Death Stranding 2 is Kojima Productions’s highly anticipated sequel to the 2019 original release, which was Hideo Kojima’s first independent project following his departure from Konami. The original game garnered considerable acclaim from outlets such as Gamespot and Easy Allies, but was also a divisive title due to being a dramatic departure from Kojima’s earlier pedigree as the creative force behind the Metal Gear series.
Close to six years later, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is set for release on June 26th, and the review embargo for the release has lifted. The general consensus? The game is a significant step up from the original in every way that matters, with the game getting a Metacritic score of 89 on the PlayStation 5 compared to the original’s 85.
Death Stranding 2 is hailed as a step up from the original
Death Stranding 2 | Reviews
5/5 – VGC
5/5 – Dexerto
5/5 – TechRadar
10 – PSLS
10 – WellPlayed
10 – Press Start
10 – Screen Rant
10 – Push Square
10 – Gaming Nexus
9.5 – PSU
9.5 – PSX Brasil
9 – IGN
9 – CGM
9 – GamePro
7 – Gamespot
4/5 – Eurogamer
4/5 – GamesRadarMC: 89
OC: 92 pic.twitter.com/gVYLvtLtP4
— Shinobi602 (@shinobi602) June 23, 2025
Death Stranding 2 has gotten strong reviews across a variety of outlets, with IGN’s 9/10 review stating it “vastly improves upon everything Kojima Productions got right the first time while including new features and nuances that enhance the journey.”
Eurogamer, which rated the game 4/5, called the game “busier, louder, and more emotionally resplendent” with author Lewis Gordon noting that while the storyline itself leaned further into the metaphysical mysteries established in the original game, the gameplay was also more heavily influenced by his prior Metal Gear series, specifically Metal Gear Solid V.
The Eurogamer review did however, raise the question of whether fans of the original might find the sequel more diluted because of its faster pace and more action-oriented focus, something also reflected in GamesRadar’s review which called the title “more Metal Gear Solid than ever, for better and worse.”
Death Stranding 2’s Metal Gear influences are its biggest strength and weakness
Whether or not fans will appreciate Death Standing 2’s greater resemblance to Metal Gear looks to be the driving question on whether or not fans will consider the sequel an improvement. While IGN’s Sam Cardy considered Death Stranding 2 a strong evolution from the first game’s bare-bones combat system, GameSpot’s Diego Nicolas was far more critical of how the game offered easier access to high-end equipment and thus, in his opinion, undermined its own core mechanics.
Whether or not the Metal Gear influences will be a plus point for most players, Death Stranding 2 remains one of the most highly-anticipated releases of the year, and is sure to be talked about well after it hits store shelves.
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