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Life is Strange: True Colors
Critics Consensus (Play It)
Life is Strange: True Colors has a wonderful ambience and a world full of emotions that will engage you in ways you don’t expect. Visually gorgeous, emotionally raw, but a little safe.
Game Info
Alex Chen hides her ‘curse’: the supernatural ability to absorb and manipulate the strong emotions of others. When her brother dies in a so-called accident, she must embrace her volatile power to find the truth — and reveal dark secrets buried by the town.
0%
Recommended
0%
Average Score
Total Reviews: 124
Nom: Best Adventure Game (2021)
Silver TIER
41% of scored reviews fell within the range of 80 to 86 / 100
RELEASE DATES:
GENRES:
- Adventure
DEVELOPER(S):
- Deck Nine
PUBLISHER(S):
- Square Enix
SERIES/FRANCHISE:
- Life is Strange
GAME MODES:
- Single player
Where to Play
WHERE TO PLAY
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RATING & REVIEWS
Ratings & Reviews
124
Critic Reviews
83
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
40%
What did you think of Life is Strange: True Colors?
Player Reviews0 Votes
0
Omar Salah (IGN)
September 15, 2021
8/10
Life is Strange: True Colors is like a play in which the player takes the role of director to control events without leading the scene.
Kimberley Wallace (Game Informer)
September 8, 2021
8.5/10
Life is Strange: True Colors is a powerful adventure, full of twists and thoughtful yet heartbreaking subject matter. You’ll root for Alex Chen, and feel good about helping shape her path forward.
Noelle Warner (Destructoid)
September 8, 2021
9/10
Sure, parts of Life is Strange: True Colors are really bleak, but ultimately it’s an uplifting, heartfelt story about what it means to find your own version of home. It tells that story in a way that feels perfectly sincere, which is something that is hard to come by in games nowadays.
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Score Ranges
Read the Reviews (124 total)
| Outlet | Author | Score | Date | Quote | Read |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33bits | Euyen Esquefa Pons | 65 / 100 | 09-08-2021 | Life is Strange: True Colors does not bring anything particularly novel to the saga. In fact, we could even say that at the decision level the level is quite low with respect to DONTNOD deliveries. But if that doesn’t bother you and you are a fan of the saga, then it can be interesting to explore Haven Springs and meet the inhabitants that live there. | Read review |
| 3DNews | Алексей Лихачев | 9 / 10 | 09-11-2021 | The best Life is Strange game to date and a big triumph for Deck Nine Games. | Read review |
| ACG | Jeremy Penter | Recommended | 09-09-2021 | Video Review | Read review |
| Atomix | Rodolfo León | 80 / 100 | 09-15-2021 | Life is Strange: True Colors has the best characters in the whole series, but at the same time, it also has the weakest story. The narrative takes way too long to take off, and by that time, it might already be too late for many players. | Read review |
| Attack of the Fanboy | Diego Perez | 4 / 5 stars | 09-08-2021 | True Colors is a big step up for the series and shows that Life is Strange is in good hands with Deck Nine. | Read review |
| BaziCenter | Mohammad Talebian | 8 / 10 | 10-01-2021 | True Colors takes advantage of the new generation platforms to present the best looking Life is Strange game yet, and as a result the player feels more connected to the characters and the overall story telling quality also improves. But other than this, the latest Deck Nine’s game doesnt have much more to offer. | Read review |
| Bazimag | Ali Rezazadeh | 8.5 / 10 | 09-08-2021 | Life is Strange: True Colors is a slow burn but heartfelt emotional tale of empathy with lovable characters and well-written dialogue that perfectly captures what makes a great Life is Strange game: Shining in its intimate moments. It’s just that the mystery side of the story could’ve been more fleshed out. | Read review |
| But Why Tho? | Kate Sanchez | 8.5 / 10 | 09-08-2021 | In Chapter 1, there is a line: “Survival isn’t a neat and tidy process but its better than the alternative.” This isn’t just a one-liner, but the thesis of the entire game. And with that, Life is Strange: True Colors lands itself as one of the most cathartic and resonate video game’s I’ve played in a long time. | Read review |
| Cerealkillerz | Nick Erlenhof | 8.6 / 10 | 09-12-2021 | One thing is for certain with Life is Strange: Deck Nine understands the series and knows what it is all about. Where Life is Strange 2 was depressing and didn’t offer the usual magic of the series, True Colors is a return to the old form. A game on the small line between hopelessness and true joy. Life is Strange: True Colors offers the perfect balance of emotions and is definitely a must play for fans. | Read review |
