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Death Stranding
Critics Consensus (Play It)
An indulgent vanity project that you will either love or hate, and nowhere in between.
Game Info
Sam Bridges must brave a world utterly transformed by the Death Stranding. Carrying the disconnected remnants of our future in his hands, he embarks on a journey to reconnect the shattered world one step at a time. With spectral creatures plaguing the landscape, and humanity on the verge of a mass extinction, it’s up to Sam to journey across the ravaged continent and save mankind from impending annihilation. What is the mystery of the Death Stranding? What will Sam discover on the road ahead? An unprecedented gameplay experience holds these answers and more.
0%
Recommended
0%
Average Score
Total Reviews: 144
Silver TIER
24% of scored reviews fell within the range of 80 to 86 / 100
RELEASE DATES:
GENRES:
- Action, Adventure
DEVELOPER(S):
- Kojima Productions
PUBLISHER(S):
- 505 Games
SERIES/FRANCHISE:
- n/a
GAME MODES:
- Single player
Where to Play
WHERE TO PLAY
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RATING & REVIEWS
Ratings & Reviews
144
Critic Reviews
82
Average Critic Score
Where to Play
CRITIC REVIEWS
All reviews are from professional critics. Learn more about the critics VSG aggregates.
High Score
100%
Median Score
85%
Low Score
30%
What did you think of Death Stranding?
Player Reviews0 Votes
0
Andy Kelly (PC Gamer)
July 13, 2018
85/100
Slow, weird, and indulgent, but a true original, and a journey that will linger in your mind long after it’s over.
Oli Welsh (Eurogamer)
November 1, 2019
Recommended
Hideo Kojma’s first post-Metal Gear game is a messy, indulgent vanity project – but also a true original.
Tristan Ogilvie (IGN)
November 1, 2019
6.8/10
Death Stranding delivers a fascinating world of supernatural sci-fi, but its gameplay struggles to support its weight.
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Score Ranges
Read the Reviews (144 total)
| Outlet | Author | Score | Date | Quote | Read |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33bits | Fernando Sánchez | 90 / 100 | 12-03-2019 | Death Stranding is a brave proposal of Hideo Kojima that shakes the foundations of the triple A games with an author’s title, where the Japanese creative has had a carte blanche to capture all the creative elements he has wanted and more, and especially giving it a very human touch when sharing with the player his own experiences and his fear of loneliness. Audiovisually impeccable, the game is not without problems, although it is not uncommon to minimize them if we get gripped by the true essence of the title: CONNECT | Read review |
| 3DNews | Алексей Лихачев | 7 / 10 | 11-01-2019 | An intriguing plot, an interesting universe, an outstanding performance by amazing actors and an incredible soundtrack can’t hide the fact that Death Stranding has repetitive missions, unexciting open world with a lot of samey elements and disappointing boss fights. It could’ve been so much more if some parts of the game didn’t feel so rushed, but if you are here for the story — you are in for a ride. | Read review |
| Areajugones | Juan Linares | 9.7 / 10 | 11-01-2019 | Death Stranding is one the best games to be found in PS4. Kojima-san delivers an open world in which we have to represent a bridge between the narrative of the game and other players in order to keep moving forward as part of a world that needs us. The game introduces characters that keep on evolving until we reach an ending for the ages through a story told like very few would be able to. Death Stranding knows how to toy with our emotions, and it manages to arise anguish, tension, solitude, sorrow, joy and provides a conclusion that completely stuns us. The end is only the beginning. | Read review |
| Ars Technica | Kyle Orland | Recommended | 11-01-2019 | Death Stranding is definitely a game that stands out from the crowd, but on balance, I’m not sure it stands out for good reasons. | Read review |
| Atomix | Alberto Desfassiaux | 100 / 100 | 11-01-2019 | Death Stranding is the birth of a new genre. Death Stranding is a master piece that can only be generated by a mind like the one that Hideo Kojima has. | Read review |
| Attack of the Fanboy | Kyle Hanson | 4 / 5 stars | 11-01-2019 | Death Stranding is equal parts amazing and exasperating. | Read review |
| AusGamers | Steve Farrelly | 6 / 10 | 11-01-2019 | In the end, all I can really say is this: handle Death Stranding with care. | Read review |
| BaziCenter | Mohammad Talebian | 10 / 10 | 11-15-2019 | Hideo Kojima’s latest creation might not be his best ever, although some may argue, but it is definitely his most unique work yet. Death Stranding requires time to show you what it has to offer, and no matter if you love them or hate them, you’ll see many other developers use them in the next generation of video games. | Read review |
| Bazimag | Sina Golab Zade | 8.5 / 10 | 11-14-2019 | This is Hideo Kojima running wild with his ideas and it is magnificent if flawed in some places. Not many creators try to make something this different in the world of big-budget games, so the fact that something like this actually exists must be celebrated even if we don’t like some of its weirder design choices. | Read review |
| Bloody Disgusting | Michael Pementel | 3 / 5 stars | 11-14-2019 | Death Stranding is as thoughtful and meditative as it is a slog and convoluted. It is a different take on gaming that most of us gamers are not used to. It is a Hideo Kojima title where in-game actions provide a sense of emotional joy for players. Death Stranding, for all its depth and struggle, is a beautiful step forward for video games, and a potential taste of what the future may bring. | Read review |
| Cerealkillerz | Gabriel Bogdan | 7 / 10 | 11-12-2019 | Death Stranding wants to be a lot of things, but not really a video game. A good gaming experience or a story that makes an real impact are the things that you’ll miss the most in this ridiculously long journey that you have to take. Even Fans of the previous works of Hideo Kojima will have a hard time to win something out of this title. | Read review |
