Dead Stranding 2 or Death Stranding 2 is the ongoing and extended story of the first Death Stranding game. It features elements of the story from before the Death Stranding storyline and after it has concluded.

At first, this action RPG looks like a gender-swapped version of the first Death Stranding game. However, it is actually a very layered story with more than one protagonist. Norman Reedus returns as his character, but several of the new tools from the Director’s Cut do not.

Kojima did it again

Unlike Metal Gear 5, where fans of the games had a better experience while complete newbies could enjoy the story, you need at least a bit of information on the previous game with DS2. Namely, who Fragile, Higgs, and Sam are, as well as what a BB infant is and what a Death Stranding is. With a bit of knowledge, you can keep up with this very complicated story.

A little less walking

Though Hideo Kojima’s first Death Stranding featured a lot of traversals, this game really narrows the unnecessary traveling while pulling the story to the front. You still set the progress rate of the game, though the (slow at times) pace may be a little jarring for people who haven't played the first game.

The first Death Stranding was a proof of concept

It is unfair to say that DS2 is somehow an extension of the first game. The developers simply took what worked from the first, discarded what didn't, and then added x100 more emotion into the story.

Not for the faint of heart

The story is very complex and deep. It also features extreme cruelty and the death of a BB, which is not a spoiler since it is in the trailer. The game has Kojima’s originality but also his blunt approach to a realistic horror theme.