| CGMagazine | Hayes Madsen | 9.5 / 10 | 09-08-2021 | Life Is Strange: True Colors is an unforgettable journey with some meaningful messages. | Read review |
| Checkpoint Gaming | Charlie Kelly | 9 / 10 | 09-09-2021 | While the original game remains a touchstone for me, Life is Strange: True Colors is the best iteration the series has seen yet. The narrative adventure also betters the diversity the franchise is already beloved for, providing an exceptional hero in an authentic, badass Asian-American woman that can be LGBTQ+ (should they so choose it). Filled to the brim with narrative and character twists at every turn, this is a game that made me laugh, cry and fall in love. With moments that hit like a bullet train, Life is Strange: True Colors is a must-play. Jump on in and feel all the feelings, friends. You’ll be glad you did. | Read review |
| Chicas Gamers | Alba Nausicáa | Recommended | 09-15-2021 | Life is Strange: True Colors is what the franchise needed to get back it’s original fan base. Maybe a little slow or social for LIS2 fans, this game is made to rejoy the ambience, listen to it’s music, admire the landscapes and be a good person with Haven Springs habitants. A feelings fulled history you will like for sure, but be patience. | Read review |
| COGconnected | Paul Sullivan | 92 / 100 | 09-08-2021 | Set in an idyllic town, amongst the harmony of nature, Life is Strange: True Colors might appear to be an escapist fantasy. But it has something to say. Subtly, and most importantly effectively, it reflects its characters and themes onto the player. It’s a timely reminder of the importance of empathy, and an adventure that ultimately kept me glued to it from start to finish. | Read review |
| Cubed3 | Steven Mattern | 8 / 10 | 09-23-2021 | Life is Strange: True Colors is a complete title that will take around nine to ten hours to finish. This might prove a bit steep for the price, but the pacing and character work do well to make this story worth the time. The colourful visuals compliment Alex’s power, but there are a few rough patches along the way. Despite the soundtrack of original and licensed songs blending into the world, the Live Stream mode is half baked and should be revisited in the future because as a shared experience; this game shines with complexion. | Read review |
| cublikefoot | Chase Ferrin | 7.5 / 10 | 09-21-2021 | Life is Strange: True Colors offers up a tightly written mystery story with likeable characters and some solid music to back. It may be a bit cheesy and melodramatic at times, but it’s a lot of fun in spite of that. | Read review |
| Cultured Vultures | Mike Worby | 9 / 10 | 09-08-2021 | Though Life is Strange: True Colors isn’t as action-heavy as previous games, its relaxed atmosphere, witty writing, and visual upgrades easily put it on par with the best of the franchise. | Read review |
| Daily Mirror | Eugene Sowah | 4 / 5 stars | 12-14-2021 | Life Is Strange: True Colors is an amazing entry into the series, featuring the best location and characters to date. Even though the Nintendo Switch version is visually inferior to other versions, this doesn’t sully the experience at all, as the great narrative massively makes up for it. | Read review |
| Daily Star | Tom Hutchison | 4 / 5 stars | 12-13-2021 | There’s a fair bit of texture popping in and out of scenes, load times can be quite long and sometimes the game can jar between cut-scenes. At worst that is a real distraction, however the story remains gripping enough that it never really ruins things for the player. | Read review |
| DASHGAMER.com | Dan Rizzo | 9 / 10 | 09-14-2021 | Life is Strange: True Colors is an evolutionary entry that will not only support the franchise going forward, but may well be a renewed outlook on its future. …] an emotional joyride that proves to be Game of the Year worthy. | Read review |
| Destructoid | Noelle Warner | 9 / 10 | 09-08-2021 | Sure, parts of Life is Strange: True Colors are really bleak, but ultimately it’s an uplifting, heartfelt story about what it means to find your own version of home. It tells that story in a way that feels perfectly sincere, which is something that is hard to come by in games nowadays. | Read review |
| Digital Chumps | Ben Sheene | 9 / 10 | 09-02-2019 | Life is Strange: True Colors is a rumination on loss, empathy, and finding your place in the word. A great cast is bolstered by improved visuals, animations, and a truly remarkable protagonist in Alex Chen, making this the true highlight of the series. | Read review |