| CGMagazine | Zubi Khan | 7.5 / 10 | 07-13-2020 | Death Stranding’s attention to the real may make it difficult to enjoy, but it is undeniably an experience that will both scourge and soothe the heart. | Read review |
| Cheat Code Central | Benjamin Maltbie | 4.7 / 5 stars | 11-11-2019 | Death Stranding will not be for everybody. It seems meticulously engineered for a pretty specific kind of nerd. My wife, for example, loves this game, and when she loves a game, she dumps hundreds of hours into it. Me? I merely like this game | Read review |
| Chicas Gamers | Estela Villa | Recommended | 11-18-2019 | Death Stranding is a game that bets on a different mechanic in an open world. With a duration of about 45-50 hours, depending on the player, it will make us discover an original story in which we will want to know more and more. It is not a normal game and it may not be liked for everyone | Read review |
| COGconnected | Paul Sullivan | 93 / 100 | 11-01-2019 | Death Stranding is an outstanding title that ended up blowing away the expectations I wasn’t even aware of. For an auteur like Hideo Kojima, that sounds like an unequivocal success. | Read review |
| Cubed3 | Chris Leebody | 10 / 10 | 07-13-2020 | This is a contemplative odyssey that is ultimately a story about the triumph of the human spirit in spite of entropy. | Read review |
| Cultured Vultures | Michael Glover | 5 / 10 | 12-03-2019 | Death Stranding is a beautiful and unique game that deserves praise for trying something a bit different. However, your enjoyment of it really will hinge on your tolerance for the game’s core delivery gameplay of “move item from A to B” and Kojima’s episode-length cutscenes. | Read review |
| Daily Dot | AJ Moser | 3.5 / 5 stars | 11-01-2019 | Despite all the time I felt Death Stranding was actively wasting, as if confronting me to walk away in annoyance, I still respect its message. | Read review |
| Daily Mirror | Lloyd Coombes | 4 / 5 stars | 11-14-2019 | Death Stranding is undoubtedly the game of the year, in that it’s the game we needed at this moment. In these uncertain times, it can be reassuring to see how one man can make a difference, and how society can find itself in communication. There are arguably scarier threats than BTs in today’s world | Read review |
| Daily Star | Jordan Oloman | 5 / 5 stars | 11-01-2019 | Death Stranding is the most unique big-budget game I’ve ever played, a socially-minded injection of inventive ideas into a genre that has long survived by being lazy and brutish. This ambitious formula-flipper is brimming with empathy and carefully courts cinematic influences, an ensemble cast and a world of eye-watering scale, delivering a sticky gameplay loop to tie it all together and create a console generation-defining experience. | Read review |
| Darkstation | Allen Kesinger | 4.5 / 5 stars | 11-01-2019 | Death Stranding is a Kojima game through and through and all of the idiosyncrasies, intricacies, and eccentricities that defined his work through the years are well intact. | Read review |
| DarkZero | Ian Howarth | 7 / 10 | 08-12-2020 | Can I recommend Death Stranding? Not really. | Read review |
| DASHGAMER.com | Dan Rizzo | 9 / 10 | 11-24-2019 | Does it wrap everything up nicely, plot wise? No, it doesn’t. That’s what leaves me befuddled on why the title is so good. Does it deserve an accolade and be recognised amongst the best presented in 2019? Hell yes. It most certainly deserves to be in the same conversation as anything labeled “Game of the Year”, and I for one will argue for it. It’s different, It’s unique, it’s incredible. Death Stranding is one of the best, and unmissable video games of this generation. | Read review |
| Destructoid | Chris Carter | 8 / 10 | 11-01-2019 | Death Stranding is not the overly-strange inaccessible walled garden the marketing has made it out to be. It’s weird, don’t get me wrong! But anyone with a surface-level understanding of surrealism in art should be able to acclimate to what is essentially a playable Hollywood production. | Read review |
| Digital Chumps | Nathaniel Stevens | 10 / 10 | 11-03-2019 | Death Stranding reinvents how video game design can work. It takes you through an experience you didn’t expect, doesn’t hold back with its design intentions and execution, and takes the gamer through a journey like no other. This is a masterpiece that only Kojima could pull off. | Read review |
| Digital Spy | Laurence Mozafari | 3 / 5 stars | 11-08-2019 | It pains us to say this, but Death Stranding is more like an elaborate sim for being a one-man Amazon Prime delivery service for the whole of America. Despite the beautiful graphics, masterful soundtrack, solid voice acting and fun combat, it’s not enough to counterbalance how much of a chore lugging around boxes is. | Read review |
| Digital Trends | Giovanni Colantonio | 3.5 / 5 stars | 11-30-2019 | It won’t change the minds of Kojima detractors who think he should just make movies, but the game’s thoughtful social components showcase why he still plays such a vital role in the games industry. | Read review |
| Digitally Downloaded | Matt Sainsbury | 5 / 5 stars | 11-01-2019 | As a “game” Death Stranding doesn’t do much. But as a work of art, Death Stranding is something mesmerising, intelligent, and powerful, and we never see genuine art within the big budget, blockbuster space. That alone makes it a rare treat to play, and I rather like this new-look, independent Kojima. | Read review |
| DualShockers | Logan Moore | 8 / 10 | 11-22-2019 | Death Stranding has its fair share of gameplay issues but also boasts more heart and a willingness to take chances than any other game in years. | Read review |
| Easy Allies | Ben Moore | 4 / 5 stars | 11-01-2019 | Death Stranding is a fearless game that often stumbles, but is still fascinating overall. | Read review |
