Death Stranding

Death Stranding is a transformative experience that transcends genres to convey a message everyone must hear: we are stronger together and weaker apart.

Think of a controversial game. Chances are, one of the first few you’re likely to name is Death Stranding. Mysterious since it’s initial reveal, not everyone was on board with what Kojima Productions went for in the final game. I loved it, and as a group COGconnected ended up naming it Game of the Year in 2019. Now, Death Stranding is on PC, published by 505 Games. Not only does the game hold up, it’s arguably more impactful than it was on release.

While the new features and missions are nice, the world around us has made Death Stranding better.

Death Stranding's core gameplay mechanics will not appeal to everyone. What I found to be dull and monotonous at times, others will find relaxing and rewarding. It's rare for a game with such a big push, such a huge marketing presence, to be so niche in its design. However, if you have the patience to trudge through this long journey, you won't be disappointed.

Hideo Kojima's weird post-apocalyptic delivery sim finally comes to PC.

Death Stranding might not go down as my favorite game ever made by Hideo Kojima, but it's very likely his most inventive and unique to date, which says a lot. If video games as a medium are ever going to progress past where they are right now, we need more games like Death Stranding that are going to take chances and try out new ideas. Not everything that Death Stranding sets out to accomplish works, but it stands firm in its vision all the same and as such, is worthy of admiration.

Death Stranding is equal parts amazing and exasperating.

“Death Stranding is a technical marvel with an excellent, though slow, story.”

Death Stranding is a cerebral experience that isn’t fun. It’s a 45-hour monotonous slog that backloads everything engaging into the final act. Mission after mission we are mistreated to same old delivery formula, with a couple of fetch quests thrown in for good measure. It just doesn’t respect your time; where a game such as Red Dead Redemption 2 is dense with content, Death Stranding is void of anything to do outside of going from point A to point B. I sound harsh, but this isn’t a bad game as there is something here after you dig through all the mediocrity. Granted, it’s not amazing by any s...

Despite everything though, I’m glad I played Death Stranding. I think. It whittled me down for the reasons above, as well as its many pointless short cutscenes for things like entering your private room and taking a shower. Even its menus are tiresome and convoluted. Yet, I have to give credit to Hideo Kojima for trying to make something different. For me it didn’t pay off, but I did feel there were moments of brilliance here and there. Death Stranding is an ambitious game, but it’s also one that’s self-indulgent and overwrought. With better pacing and the excising of some of its less flatteri...

Death Stranding is an interesting look at what makes a game a game, and not much else.

There is no elevator pitch for Death Stranding.