Death Stranding 2: On the Beach review: A beautiful, bizarre delivery from Kojima

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is a massive step up from the original. It not only broadens the scope of its hauntingly unique universe but also digs deeper into its core themes of isolation, human connection, and responsibility. The gameplay, too, has been refined and expanded in ways that make it feel more well-rounded and accessible, offering something for a broader range of players. And if you’re a fan of Hideo Kojima’s trademark weirdness, you’ll be pleased to know he’s clearly having a blast here—packing in celebrity cameos, obscure references, and a healthy dose of those infamous Kojima-isms that make the whole experience feel more cinematic, more bizarre, and yes, even more Metal Gear than before.

Despite all the upgrades and additions, Death Stranding 2 hasn’t lost its identity. At its heart, it’s still about a guy—Sam Porter Bridges—delivering packages across a broken world. But this time around, his deliveries carry even greater emotional and global significance, tied to a collection of side plots that escalate the stakes and the danger. This sequel doesn’t just build on what made the first game great—it amplifies it, giving us something that feels simultaneously familiar and new at the same time.

Connecting the World Through Deliveries

Set not long after the events of the first game, DS2 kicks off with Sam stepping out of his self-imposed exile to join forces with Fragile’s new organization, Drawbridge. Their mission? To connect Mexico and Australia to the chiral network. Since Sam was the one who helped reestablish America’s connection in the original game, he’s not just the best person for the job—he’s the only one who has done this sort of thing before.

That central storyline forms the spine of the game’s narrative and feeds directly into the gameplay. But, in true Kojima fashion, there’s a whole lot more bubbling under the surface. The plot can get downright esoteric, especially early on. Cutscenes and dialogue often veer into the abstract, which can be either captivating or confounding depending on your patience. If you’re new to the series or it’s been a few years since you last played the original, the opening hours may leave you dazed. Thankfully, the game includes a comprehensive encyclopedia system called the Corpus, which you can access during cutscenes to look up terms and references. It’s completely optional but incredibly useful—though breaking the cinematic flow to check a glossary does feel a bit jarring.

Still, if you’ve played any Kojima game before, you probably know what you’re getting into: a story that looks like an action game on the surface, but one that's loaded with deep philosophical musings about society, technology, and identity. DS2 follows that tradition very good, in fact.

What helps give DS2 its thematic heft is how it evolves the idea of disconnection in creative and emotional ways. The side missions across Australia highlight this especially well. You’ll find yourself battling brushfires to save endangered animals, or trekking through rough Mexican terrain to deliver medicine to a pregnant woman living miles from civilization. These vignettes—small, human, and often heartbreaking—are part of what makes the world feel real. Even seemingly minor characters can leave a lasting impression.

Narratively, the game weaves several plot threads together with skill. A big part of your journey is linking Australia’s scattered colonies back onto the chiral network. Along the way, you’ll run into both familiar faces and brand-new threats, including a returning antagonist and a mysterious new enemy type known as ghost mechs. Of course, the ever-present BTs still haunt the land, and together they create a hostile, dangerous world that feels alive and unpredictable.

Going Beyond Deliveries

Gameplay-wise, DS2 retains the core mechanics from the original: Sam is still a porter, tasked with carrying vital packages through hazardous terrain. Deliveries are scored based on performance, so mastering the game’s physics—balancing your load, planning routes, and staying upright—is crucial. Tumble down a slope or get ambushed mid-run, and your cargo could suffer.

But DS2 introduces a host of new tools and items to shake things up. A tranquilizer gun offers a stealthier way to handle enemies, and other gadgets like the bola gun encourage silent approaches. The game doesn’t just revolve around delivery missions anymore either—you’ll infiltrate enemy outposts, survive BT ambushes, and even sneak through MGS-style stealth segments where timing and cover are everything. To practice everything new thrown at you, you can also complete fun VR missions to get a feel of all the newly added ways to take down your foes.

Boss battles, in particular, stand out. These massive showdowns often pit you against towering enemies with distinct attack patterns and weak points. While the formula of “dodge, shoot, repeat” remains, each fight is a visual and mechanical spectacle. And for those who’d rather not replay a boss ten times, the game lets you “pretend you won” and skip ahead—a tongue-in-cheek but welcome accessibility feature that’s pure Kojima and lets players focus on the story.

Alone But Less Lonely

Exploring Australia feels more vibrant this time, thanks in part to the return of the asynchronous multiplayer system. Other players can leave behind structures like roads, bridges, or charging stations, and stumbling upon one can be a genuine lifesaver. It's a brilliant way of reinforcing the game’s central theme—you may feel like you’re alone, but you really aren’t.

This time, Sam also has company on his journey in the form of Dollman, a spirit bonded to a puppet who serves as both companion and narrator. Not only does he resemble Turkish film director Fatih Akin, but he also serves as your narrator of sorts that will talk you through what you should be doing or what you may be thinking during certain situations. Since Sam is still the strong, silent type, Dollman helps voice the emotions and thoughts Sam keeps to himself.

After each mission, you’ll return to your home base aboard the DHV Magellan—a massive, subterranean-traveling vessel that glides through tar and serves as headquarters for the Drawbridge crew. More than just a hub, it’s a space where the game slows down to explore the deeply personal backstories of your companions. One standout is Rainy, a quietly compelling character shunned for her ability to summon the dangerous timefall rain whenever she steps outside. DS2 expands on these abilities from the first game, with some really creative ideas that add more magic to an already sci-fi setting.

Final Thoughts

There’s a certain serenity that sets in as you traverse the desolate landscapes of Australia. Whether you're trekking on foot or cruising in a vehicle, the game offers moments of quiet reflection—sometimes enhanced by a perfectly timed track that captures the loneliness and beauty of the journey. These serene moments, along with the player-built structures dotting your path, contribute to a feeling that you’re part of a larger, silent community—one that’s slowly, meaningfully reconnecting.

Death Stranding 2 enhances everything that made the original special. It offers better tools, more dynamic missions, and a richer story packed with striking visuals and philosophical depth. Thanks to its photorealistic performances and sprawling world, it feels like an interactive film as much as a game.

Sure, it gets weird—sometimes confusingly so—but it also delivers a gripping, thoughtful experience full of memorable moments, clever mechanics, and emotional highs. It's strange, beautiful, messy—and it's one of Kojima's best works yet, a truly worthy successor to the original.