| Digital Spy | Jess Lee | 4.5 / 5 stars | 09-23-2021 | True Colors makes an extremely strong case for the best Life Is Strange game yet, with an affecting story that tackles themes such as loss and belonging and featuring the series’ most likeable protagonist to date in Alex Chen. The town of Haven Springs is also a standout, and by the end of the game, I was sad that I had to say goodbye to the cast of characters. Hopefully this isn’t the last time we see Alex. | Read review |
| Digital Trends | Otto Kratky | 3.5 / 5 stars | 09-08-2021 | Heartfelt and poignant, the only thing Life is Strange: True Colors trips over is its own words. | Read review |
| DualShockers | Rachael Fiddis | 9.5 / 10 | 09-10-2021 | At the end of each chapter, Life is Strange: True Colors follows the same procedure as its predecessors in allowing you to compare your choices with other players and to find out exactly where your, and your friends, morals lie that will undoubtedly provide some interesting (possible arguments?) conversations. I had waited with bated breath to play Life is Strange‘s next narrative adventure and I can honestly say I wasn’t let down. Every expectation was met and then some. From the deeply impactful writing, the consequences of choices, and the attention to every detail, True Colors was an experience that I can’t wait to start all over again. | Read review |
| Easy Allies | Michael Huber | 4 / 5 stars | 09-09-2021 | Life is Strange: True Colors is an exceptional addition to the series, lead by the unforgettable Alex Chen. | Read review |
| Echo Boomer | David Fialho | Recommended | 09-14-2021 | True Colors is familiar yet strange for the fans, who can be a little disappointed by the supernatural aspect of the series, but very much at home with its drama, tone and atmosphere. | Read review |
| EGM | Michael Goroff | 6 / 10 | 09-08-2021 | Life is Strange: True Colors has a lot of the ingredients that make the series so beloved, most notably in its compelling protagonist. Technical advancements for the series bring its story to life with fantastic performances and a keen eye for detail. Unfortunately, the story it brings to life is full of stutters and stops, and takes far too long to develop. Where Life is Strange games are full of movement, True Colors feels painfully stagnant for too long. | Read review |
| Eurogamer | Tom Phillips | Recommended | 09-08-2021 | Beautiful and brilliant, if a little safe, Deck Nine’s new Life is Strange story stands alongside the series’ best. | Read review |
| Everyeye.it | Gabriele Laurino | 8 / 10 | 09-08-2021 | Life is Strange: True Colors is the most extensive and ambitious chapter of the Square-Enix series, but it does not reach the narrative depth of the previous chapters. While declining in a precious way the theme of empathy and forgiveness, some narrative choices and certain script ideas would perhaps have deserved a greater deepening. | Read review |
| Expansive | Laurie Jones | Recommended | 09-14-2021 | I was glued to Life is Strange: True Colors right up until the end and the messages that flow throughout the game will stay with me for years to come. Some of the dialogue is extremely powerful and the quality of direction is first class. Everything flows beautifully. | Read review |
| Explosion Network | Ciaran Marchant | 9.5 / 10 | 09-12-2021 | Life is Strange: True Colors is a fantastic instalment of the franchise that returns to its roots while striving to push the franchise to become something even better. | Read review |
| Game Informer | Kimberley Wallace | 8.5 / 10 | 09-08-2021 | Life is Strange: True Colors is a powerful adventure, full of twists and thoughtful yet heartbreaking subject matter. You’ll root for Alex Chen, and feel good about helping shape her path forward | Read review |
| Game Rant | Brittni Finley | 4.5 / 5 stars | 09-08-2021 | Life is Strange: True Colors demonstrates Deck Nine and protagonist Alex Chen’s empathetic powers through its skillful storytelling and characters. | Read review |
| Gameblog | Filipe Da Silva Barbosa | 8 / 10 | 09-08-2021 | Even if it feels like you’ve already played it a few times during its the first hours, Life is Strange True Colors feels definitley fresh thanks to its writing and lovable characters | Read review |
| Gamefa | Sahand Mohammadi | 8 / 10 | 09-16-2021 | So if you’ve played previous versions of it and don’t like it, give Life is Strange another chance. I’m sure True Colors will change your mind. It will even force you to play it again and make completely different decisions. | Read review |
| GameGrin | Luke Greenfield | 8.5 / 10 | 09-08-2021 | What True Colors lacks in the emotional gut-wrench that the previous games have, it makes it for with a refined format that presents a story that fits right into the series and tells it in the best way seen so far. You’re very unlikely to be disappointed here. | Read review |