| Echo Boomer | David Fialho | Recommended | 11-01-2019 | Death Stranding is the culmination of years worth of hype, misteries and expectation, in a genre-transcending game. An emotional and provocative interactive experience presented in a way that is only possible in a videogame. | Read review |
| EGM | Mollie L Patterson | 10 / 10 | 11-01-2019 | In the end, Death Stranding’s biggest mystery isn’t any of the elements we’ve had teased in three-plus years of trailers—it’s what people are going to think of it. Even from a man known for making love-them-or-hate-them projects, this may end up being one of the most divisive games ever created. For me, it was an experience that I can truly say was unlike any other I remember. And, if nothing else, Death Stranding makes me respect Hideo Kojima for convincing Sony to invest millions into a game that’s about a man delivering packages to holograms. | Read review |
| Eurogamer | Oli Welsh | Recommended | 11-01-2019 | Hideo Kojma’s first post-Metal Gear game is a messy, indulgent vanity project | Read review |
| Everyeye.it | Alessandro Bruni | 9 / 10 | 11-01-2019 | A precious experience that deserves a place of right among the most significant titles of our generation. | Read review |
| Explosion Network | Dylan Blight | 9.5 / 10 | 11-15-2019 | Death Stranding is a unique, weird and unprecedented game that I can’t get out of my head. It’s a testament to new ideas and the rare freedom Kojima Productions was bequeathed from Sony and I hope they continue to support new ideas, no matter how crazy a game about delivering packages may sound on paper. | Read review |
| Flickering Myth | Shaun Munro | 9 / 10 | 11-14-2019 | Death Stranding once again sees Hideo Kojima pushing the boundaries of what video games can be, and the result is a breathtaking and uncompromising – if at times willfully baffling – experience. | Read review |
| Game Debate | Chad Norton | 8 / 10 | 07-13-2020 | Death Stranding is a wholly unique and fresh experience that will surely appeal to only a few, and the surprisingly engaging experience of essentially being a delivery man in the post-apocalypse is hypnotizing. Kojima’s standout weird and wacky writing is left unhinged here, and that can excite some or terrify others, but the truth is that Death Stranding on PC is definitely the ultimate version of such a very, very strange game. | Read review |
| Game Informer | Matthew Kato | 7 / 10 | 11-01-2019 | The pillars of gameplay, combat, and story all bear the mark of creator Hideo Kojima, but none of them stand out or carry the experience | Read review |
| Game Rant | Dalton Cooper | 2 / 5 stars | 11-15-2019 | Death Stranding is a boring chore of a game that takes the worst aspects of open world games and combines them with a nonsensical plot. | Read review |
| Game Revolution | Jason Faulkner | 5 / 5 stars | 11-01-2019 | Death Stranding is one of the best games I’ve ever played. It’s smart, it’s well-produced, and it just feels good to play. | Read review |
| Gameblog | Thomas Pillon | 8 / 10 | 11-01-2019 | Death Stranding is first of all a game which, tries, experiments, and full of ideas. Playing the role of the lonely Sam Porter Bridges, the player is connected with everyone else thanks to a clever system of collaboration, which works really well thanks to a thoughtful game design. But to enjoy the long run through what seems to be the most beautiful Iceland landscape, you will have to go through a thick, complex and most of all tedious story, which seems to never know when to stop, or being simply limpid. | Read review |
| GameCrate | Angelo D’Argenio | 8.3 / 10 | 11-11-2019 | Death Stranding isn’t for everyone, but if you are looking for a neat experimental exploration of the fetch quest, you’ll enjoy it. If you are looking for something more traditional, though, you should probably look elsewhere. | Read review |
| Gamefa | Mostafa Zahedi | 8 / 10 | 12-02-2019 | Death Stranding is undoubtedly one of the most unique experiences of this generation, and maybe one of the most unique video games of all time. The story is Intriguing and well Written and because of Presence of amazing actors like Mads Mikkelsen and Norman Reedus, the Cinematics feel like a Great Movie. You will actually fell that you’ve Accomplished something in the end. This is the feeling I’ve been missing for a long time. Unfortunately gameplay doesn’t live up to the expectation and there is a lot lacking in gameplay. Also there is no variety in side quests so the game may gets repetative. Still, Death Stranding is one of the best games of this year and if you are a fan of Hideo Kojima games or in love with amazing stories, Death Stranding is a game you should absolutely play. | Read review |
| GameGrin | Francis Kenna | 8 / 10 | 11-21-2019 | Death Stranding might be the most unique AAA game of the generation, with an addictive core gameplay loop that manages to combine a new concept with tried-and-true design philosophies, and a story that | Read review |
| GameMAG | Unknown | 9 / 10 | 11-01-2019 | In Death Stranding complex themes of life and death, love and loneliness are mixed with a slow meditative and at the same time intense gameplay, where climbing the mountain slopes surrounded by enemies causes incredible experiences. The story of Sam Porter’s journey is the most emotional, incredible and powerful we’ve seen in the last few years. And of course, the amazing acting of Norman Reedus, Lea Seydoux, Mads Mikkelsen and other cult actors will not leave anyone indifferent. | Read review |
| GamePitt | Lynn Caramella | 8 / 10 | 08-11-2020 | I enjoyed discovering the world in Death Stranding and although the gameplay didn’t seem ‘special’ at first, it ended up being much more complex than I initially thought. Sadly, the story does take a while to pick up, however, as soon as my confusion got untangled it became more enjoyable for me. My favourite thing about this game is the stunning environmental and character graphics which made it a joy for me to traverse through the areas, even if I was mostly simply delivering cargo. That being said, Death Stranding is an entertaining game, with an interesting premise, which I recommend to anyone who is looking for something more unique to experience. | Read review |
