The early reviews are in for Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, and it looks like Hideo Kojima has delivered one of the standout games of 2025.
The PlayStation 5 exclusive currently holds a 90 average on both Metacritic and OpenCritic, along with a 97% recommendation rate on the latter—ranking it third on this year’s “Hall of Fame” list, just behind Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Split Fiction.
Developed by Kojima Productions, the sequel picks up less than a year after the original and once again stars Norman Reedus as Sam Bridges. This time, the journey unfolds across a reimagined version of Australia, where Sam must reconnect fractured communities and confront a new existential threat.
The original Death Stranding, released in 2019, divided opinion with its unconventional gameplay focused on lonely traversal, inventory management, and delivery missions. While it eventually earned a solid reputation, it struggled with criticism of its slow pace and minimal action.
The sequel, however, appears to have addressed many of those concerns. For many gamers, On the Beach builds on the foundation of the original while delivering a more dynamic, cinematic, and engaging experience.

“Death Stranding 2 feels like the product of everything that’s happened to Kojima since he left Konami, and it’s easily one of 2025’s very best,” wrote Jordan Middler in a glowing 5/5 review for VGC.
Still, not every review is as enthusiastic. Some critics feel the sequel doesn’t quite capture the sense of wonder and novelty that defined the first installment.
“Hitting the end credits came with the painful realization that Death Stranding 2 can’t rekindle the novelty of its world and characters as effectively the second time around,” wrote Diego Nicolás Argüello in a more tempered 7/10 review for GameSpot. “Ironically, it feels like a more ordinary experience, which makes sense as a sequel that isn’t looking to be as disruptive with new ideas as it was the last time.”
Despite a few mixed responses, the overall reception positions Death Stranding 2: On the Beach as a triumph for Kojima Productions and a must-play title in 2025.