| GameMAG | Александр Логинов | 7 / 10 | 09-08-2021 | Life Is Strange: True Colors is worth your time, and is a title you don’t want to miss. Just be ready to put the controller down at the start of fifth chapter, and pretend that the game ends at this exact point. | Read review |
| GamePitt | Rob Pitt | 9 / 10 | 10-26-2021 | Life Is Strange: True Colors is a very emotional and engaging narrative adventure, complete with very entertaining characters and a brilliant story. Every chapter is an emotional rollercoaster, bringing both highs and lows when you least expect it. Visually the game looks fantastic, in both 30 and 60fps modes, and Alex’s unique ability adds an extra layer to the already interesting and exciting experience. The Wavelengths DLC was a great experience, expanding on Steph’s time between Before the Storm and True Colors, but the lack of trophies makes this more of a bonus for hardcore fans of the franchise rather than those new to the series. | Read review |
| GamePro | Linda Sprenger | 85 / 100 | 09-10-2021 | An adult story about empathy that shows us the beautiful & difficult side of life in an emotional rollercoaster ride. | Read review |
| Gamerheadquarters | Jason Stettner | 9.5 / 10 | 09-08-2021 | Life is Strange: True Colors is a near perfect offering providing a remarkable journey filled with twists and deeply emotional moments. | Read review |
| GamesBeat | Dean Takahashi | 80 / 100 | 10-15-2021 | While Alex’s story didn’t have the most action in it, it was full of emotion and it was a story worth telling. I give this one five stars out of five when it comes to its narrative, but I drop it down a notch to four stars out of five because of the clunky movement and too-familiar gameplay. I’m looking forward to what Dontnod and Deck Nine can do with next-generation platforms and the future Unreal Engine. But for now, they fell just a little short of what I was hoping for. | Read review |
| GameSkinny | Josh Broadwell | 6 / 10 | 09-09-2021 | Life Is Strange: True Colors ultimately doesn’t understand the emotions it tries addressing and lets its characters down in the process. | Read review |
| GameSpew | Kim Snaith | 10 / 10 | 09-08-2021 | With True Colors, Deck Nine has solidified itself as the master of narrative adventure, and I can’t wait to see what comes next. | Read review |
| GameSpot | Justin Clark | 7 / 10 | 09-09-2021 | The newest iteration of Life Is Strange has a lot of love to give but just doesn’t know where to put it. | Read review |
| GamesRadar+ | Heather Wald | 4.5 / 5 stars | 09-08-2021 | Life is Strange: Colors effectively leads you through an emotionally impactful story with strong character development through the power of empathy | Read review |
| Gaming Nexus | Eric Hauter | 9 / 10 | 09-08-2021 | Life Is Strange: True Colors is a fantastic slice of life from an idealized alternate universe. Alex is an excellent protagonist, and her adventures with her attractive, funny friends in their beautiful town is a great way to spend about 12 hours. Beautiful, touching, temporary, artificial, charming, enchanting, and strange, True Colors will touch your soul like the three-minute indie pop songs it loves so much. The taste of ashes in your mouth at the end is purely optional. | Read review |
| GamingBolt | Pramath | 8 / 10 | 09-08-2021 | Life is Strange: True Color’s well written cast and rich Americana setting help make it easily one of the strongest outings this franchise has had. | Read review |
| GamingTrend | Abdul Saad | 85 / 100 | 09-08-2021 | Life is Strange: True Colors is very much a Life is Strange game in all the right and wrong ways. The new characters and plot provide a refreshing new take in the series and an enjoyable experience overall. | Read review |
| Geek Culture | Jake Su | 8.9 / 10 | 12-14-2021 | Probably the best game in the series thus far, Life is Strange: True Colors takes an important journey into the human condition with a few bumps on the road. | Read review |
| Generación Xbox | Laura Trujillo | 8.6 / 10 | 09-08-2021 | Life Is Strange: True Colors automatically becomes one of the best games in the franchise. Emotions with a life of their own. | Read review |
| God is a Geek | Chris White | 9 / 10 | 09-08-2021 | Life is Strange: True Colors is a powerful story of loss, love, and overcoming the things that hold you back. The empathy abilities add depth, and Alex is one of the best characters Life is Strange has ever seen. | Read review |