| Gameplanet | Billy Atman | 10 / 10 | 11-01-2019 | While Death Stranding will surely be the most divisive game of this generation, there is no arguing that it offers new ideas on pushing the medium forward and shows that games don’t always typically have to be “fun”. The story is beautifully presented and is surprisingly restrained and focused for a Kojima title. All of the actors put on amazing performances and while its gameplay will be too slow for many, those willing to peel back the layers will discover a thoughtfully designed experience that will leave you ruminating for weeks after finishing. | Read review |
| GamePro | Hannes Rossow | 89 / 100 | 11-01-2019 | An idiosyncratic but outstanding game that provides entertainment with fresh ideas, a crazy story, and star power. | Read review |
| Gamer Escape | Andrew Copeland | 8 / 10 | 07-21-2020 | The idea of running back and forth across a large area may not be appealing to everyone. However, after setting aside the weirdly, and wonderfully confusing story and a few tense BT encounters, I found my time with Death Stranding to often be a more relaxing, chill, experience that I would recommend you check out. | Read review |
| Gamerheadquarters | Jason Stettner | 5.2 / 10 | 11-18-2019 | Death Stranding was an awful, tedious experience that felt like a never ending nightmare where going out to get an actual part time job delivering packages would have been more rewarding. | Read review |
| Gamers Heroes | Blaine Smith | 8.5 / 10 | 11-11-2019 | 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. | Read review |
| Gamersky | 不倒翁蜀黍 | 10 / 10 | 11-01-2019 | Death Stranding is a game about connection, and it connects not only every character of the game but also every gamer together. It’s a masterpiece with great philosophy thoughts and combines great storytelling with innovative gameplay. | Read review |
| GameSkinny | Ashley Shankle | 5 / 10 | 01-31-2020 | Death Stranding is an interesting look at what makes a game a game, and not much else. | Read review |
| GameSpew | Richard Seagrave | 6 / 10 | 11-26-2019 | 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 flattering content and features, Death Stranding could have been something special | Read review |
| GameSpot | Kallie Plagge | 9 / 10 | 11-01-2019 | Death Stranding is dense, complex, and powerful, steadfast in its belief in the power of love and hope when faced with overwhelming adversity. | Read review |
| GamesRadar+ | Unknown | 3.5 / 5 stars | 11-01-2019 | Kojima’s mysterious would be epic has its moments but can’t carry the weight of expectation. | Read review |
| GameWatcher | Marcello Perricone | 9.5 / 10 | 07-13-2020 | A masterpiece class of game design which surpasses your every expectation. | Read review |
| GameZone | Arne Cito | 9 / 10 | 07-24-2020 | Varied gameplay mechanics, an intriguing story, and Hideo Kojima’s signature attention to cinematic storytelling elevate Death Stranding as a one-of-a-kind experience that is sure to consume your attention and imagination. | Read review |
| Gaming Nexus | Randy Kalista | 9.5 / 10 | 11-01-2019 | Hideo Kojima has fully weaponized the walking simulator, writing a love letter to the delivery service workers of our shipping and handling world. Death Stranding is about ending isolation, and does it so gracefully that I can’t imagine it being done better than it’s done here. | Read review |
| GamingBolt | Shubhankar Parijat | 9 / 10 | 11-01-2019 | Death Stranding is definitely an acquired taste, and its slow pacing and deliberate gameplay might not be for everyone, but its mechanical depth, its desolately beautiful and haunting world, and its confident and stylistic storytelling nonetheless make for a continental trek worth experiencing. | Read review |
| GamingTrend | Codi Spence | 100 / 100 | 11-01-2019 | Death Stranding is a story of rebuilding America by connecting people far and wide. Stealth, exploration, combat, and inventory management are all necessary in order to succeed. With a fantastic cast, incredible set pieces, an engaging story, and Kojima’s brand of incredibly enjoyable crazy, you won’t want to put your controller down. | Read review |
| GBAtemp | Stephen Peddigrew | 5 / 10 | 11-18-2019 | Death Stranding deserves credit for daring to be so unique, but the price of experimentation is often failure. It can sometimes achieve moments of tranquil beauty, but is usually such a frustrating slog that it’s hard to appreciate the quieter moments. | Read review |
| Geek Culture | Jake Su | 9.4 / 10 | 11-01-2019 | A true masterpiece by Hideo Kojima, Death Stranding is an experience unlike any other, and you must try it to believe it. | Read review |
| Geeks Under Grace | Joe Morgan | 8 / 10 | 12-13-2019 | Though it won’t be for everyone, Death Stranding is an unconventional yet satisfying game with top-tier storytelling, wonderful acting, and a fantastic, off-the-wall story. | Read review |
| Giant Bomb | Alex Navarro | 2 / 5 stars | 11-06-2019 | Kojima’s first post-Konami project is a bizarre, self-indulgent mess that never quite manages to tie its myriad pieces together. | Read review |
| God is a Geek | Mick Fraser | 9 / 10 | 07-13-2020 | Death Stranding is an ambitious game, filled with so many different mechanics and ideas that almost always work well together. The story and acting is fantastic, and its visuals are a thing of beauty, not to mention the powerful soundtrack. | Read review |
| GotGame | David Poole | 9.5 / 10 | 11-26-2019 | Death Stranding may not be a perfect game, but it’s still a work of art, and we definitely appreciate it. There is so much to say about the game, but we encourage you to play the game and find out for yourself. | Read review |
