Death Stranding 2: On The Beach – Thoughts & Opinions

Death Stranding 2: On The Beach – Explore. Connect. Survive. Trailer: A brand-new trailer just dropped, and somehow, every new trailer and gameplay showcase makes me even more excited.

A week ago, I finally finished the Director’s Cut of Death Stranding, and I’m already counting down the days to Death Stranding 2: On The Beach, which is expected to be released on June 26, 2025. 

 Experience Playing the First Game

From the beginning, Death Stranding grabbed our attention with its simple yet powerful core concept: delivery. But as I played deeper, I realized it’s so much more - a meditation on connection, strategy, and atmosphere.

You’re delivering cargo, yes. But you’re also navigating unpredictable landscapes, using tools, and discovering items left behind by other players. This ongoing challenge keeps each trip feeling fresh and engaging.

Why the Game Feels Like a Journey

Many describe the series as a game “about the journey, not the destination”. And it truly is. I found myself mapping routes, finding clever ways across terrain, and building structures to ease future travels. It was addictive - almost zen-like.

By mid-game, the peaceful pace became a rhythmic cycle: plan, deliver, upgrade tools, repeat. I lost track of time as I immersed myself in this strange new world.

What Makes This Game Unique

I’ll be focusing purely on the gameplay - the story is best experienced without any spoilers. 

Calling Death Stranding a “hiking simulator” doesn’t do it justice. The game features vehicle travel, intense combat, stealth elements, large-scale exploration, and cinematic boss battles.

A lot of thought went into how you move through the world. Balancing your character, adapting to rough terrain - like steep cliffs, fast-flowing rivers, and rocky hillsides - and using a variety of tools all contribute to the game’s immersive atmosphere. The world feels vast, empty, yet hauntingly beautiful, reinforcing the overall mood.

As you progress, you go from feeling helpless to empowered. You start with limited tools, where even a small mistake can cause setbacks. But gradually, as you unlock new gear and skills, that tension turns into a real sense of achievement.

The pacing of upgrades and difficulty escalation is well-designed. New abilities and tools open up deeper combat and traversal options, making encounters more complex and satisfying.

Compared to other high-quality games like Red Dead Redemption 2, Death Stranding offers a very different kind of experience. It’s carefully crafted, and its gameplay systems create something truly unique - unlike anything else you’ve played before.

How To Prepare for Death Stranding 2

We strongly suggest picking up the Director’s Cut of DS1. It gives you access to zip lines and other awesome tools like the sticky gun, which lets you retrieve packages from a distance.

There’s a lot packed into this game, and once you get the hang of its core mechanics, it becomes incredibly hard to put down.

Final Thoughts

It’s a truly one-of-a-kind game. While the core gameplay centers around making deliveries, the reason behind it all is what makes the story so compelling.

The traversal mechanics are creative and unlike anything in most other games.

Add in the incredible music, atmosphere, and gear you unlock over time, and it becomes an unforgettable experience. That said, many players agree that if it doesn’t click by mid-Chapter 3, it might not be for you. It’s definitely not for everyone, but after putting it down twice in the past, I eventually came back, stuck with it, and ended up loving it.

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is set to release for the PlayStation 5 on June 26, 2025 and I'm surely buying the game!