| GotGame | David Poole | 9 / 10 | 09-16-2021 | For some, a game like Life is Strange: True Colors will be just that: a game. For many others, it’ll hit different, tapping into our deepest emotions and perfectly displaying our feelings in a relatable portrayal. It will peer into our very soul and reveal our own true colors, making our choices that much more impactful. With beautiful visuals, wonderful performances and animation, and an out of this world soundtrack, this is one game that will sit with me for a long time. If any of that sounds interesting to you, then you’ll likely enjoy this game. If you happen to be a fan of Life is Strange in general, then you’ll love True Colors. | Read review |
| Guardian | Keza MacDonald | 3 / 5 stars | 09-08-2021 | Interactive possibilities make this dorky tale about a small-town psychic musician strangely absorbing | Read review |
| GuiltyBit | Daniel G. Astarloa | 7 / 10 | 09-08-2021 | The successes of Life is Strange: True Colors are many. The saga points in the right direction thanks to its new developers without feeling trapped by previous plots or the unnecessary use of pressing buttons to press us. They have created a small place to empathize with, Haven, and a protagonist that we really care about. Despite her flaws and her past. | Read review |
| Hardcore Gamer | Kyle LeClair | 4 / 5 stars | 09-08-2021 | Life is Strange: True Colors may sadly dim towards the end, but it’s worth checking out alone just to experience Haven Springs, with its gorgeous scenery, terrific cast of characters both major and minor, and an intriguing mystery that requires quite a bit of fun gameplay. | Read review |
| Hey Poor Player | Andrew Thornton | 4.5 / 5 stars | 09-08-2021 | These are minor issues ultimately. I might have liked more freedom to explore Haven Springs or a bit more mystery here and there, but none of that stops Alex’s journey from being an absolute joy. At times funny, exciting, mysterious, and heartbreaking, Life Is Strange: True Colors made me fall in love with this little town and all of those who live there. I hope this isn’t the last we see of Alex. A character this wonderful deserves many adventures to come. | Read review |
| Hobby Consolas | Álvaro Alonso | 80 / 100 | 09-08-2021 | With Life is Strange: True Colors, Deck Nine has recreated with faithfulness the “Dontnod formula”, so if you are looking for a story about the weight of emotions, putting the spotlight on the things that matters and with lots of hard decisions… Don’t look any further. | Read review |
| IGN | Omar Salah | 9 / 10 | 09-08-2021 | Life is Strange: True Colors is an emotional rollercoaster that highlights everything that makes the series great. | Read review |
| IGN Italy | Davide Mancini | 8 / 10 | 09-08-2021 | Life is Strange: True Colors is a lovely tale about empathy, self-acceptance and humanity. Probability it’s not the most original or neither the neatest one, but it’s something that we probably need these days. | Read review |
| IGN Middle East | Omar Salah | 8 / 10 | 09-15-2021 | Life is Strange: True Colors is like a play in which the player takes the role of director to control events without leading the scene. | Read review |
| IGN Spain | David Oña | 6 / 10 | 09-08-2021 | Life is Strange: True Colors is a game that constantly aims higher, but never really takes off. Neither the power, nor the story, nor the environment are up to its greatest virtue, which is none other than Alex Chen, its main character. The good ideas are weighed down by the timidity of a game that does not end up betting on its own proposals. There are things to rescue, it has a good rhythm, and it is easy to get into, but it is within the best instalments of the franchise. | Read review |
| Impulsegamer | Scott De Lacy | 3.5 / 5 stars | 09-21-2021 | Life is Strange: True Colors ebbs and flows from great game play and cinematic enjoyment, to deep lulls that neutralise any and all gains. | Read review |
| Jump Dash Roll | Rob Kershaw | 9 / 10 | 09-28-2021 | True Colors is by far the best entry in Life Is Strange to date. Pulling the focus away from powers and onto relationships allows the story to grow naturally, and beautifully, without losing the essence of what makes the series great. | Read review |
| JVL | French_Fantasy | 7.5 / 10 | 09-19-2021 | If you had any fears, rest assured: the Life is Strange license is in good hands, even if True Colors is clearly imperfect. The game shines on some points but disappoints on others. | Read review |
| KeenGamer | Smangaliso Simelane | 8.5 / 10 | 09-16-2021 | Life is Strange: True Colors is a culmination of all the little things the previous games in the series have gotten right, with a fat slice of innovation added on top. For series veterans, the game is not to be missed. For those who have yet to touch a Life is Strange game, this review may let you know if True Colors is a good entry point. | Read review |