| GRYOnline.pl | Unknown | 9 / 10 | 11-01-2019 | I have found the same joy and emotions in Death Stranding that I have experienced years ago after finishing MGS3. If you are willing to visit Kojima-land with all its flaws, Death Stranding will become a truly compelling experience that will push you out of your comfort zone and stay with you for a long time. | Read review |
| Guardian | Dan Dawkins | 4 / 5 stars | 11-01-2019 | With gameplay that denies instant gratification, Hideo Kojima’s unashamedly political game is this year’s most interesting blockbuster game by far | Read review |
| Hardcore Gamer | Adam Beck | 3.5 / 5 stars | 11-01-2019 | Death Stranding is a cerebral experience that isn’t fun. | Read review |
| Hobby Consolas | Alejandro Alcolea Huertos | 93 / 100 | 07-13-2020 | Death Stranding is Kojima´s most personal game. A complex and emotional work of art, which is not adequate for everyone because of the slow pace and the unusual gameplay. But once you get it, it´s something you will never forget. | Read review |
| Hynerd.it | Tommaso Agudio | 8.7 / 10 | 07-21-2020 | Death Stranding is a hybrid title, a film that can be played. It is an experience that the player falls in love with easily and with great difficulty will forget it. It is not a delivery simulator, it is enough, it is much more. The asynchronous multiplayer also makes it very enjoyable even from a collaborative point of view. We fell madly in love with the new Hideo Kojima title, and we don’t hide from you that we had many uncertainties before we started playing it, probably the same ones that we clarified with this review. | Read review |
| IGN | Tristan Ogilvie | 6.8 / 10 | 11-01-2019 | Death Stranding delivers a fascinating world of supernatural sci-fi, but its gameplay struggles to support its weight. | Read review |
| IGN Italy | Unknown | 9.8 / 10 | 11-01-2019 | Death Stranding is a one of a kind experience that will stick with you for years to come. | Read review |
| IGN Middle East | Moustafa Gad | 7.8 / 10 | 11-01-2019 | Kojima’s new open-world adventure delivers heavily on story, crafting a journey that is impeccably directed, with a story that will stay with you for a while. However, the game leaves a lot to desired when it comes to its gameplay and that’s where it falters the most. | Read review |
| IGN Spain | Unknown | 8.7 / 10 | 11-01-2019 | Kojima has done it again. Death Stranding presents an exciting story full of plot twists that are truly amazing. The game has one of the most interesting exploration systems we’ve ever seen and its way of connecting the community is very interesting. It wont leave anybody indiferent. | Read review |
| Impulsegamer | Stephen Heller | 4 / 5 stars | 07-14-2020 | Overall, ‘Death Stranding’ is a good game but not quite something that I’d really recommend. Yet, at the same time, ‘Death Stranding’ is still an incredibly unique game and worth having a go at if you’re looking for something a bit out of the ordinary. | Read review |
| INDIANTVCZ | Filip Kraucher | 9 / 10 | Death Stranding is technically well crafted game. Hideo Kojima surpassed himself in terms of writing and game loop. The game offers an excellent narrative story that really makes a deep sense. Furthermore, you will get an unprecedented cast, an exceptional soundtrack and above all, the game brings its own vision. Perhaps it does not establish a brand new genre. But it is a great game with style for which gamers love Kojima Productions so much. | Read review | |
| Jump Dash Roll | Ant Barlow | 9 / 10 | 12-05-2019 | Death Stranding is a game about connections, common understandings and hope. It’s also a game where the earth can swallow you up and you can be attacked by a giant tar monster. It manages to do both of those things whilst maintaining a consistent story and tone on its way to being one of the most compelling games of the generation. | Read review |
| Just Push Start | Mark Fajardo | 3.6 / 5 stars | 11-10-2019 | Death Stranding is largely just, for better or worse, more Kojima. So, if you’re a fan of everything he does, odds are you’ll find enough to get through it and likely be happy, whereas if you questioned some of his choices or simply hate the trailers, I’d bet on you not liking this experience. | Read review |
| JVL | Unknown | 9.5 / 10 | 11-01-2019 | Sublime in form and substance, Death Stranding is one of the greatest games of this generation. | Read review |
| Kinglink Reviews | Frank Reese | 3 / 5 stars | 08-25-2020 | An interesting story, and solid gameplay, but not in a way that combines into a singular experience that players deserve for a 60 dollar title. Still it’s worth checking out once the price drops. | Read review |
| Kotaku | Heather Alexandra | Recommended | 11-01-2019 | It’s hard not to like Sam Bridges, who faces all of Death Stranding’s bizarreness with a welcome everyman’s weariness, encapsulated in in Norman Reedus’ characteristic growl. | Read review |
| LevelUp | Luis Sánchez | 8.5 / 10 | 11-01-2019 | Despite having a well-designed and quite addictive gameplay loop, a great story with a powerful ending, Death Stranding falls shorts in key areas. With a long and lethargic pacing, players will turn away, and then, it’s lack of difficulty will surely seal the deal to leave this adventure for later. | Read review |
| Luis Alamilla | Luis Alamilla | 7.5 / 10 | 11-12-2019 | Video Review | Read review |
| M3 | Raphael Cano Felix | 9 / 10 | 11-01-2019 | A journey that affects the entire emotional spectrum and that makes us reflect far beyond the final texts. But above all, an experience that once again confirms Hideo Kojima’s position as one of the foremost and most multifaceted artists in this industry. | Read review |
| Merlin’in Kazanı | Ersin Kılıç | 82 / 100 | 10-31-2019 | Death Stranding is a game that focuses on the journey rather than the goal. If you are looking for a different and unique adventure, should try Death Stranding. | Read review |
| Metro GameCentral | David Jenkins | 7 / 10 | 07-13-2020 | A work of unbridled ambition and imagination but also a pretentious, contrived, and frequently quite dull gameplay experience – Death Stranding is peak Hideo Kojima. | Read review |
