Death Stranding 2: On the Beach Reviews Are Good
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach embargo has lifted and with the recent reviews, the game took it’s place among one of highest rated games of 2025.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach Success
The original Death Stranding received a mixed response from critics following its late 2019 release. While its average score on OpenCritic stands at a respectable 83, the game proved somewhat polarizing, with many reviewers criticizing its slow pace and gameplay focused largely on traversal, inventory management, and fetch quests.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach appears to be significantly less polarizing. Following the lifting of its review embargo on June 23, the upcoming sequel received a wave of highly favorable reviews, earning a “Mighty” rating on OpenCritic with an average score of 90 and a near-perfect 97% recommendation rate. By these metrics, Death Stranding 2 is currently one of the highest-rated games of 2025, with OpenCritic’s “Hall of Fame” list for this year placing it only behind Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Split Fiction.
Looking beyond the arbitrary numbers, many reviewers describe the upcoming title as a clear improvement over its predecessor, retaining what worked while addressing its shortcomings. Death Stranding 2 is said to feature somewhat improved pacing and deeper gameplay, particularly in its stealth and combat systems. Some reviewers have also praised the addition of an RPG-like skill tree as contributing both gameplay flexibility and replay value. Another frequently cited strength is the game’s world design, featuring ever-shifting environments that present tactical challenges and offer greater variety than the original.
Death Stranding 2 officially releases on June 26, at midnight ET. However, the game will also have a brief early access period that starts exactly two days beforehand. Access to this preview period is restricted to consumers who purchase its Collector’s or Digital Deluxe Editions, priced at $79.99 and $229.99, respectively. PlayStation Direct still lists the Collector’s Edition as available in the U.S. as of June 23.
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