| LevelUp | Drishnar Abigaíl Labastida | 6.5 / 10 | 12-22-2021 | It is worth putting yourself in Alex Chen’s shoes, daring to confront our emotions and, more importantly, helping those who matter to us to assimilate those colors that surround them avoiding red. | Read review |
| Merlin’in Kazanı | Eren Eroğlu | 82 / 100 | 09-22-2021 | Life is Strange: True Colors is a really successful production with the emotions and great atmosphere that it feels to the player. | Read review |
| Metro GameCentral | GameCentral | 8 / 10 | 09-09-2021 | A charming addition to the Life Is Strange franchise that has one of the best branching narratives in any video game and one of the most likeable set of characters. | Read review |
| MMORPG.com | Victoria Rose | 8.5 / 10 | 09-17-2021 | If you were already a fan of Life is Strange, then Haven Springs is absolutely worth a visit. True Colors doesn’t introduce much new, but it continues the series’ strongest points in a powerful new story that’s sure to have you chasing it down until the very end. And while the PlayStation 5 performance left a lot to be desired, it didn’t discount the experience enough to stop me from playing. Alex Chen will have a place in my heart for a good while. | Read review |
| MonsterVine | Nick Mangiaracina | 4 / 5 stars | 09-08-2021 | Deck Nine manages to take Life is Strange’s classic signatures of indie music, small-town mysteries, and teenage angst and elevate it from the original creation. What could have been a bumbling soft-reboot of Life is Strange, Life is Strange: True Colors turned into the best game in the series so far. | Read review |
| New Game Network | Ben Thomas | 83 / 100 | 09-23-2021 | There is a vast rainbow of greatness within Life is Strange: True Colors. Its awesome characters, emotional connections, effective humor, intricate animations, fun moments, and outstanding music are why it is one of the best narrative adventure games in years. | Read review |
| Niche Gamer | Fingal Belmont | 8 / 10 | 09-08-2021 | Life is Strange: True Colors still feels like a low budget and rushed episodic released adventure game. The premise is not fully realized, and it never reaches its full potential. For a full priced game, there is not enough substance; and the best parts in this package are a short RPG and a decent port of Arkanoid. | Read review |
| Nintendo Enthusiast | Steven Rollins | 8 / 10 | 12-30-2021 | Ultimately, while Life is Strange: True Colors may have a weaker story than past entries had, its strongest elements may outshine anything I’ve played in the prior games. I’m particularly fond of Alex as a character and even more so of the idea of empathy as the core mechanic, since empathy is something we can all utilize in our daily lives. Regardless of whether this is my favorite Life is Strange or not though, True Colors was an absolute blast of an experience to play though, and I would absolutely recommend it. | Read review |
| Nintendo Life | Oliver Reynolds | 8 / 10 | 12-08-2021 | Life is Strange: True Colors is the best game in the series so far, without a doubt. The town of Haven Springs is full of excellent characters, with Alex Chen herself being one of the best protagonists we’ve seen in some time. The game does suffer from some pretty severe visual downgrades with the Switch release, and some of the additional minigames left us feeling a bit cold. Nevertheless, developer Deck Nine has crafted a fantastic narrative that you’ll be eager to see through to the very end. Reduced visual fidelity aside, Switch is a great place to experience True Colors. | Read review |
| Nintendo Wire | Amelia Fruzzetti | 7 / 10 | 12-20-2021 | Life Is Strange: True Colors tries to tell a mature story, one of grieving and self-loathing, how it transforms our lives and others, how we come not to find relationships but build them with those around us. But for all of these themes, it scarcely succeeds at capturing any one of them. It can be compelling, captivating, and charming at one moment and forcefully maudlin at others. It tries to capture the full rainbow spectrum of human emotions, every last hue and shade that makes up the complexities of ourselves. But it only has four colors. | Read review |
| NintendoWorldReport | Jordan Rudek | 8.5 / 10 | 12-20-2021 | There are hidden memories to unlock in each chapter, too. Despite a few abrupt time skips and scene jumps, Alex’s story is one worth hearing; it culminates in a captivating climax, even if the resolution pulls its punches a bit. Color me eager to see more Life is Strange titles come to the Switch in the coming months. | Read review |
