productions have crafted something truly special.
FOUR AND A HALF STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Highlights: Engaging and emotional narrative; Combat is much more consistent and satisfying; New environments to explore; Incredible visuals, presentation and performance
Lowlights: Core experience still feels familiar and might ward casual fans away; Boss battles can be quite tough
Developer: Kojima Productions Co., Ltd.
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Platforms: PlayStation 5
Available: 26 June 2025
Review conducted on PlayStation 5 Pro with a pre-release code provided by the publisher.