| MonsterVine | Spencer Legacy | 3.5 / 5 stars | 11-15-2019 | Death Stranding is one of the strangest and most unique games I’ve ever played. While its story’s pacing and theming are all over the place, its characters, world, atmosphere, and fascinatingly dull gameplay make Death Stranding an experience that you will likely either love or hate. Either way, I’m glad it exists. | Read review |
| New Game Network | Alex Varankou | 65 / 100 | 11-17-2019 | Death Stranding is less like a masterwork from a newly liberated veteran, and feels more like a debut effort of an imaginative and yet still unrefined game creator. Its convoluted story is propped up by a solid cast, and the very dull gameplay is just helped along by the well implemented multiplayer. It will only really appeal to fans of a very specific game subgenre, or those who enjoy unbridled narratives. | Read review |
| Next Gen Base | Ben Ward | 9.5 / 10 | 11-01-2019 | Death Stranding is a weird game. It won’t be for everyone, but if you can find something to like in the relatively slow start, you’ll love it by the end. Typically Kojima for better and for worse, it’s a story about reconnecting people through the eyes of a bystander that becomes much more than that. Technically and visually outstanding, it’s going to be up there on my Game of the Year list for sure. A weird, but wonderful game. | Read review |
| Nexus | Sam Aberdeen | 9.2 / 10 | 11-01-2019 | It’s hard to pin down exactly what makes Death Stranding work in my mind, but a masterful presentation, stunning open world, and captivating characters contribute to one of this generation’s most unforgettable games, for better or worse. | Read review |
| Niche Gamer | Cody Long | 6 / 10 | 11-30-2019 | In a way, I respect Kojima for coming out with something he had to know a ton of people wouldn’t like. At the end of the day, though, I just wanted to have fun playing video games, and slogging through snow for a half an hour just to deliver a jar of bugs to someone isn’t my idea of entertainment. | Read review |
| NoesPaisparaFrikis | Oscar Garcia Mompean | 9.6 / 10 | 12-11-2019 | Death Stranding is the most original game I’ve played in this generation. And it is to be appreciated that there are still creators who decide to skip the established conventions and have the courage to go a step further and present such different and personal proposals, such as Death Stranding. Kojima returns to the world of videogames with a surprising, emotional, original title. With an impeccable technical finish, a great script and a staging that will take a long time to forget. Kojima again exceeds expectations. | Read review |
| Noisy Pixel | Victor Aparicio | 9 / 10 | 07-27-2020 | Death Stranding is a great first look into Sony’s willingness to be more platform-agnostic. It also proves that Kojima Productions doesn’t have to regulate themselves to specific needs or restrictions of a console. While the developer didn’t entirely loosen its grips on its vision of Death Stranding, with the lack of standard PC settings, adapting to an open platform still couldn’t have been easy. | Read review |
| NoobFeed | Adam Siddiqui | 75 / 100 | 11-13-2019 | Even after completing Death Stranding twice I’ve been conflicted about how I feel about this title. On one hand, the narrative, presentation, lore, and soundtrack are outstanding. On the other hand, the game’s core gameplay teetered between tiresome and exceptional. Death Stranding’s world-building featured an incredible landscape teeming with interesting lore but surrounding that is a delivery simulator. | Read review |
| Oyungezer Online | Ömer Akdağ | 8.5 / 10 | 11-01-2019 | I haven’t witnessed such creative mechanics, such a deep and meaningful scenario and high quality visuals for a long time. There are some underlying issues but I can easily say this: Kojima delivered again! | Read review |
| PC Gamer | Andy Kelly | 85 / 100 | 07-13-2020 | Slow, weird, and indulgent, but a true original, and a journey that will linger in your mind long after it’s over. | Read review |
| PC Invasion | Unknown | 8.5 / 10 | 07-13-2020 | Death Stranding is an excellent game with a lot of content and a ton of unique angles. The story is straight-up dumb a lot of the time and things can get tedious and clunky, but the thrill of exploration and making your own way overcomes all obstacles. Just like. Ugh. Sam Porter Bridges. | Read review |
| PCGamesN | Malindy Hetfeld | 8 / 10 | 07-13-2020 | As thrilling as it is boring, as fantastic as it is mundane, but one thing’s for sure | Read review |
| Player.it | Amerigo Cirelli | 9.5 / 10 | 12-13-2019 | I challenge anyone to say that Death Stranding is a walking simulator or that the video game medium is not as expressive as cinema and once again I invite you to get closer to this work. | Read review |
| Player2.net.au | Joab Gilroy | Not Recommended | 11-01-2019 | Many expect things of Hideo Kojima, but it takes a degree of self-confidence to deliver something else instead. He left Konami because he wasn’t allowed to take the time and spend the money to make the game he wanted, so it is depressing to see Death Stranding make so many mistakes that appear on some level to be dictated by what people expect. | Read review |
| PlayStation LifeStyle | Chandler Wood | 9.5 / 10 | 11-01-2019 | Death Stranding is not a “fun” game, but it’s an important and meaningful experience that earns its payoff through every bit of frustration and slog. It’s a look at life and death, connection and solitude; a game about building up what matters most and supporting each other selflessly. You’ll be bored at times and downright frustrated at others, but it comes with a great reward at the end that is made sweeter by the trials that precede it. It’s brilliantly unique in its design and implementation of online elements. Even if it’s got a few places where it stumbles, Death Stranding firmly holds down R2 and L2 to regain its balance and deliver an unmatched experience. | Read review |