| Noisy Pixel | Azario Lopez | 8 / 10 | 09-08-2021 | Life is Strange: True Colors presents a great adventure in this beloved series with significant choices and player-driven interactions. The result is a beautiful story of empathy and new beginnings where players have the freedom to shape the narrative the way they want and deal with the consequences along the way. The character animations and voiced dialogue only elevate it to new levels of quality, but long loading times and strange responses can hurt the pacing tremendously. | Read review |
| NoobFeed | Adam Siddiqui | 85 / 100 | 09-11-2021 | Life is Strange has a profound history of delivering emotionally charged tales thanks to well-written characters and deeply personal stories. Whether it was Max reconnecting with her childhood friend Chloe, Chloe learning to find happiness again with Rachel Amber, or Sean trying to keep his brother Daniel safe. Each story offered challenging decisions focused on personal connections and Life is Strange True Colors does not disappoint. In fact, it improves on many of the previous game’s shortcomings by adjusting the pacing with less padding. The narrative does have some major predictable moments during the finale relies heavily on plot armor. Despite this Life is Strange: True Colors delivers an excellently crafted adventure and the best installment in the franchise. | Read review |
| Oyungezer Online | İhsan Asman | 8 / 10 | 09-21-2021 | Even though True Colors is slow at places, it properly continues the renown of Life is Strange franchise. | Read review |
| Paste Magazine | Moises Taveras | 7.5 / 10 | 09-08-2021 | It’s all cozy but rote, which is a shame because the series has been bolder in the past. Walking away from it, I’m impressed at how much I cared for the cast, for example, and am also keenly aware of the fact that while I liked them, I will largely forget who they are because I’ve done this before and will likely do it again somewhere else in a few years. Life is Strange may sell itself on comfort, and True Colors may be the one most emblematic of this, but I wonder if the series itself has become too comfortable for its own good. | Read review |
| PC Gamer | Rachel Watts | 86 / 100 | 09-08-2021 | Visually gorgeous and emotionally raw, True Colors is an incredible continuation of the Life is Strange series. | Read review |
| PC Invasion | Blake Grundman | 9 / 10 | 09-09-2021 | Somehow the team over at Deck Nine has taken the franchise to the next level. Life is Strange: True Colors is an experience that can resonate at an emotional level that’s rarely seen nowadays, delivered with both maturity and grace. You’d have to be crazy to miss out on this epic adventure in small town, America. | Read review |
| PCGamesN | Dave Irwin | 8 / 10 | 09-08-2021 | Its story doesn’t quite stick the landing, but this is a beautiful game | Read review |
| PlayStation LifeStyle | Andrew Kiya | 9 / 10 | 09-08-2021 | True Colors eschews much of the problematic, bordering-on-trauma-porn aspects of its predecessors to provide players with a story that focuses on healing rather than hurting. Not only are its representations of marginalized people respectful, but its facial animations are also a massive step up from previous titles and add unprecedented depth to character interactions. | Read review |
| PlayStation Universe | Tommy Holloway | 8.5 / 10 | 09-08-2021 | Life is Strange: True Colors is an incredibly endearing game, with a wonderful cast of characters and the charming town of Haven Springs proving to be a standout. Some narrative hiccups were not enough to stop this game from resonating with me, and one of my only complaints is that it was over all too soon. | Read review |
| PowerUp! | Leo Stevenson | 8.7 / 10 | 09-09-2021 | Life is Strange: True Colours is the rare example of a game with both style and substance where both are equally important and neither falters. | Read review |
| Press Start | James Mitchell | 8 / 10 | 09-09-2021 | Life Is Strange: True Colors brings together likeable characters, a novel power, and a beautiful setting to tell a story that’ll have you engaged from beginning to end. It’s a little bit predictable but everything else – the writing, the locale, and just the general vibe – cement it as one of the strongest entries in the series. | Read review |
| PSX Brasil | Ivan Nikolai Barkow Castilho | 80 / 100 | 09-08-2021 | Like the other games in the series, Life is Strange: True Colors is a unique, exciting and rewarding experience. Unfortunately, the game suffers with a problematic technical performance and some bugs. | Read review |
| Push Square | Liam Croft | 6 / 10 | 09-08-2021 | Life Is Strange: True Colors had every chance of becoming the series’ best game to date, but it’s been let down by arguably its most important element: the story. | Read review |
