Life is Strange: Reunion Reviews

Like many who have followed the Life is Strange series over the past decade, I had some mixed feelings about the premise of Life is Strange: Reunion. A story that reunites series protagonist Max Caulfield and dearly departed Chloe Price isn't a bad idea in itself. However, setting it shortly after the events of Life is Strange: Double Exposure raised some inherent issues. Beyond the logical issue of Chloe's current state on this mortal coil in a majority of people's original series playthroughs, there are some philosophical issues with the idea of retreating to a nostalgic comfort zone.

Despite early pacing issues, Life Is Strange: Reunion delivers the perfect final chapter for Max and Chloe, thanks to strong writing and excellent performances, and all long-time fans should play it.

Life is Strange: Reunion is not only a major step up from Double Exposure, it's one of the best games in the series. Almost every criticism from the previous game was rectified in Reunion and gave Max and Chloe the closure that they deserved. Great writing, great characters and a pretty intense mystery to solve, this game could have gone off the rails at so many points. But Deck Nine managed to pull off a miracle here by delivering a fantastic game.

Life is Strange: Reunion builds off the ending of Double Exposure but rather than letting players import their save file from the last game and create the choices organically this way, Deck Nine resorted to the tried and true method of letting players choose which (if any or all) of three key characters from Double Exposure that Max Caulfield romanced, whether they picked to save the Bae or Bay in the first game, and whether or not they agreed to help Safi out in the previous game.

Eleven years after the first game, with five other games in the series, Life is Strange: Reunion brings back the original protagonists Max and Chloe for one last adventure. The events of previous games are recapped in a rather confusing montage that involves time travel and multiple timelines before the game allows you to choose specific events from the past – crucially, did you save Chloe at the end of the first game?

While the comfort and charm of the series can still be felt within Life Is Strange: Reunion, Deck Nine attempts to course correct the series, but in doing so, not only hurts the core experience, but previous titles in the franchise as well. As a long time fan of Life is Strange, I can't help but feel disappointed.

The Life Is Strange series comes to its supposed end with Life Is Strange: Reunion, a quasi-sequel to the 2015 original, and a full-on sequel to 2024’s Life Is Strange: Double Exposure. However, its commitment to either of those prior games is a little inconsistent, leading to a disappointingly flat and messy finale.

Life is Strange: Reunion lives up to its name in more ways than one. Players return to Caledon University, the setting of the previous game, Double Exposure, to unravel a new mystery alongside much of that game’s cast. Max Caulfield’s time-rewind powers from the first Life is Strange are back in full force. And, of course, fan-favorite character Chloe Price makes her grand return to the series after over a decade-long absence. Retreading these familiar grounds offers nostalgic fun and som...

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Life is Strange: Reunion is an amazing improvement to what was the awful state of the series after Double Exposure’s release. Even though it’s not as good as the original title, and even made the choice made in the original title irrelevant, it still provides a satisfying end to Max and Chloe’s story.

Life Is Strange: Reunion does right by past, present, and future, bringing Max and Chloe back together for a worthy final mystery.

The appeals to nostalgia can’t save Life is Strange: Reunion from seeming like a low-budget cash grab that clumsily undermines the narrative of not only the previous instalment, Double Exposure, but also the beloved first game in the series. It mostly functions on a technical level, albeit while looking pretty hideous at times, but its egregious plot leaves me wishing I could "rewind" this sloppy new entry.

If you thought you'd never see Chloe and Max reunite, think again as there's another story in their saga with Life is Strange: Reunion.

Life is Strange: Reunion is a solid attempt at sending-off series progenitors, Chloe and Max. Unfortunately, due to some pacing issues, Max’s power usage, and the handling of Chloe’s return, Life is Strange: Reunion feels like less of a send-off and more of a one-off, resulting in a weak series entry.

A fitting end to Max and Chloe's story, it's a real joy to have these two iconic characters back together again. While the story, revolving around Caledon University and Abraxas, might not be quite as gripping as it should be, this is still a very strong entry into the series, with brilliant visuals, stellar voice acting, and a great mixture of puzzle-solving, evidence-hunting and exploration.

The presentation is strong, carrying that signature art direction and soundtrack that have become cornerstones of the franchise. Although stylised with a high-quality, cinematic animation ethos, this doesn’t diminish the emotions stirring within each character. Deck Nine’s expert use of animation, combined with emotive tracks, helps create a heartfelt presentation that is both endearing and immersive.

Life is Strange: Reunion feels like something I wasn’t sure we’d ever actually get—a sincere, tender, and heartfelt goodbye to Max and Chloe that understands why people fell in love with them in the first place. It’s far from perfect, with its technical hiccups, underdeveloped side cast, and that lingering illusion of choice holding it back from true greatness. But where it truly matters, it delivers. The mystery narrative holds its ground with a slew of twists and red herrings thrown at you. Most importantly, the emotional depth (finally) lands with a kind of honesty the series has been chasing for a few years. This isn’t about surpassing the original; it’s about making peace with its past. And somehow, against all the stacked odds, Deck Nine manages to pull that off in a redeeming fashion. If you’ve been on this journey since the beginning, it feels like closure, the kind that quietly sticks with you long after the credits roll as you're waving goodbye.

Life Is Strange Reunion isn’t perfect, but it hits the most important notes. Getting to see Max and Chloe together again is a phenomenally emotional experience.