| PlayStation Universe | Timothy Nunes | 8 / 10 | 11-01-2019 | Death Standing proves itself as a unique, palpable new IP, filled with rich storytelling both in narrative and gameplay. The beginning of the game suffers from long gaps of time intended for learning the ropes, but the ship rights itself once it finally turns the corner. Despite that with a handful of missteps, a deep, potent message of coming together rings through every aspect of Death Stranding that dazzles the game as a whole. If you give it the time, Death Stranding will offer you something most games never do. | Read review |
| Polygon | Russ Frushtick | Recommended | 11-01-2019 | Having been smitten by the core world-building gameplay of Death Stranding, I am stunned to realize that many of the game’s strongest, most appealing gameplay ideas (specifically the world-building and cooperation) are tossed aside in the final acts, in favor of a much more linear, scripted, cutscene-ridden experience. The freedom and sense of ownership I enjoyed while creating this world are dashed in favor of explaining and wrapping up a story that never had much going for it to begin with. | Read review |
| Post Arcade (National Post) | Chad Sapieha | 9 / 10 | 11-01-2019 | Hideo Kojima’s first post-Konami game is deeply weird and a tad scattershot, but rarely less than compelling and absolutely unforgettable | Read review |
| PowerUp! | Leo Stevenson | 3 / 10 | 11-01-2019 | Death Stranding is not entertaining. As such, it fails as a video game, it fails as a narrative and it fails overall. | Read review |
| Press Start | Shannon Grixti | 8 / 10 | 07-13-2020 | Hideo Kojima has long been a visionary auteur, his feted career stands as proof. With no walls to contain him, he has given birth to Death Stranding. It’s an experience that will be remembered for a long time, from its early hype to the untethered lunacy of its narrative. It’s an art installation of a game that filled me with rage as often as it did joy. It is sweeping in both lustre and purpose, though it wears a few warts on the pleasant, bare bones of a game about deliveries that has no right to be as memorable as it somehow is. | Read review |
| PSX Brasil | Leonardo Cidreira | 95 / 100 | 11-01-2019 | Death Stranding is certainly one of the best titles I’ve had the pleasure of playing in this generation and the seed responsible for creating a whole new subgenre that will undoubtedly bear beautiful fruit in the future. Hideo Kojima has excelled himself by giving us not only an exceptional story, but a vast world that is constantly changing because of the actions of the players. It is certainly not a game that will please everyone, but I can guarantee that those who get carried away by its proposal, plot and mechanics will have an unforgettable experience. Tomorrow is in your hands! | Read review |
| Push Square | Liam Croft | 10 / 10 | 11-01-2019 | Following years of mysterious anticipation, Death Stranding delivers on all fronts. An accomplished, fascinating set of gameplay mechanics allow you to make deliveries the way you want to, while social features let the game live on once you’ve put the controller down. It may become slightly tiresome as you hit the halfway mark, but the phenomenal narrative is on hand to pick things back up again and its outstanding visuals are the cherry on top. Death Stranding doesn’t raise the bar for any particular genre, it creates an entirely new one. | Read review |
| Rely On Horror | William Lockwood | 8.5 / 10 | 12-02-2019 | Hideo Kojima unleashes Death Stranding, a high-concept science fiction/horror hybrid set in a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by a supernatural cataclysm. | Read review |
| Rocket Chainsaw | Andrew Cathie | 4 / 5 stars | 12-02-2019 | It’s not without its faults, but there’s no doubt in my mind that Death Stranding was well worth the wait. | Read review |
| Saudi Gamer | عصام الشهوان | 8 / 10 | 11-01-2019 | Is it a new genre of games? Perhaps, but it definitely succeeds in presenting polished and novel, even revolutionary, ideas even if the overall experience can drag on and feel monotonous at times due to uneven story and set-piece pacing. | Read review |
| Screen Rant | Leo Faierman | 5 / 5 stars | 07-13-2020 | Death Stranding is dizzying, unshakable in its belief it is doing something worthwhile, and it’s one of the most important games of this decade. | Read review |
| SECTOR.sk | Tomáš Kuník | 9 / 10 | 11-01-2019 | Long awaited launch of Kojima’s project is here. With unique story and fine gameplay. | Read review |
| Shacknews | Brittany Vincent | 9 / 10 | 11-01-2019 | This is one of the rare times I wish Hideo Kojima had created a lengthy film or a series instead of a video game. At least then people might not approach it with trepidation or with derision. You know how it goes: “Oh, it’s a video game. There’s no way it can be that good.” | Read review |
| Sirus Gaming | Jarren Navarrete | 9 / 10 | 11-17-2019 | Death Stranding is a beautiful game and one hell of an experience. That being said, this isn’t your average action-adventure game. It’s a game that boldly breaks the norm of video games by having tedious fetch quests that would be the death of any other game. And yet, Death Stranding somehow makes all of its mechanics work. | Read review |
| Skill Up | Ralph Panebianco | Recommended | 11-01-2019 | Kojima had the weight of the world on his shoulders; impossibly high expectations that seemed impossible to deliver on. Many are going to think he failed… I think he succeeded spectacularly. | Read review |
| Slant Magazine | Justin Clark | 4.5 / 5 stars | 11-18-2019 | The most powerful statement the game winds up making is that work is worthwhile, even at the bitter end. | Read review |
| Softpedia | Cosmin Vasile | 9 / 10 | 07-19-2020 | There’s the only one piece of advice I can give players so that they can fully enjoy it. Death Stranding is not a shooter, is not a stealth game, and it’s not a horror. If you can play the game without expectations, you’re going to love it. When you don’t want familiarity, you’ll get innovation. | Read review |
| SomHráč.sk | Martin Černický | 95 / 100 | 07-27-2020 | Hideo Kojima once again proves that he belongs among the best video game designers right now. Thankfully, Death Stranding’s trailers didn’t show everything and the game still has plenty of amazing and unforgettable surprises hidden in its sleeve. | Read review |
| SpazioGames | Paolo Sirio | 9.4 / 10 | 07-13-2020 | Death Stranding screams Hideo Kojima in every single detail. If you are looking for a journey and an experience, something that you will hold dear for quite sometime, this is the game you have been waiting for. It may lack some variety in the quest design, but the asynchronous multiplayer and the depth of the storytelling are captivating. | Read review |
| Stevivor | Steve Wright | 3.5 / 10 | 07-13-2020 | Even if Death Stranding’s narrative was good — and it’s not — a game needs to have actual gameplay. What you find within is abysmal; frustrating, tedious and beyond repair — even with the addition of DLSS on PC. It is to be avoided at all costs. | Read review |
| TechRaptor | Nirav Gandhi | 10 / 10 | 07-14-2020 | Death Stranding is a transformative experience that transcends genres to convey a message everyone must hear: we are stronger together and weaker apart. | Read review |
| The Angry Joe Show | Joe Vargas | 7 / 10 | 11-20-2019 | Video Review | Read review |
| The Games Machine | Gian Filippo Saba | 8.8 / 10 | 07-13-2020 | Death Stranding is a good game, as well as the most ambitious work born from the mind of Hideo Kojima. It’s not perfect, but successfully captures the player in a dark and fragmented world, so it’s really worth fighting for. | Read review |
| TheSixthAxis | Miguel Moran | 10 / 10 | 07-13-2020 | Death Stranding is like nothing I have ever played; beautiful, heart racing, heart breaking, frustrating, epic, stunning, and utterly nuts. I laughed, I cried, I cursed, and I went to the toilet an awful lot. Death Stranding isn’t just my Game of the Year, it’s a contender for Game of the Generation too. | Read review |
| Too Much Gaming | Matthew Arcilla | 7 / 10 | 12-02-2019 | Death Stranding is creative director Hideo Kojima’s flawed but fascinating subversion of big budget expectations. It represents not simply an escape from the increasingly suffocating influence of his former masters at Konami, but an escape from the cardboard box of Metal Gear’s narrative and gameplay conventions. | Read review |
| TrueGaming | Unknown | 7 / 10 | 11-01-2019 | This is Death Stranding, a long series of what feels like a long series of essential side missions which is rather disappointing because it truly brought us an exceptional cinematic experience and a high grade production value | Read review |
| Twinfinite | Khayl Adam | 4.5 / 5 stars | 07-13-2020 | If you’re looking to play the purest modern video game about fetch quests and filling up bars, yes. If you’re looking for a unique gameplay experience and great acting, also yes. | Read review |
| Unboxholics | Σάκης Καρπάς | Recommended | 11-01-2019 | Death Stranding is not a game, it’s an experience. | Read review |
| USgamer | Kat Bailey | 3.5 / 5 stars | 11-01-2019 | Death Stranding might be Kojima’s boldest game to date. It may also be his most tedious. Either way, its originality outweighs its sometimes exhausting structure and poor pacing… but only just. Maybe not a game I would recommend to everyone, but certainly one of the most interesting games of 2019. | Read review |
| VG247 | Kirk McKeand | Not Recommended | 11-01-2019 | If you do manage to hold out, you will be rewarded with flashes of brilliance, it’s just that those flashes are buried as deep as the core story is buried in the endless dialogue. | Read review |
| VGChartz | Lee Mehr | 4 / 10 | 12-12-2019 | If leaden pacing, meddlesome gameplay, and turgid storytelling is Kojima’s way for us to “build bridges” with one another, I’d rather have the wall be ten feet higher. | Read review |
| Video Chums | A.J. Maciejewski | Recommended | 11-12-2019 | Whether you see Death Stranding as an enjoyable artistic masterpiece full of commentary about contemporary society or a frustrating mess complete with self-indulgent schlock, you’re 100% correct. | Read review |
| VideoGamer | Joshua Wise | 8 / 10 | 11-01-2019 | Death Stranding is filled with things that must be seen, a sprawling, genre-spanning sci-fi adventure from a developer like no other. It’s tackier clumps of writing and stunt casting seem overwrought, but its direction and its stars shine brightest | Read review |
| WayTooManyGames | Kyle Nicol | 8 / 10 | 07-20-2020 | As a whole, Death Stranding is an extremely captivating yet polarising experience. It’s an ambitious title that dares to do something different in a sea of safe bets and genre clones, and for the most part, it actually does succeed. However, those minor annoyances and long stretches where nothing happens can bring the experience down a notch for some players. | Read review |
| Wccftech | Francesco De Meo | 9 / 10 | 07-13-2020 | With production values that are through the roof and an extremely engaging story, Death Stranding is among Hideo Kojima’s best games. The moment-to-moment gameplay, however, falls short due to its repetitiveness, and the long stretches without any real action make it difficult to recommend the game to all open-world fans. Death Stranding is something different, and only approaching it with an open mind will reveal the brilliance of its themes, its characters and its hauntingly beautiful dystopian world. | Read review |
| We Got This Covered | David Morgan | 5 / 5 stars | 11-01-2019 | Like any genre-pushing work of art, Death Stranding is sure to be divisive. That said, the unflinching vision of its director is a breath of fresh air in an industry increasingly unwilling to swing for the fences. | Read review |
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