| Rapid Reviews UK | Chelsea Beardsmore, Chloe Osborn, Joshua Callaghan | 5 / 5 stars | 10-10-2021 | I didn’t immediately play the initial Life is Strange upon its release. In fact, I think my first time playing it was when I first bought Xbox Game Pass. Having thoroughly enjoyed the Telltale Walking Dead series, I was curious to explore this narrative, choice-driven title. I fell in love with the story, focusing on the real side of humans while also adding the supernatural element of controlling time. The choice-making, while hectic, makes you feel in control and immersed. I couldn’t not love Chloe and Max either. Having played through Before The Storm, Captain Spirit and Life is Strange 2, loving them all as much as the last, my body was more than ready for another addition to the series. | Read review |
| Rock, Paper, Shotgun | Alice Bell | Recommended | 09-08-2021 | Deck Nine’s new standalone effort Life Is Strange: True Colors has the most interesting power and likeable cast I can remember in a Life Is Strange game. I just wish it did more with its own story. | Read review |
| RPGamer | Sam Wachter | Recommended | 10-17-2021 | True Colors offers a story that hits a multitude of emotions and it does it wearing its heart on its sleeve. Everything about the game is compelling, from its wonderfully amazing cast of characters to the difficult decisions, to even the unfolding mystery. | Read review |
| Saudi Gamer | سندس الخباز | 10 / 10 | 09-08-2021 | Comparing to previous titles true colors feel somehow underwhelming, whether that’s Alex’s character or plot development. And while “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” doesn’t necessarily mean a bad thing but I think it’s time to change things a little bit in the series. | Read review |
| Screen Rant | Rob Gordon | 4.5 / 5 stars | 12-15-2021 | Life is Strange: True Colors creates a world that players will want to be in, and a story that needs to be seen to the end. Despite the small scale of Haven and its unnerving issues, True Colors plausibly allows itself to have high stakes and is convincing in its premise. It’s a game that is not only a shocking emotional rollercoaster, but also a compelling lesson about the importance of empathy, and an enjoyable time that could serve as a viable foundation for more storytelling in the future. | Read review |
| SECTOR.sk | Matúš Štrba | 8.5 / 10 | 09-13-2021 | New Life is Strange game is set in a colorful world full of emotions that can engage you in a way you didn’t expect. | Read review |
| Shacknews | Ozzie Mejia | 8 / 10 | 09-08-2021 | Outside of a few flaws, True Colors is the peak of the Life is Strange series to date. | Read review |
| Sirus Gaming | Casey David Muir-Taylor | 9.5 / 10 | 09-14-2021 | If you’re invested in stories that will make your heartache and your stomach flutter, Life is Strange: True Colors is worth your time. With a cast of likable, developed characters and a mystery that you’ll want to see through to the end, True Colors holds its own amongst narrative-driven games and cements itself as the best Life is Strange game yet. | Read review |
| Slant Magazine | Aaron Riccio | 2 / 5 stars | 09-08-2021 | True Colors already feels closer to an interactive movie than a game, especially in the final chapter. Here, we’re plunged into a series of overly expository flashbacks in which our decisions have already been made for us. There are fewer choices to make and interactions to discover as we’re led toward a narrative twist that’s as convenient as it is messy. You can see the seams in the editing as the game’s engine chooses which of two responses you’re going to get from each member of the town council, depending on how you interacted with them in earlier chapters. Were you ever actually empathetic toward these people, or simply tallying up points to get them on your side? A stronger game might have better concealed this behind-the-scenes scorekeeping, but Alex’s power makes the game’s true colors all too visible. | Read review |
| Softpedia | Cosmin Vasile | 8 / 10 | 09-19-2021 | True Colors is a worthy continuation of the franchise. Releasing all the episodes at the same time was a good call, since you can go through the story in one sitting, offering around 8 hours’ worth of emotional journey. It is not perfect, and it would have deserved a more elaborate ending. | Read review |
| SomHráč.sk | Martin Černický | 90 / 100 | 09-14-2021 | Life is Strange: True Colors is a proof that Deck Nine don’t need beloved characters and callbacks to previous titles to shine and create one of the best games of the series. | Read review |
| SpazioGames | Unknown | 9.5 / 10 | 09-08-2021 | Life is Strange: True Colors is the best adventure in the LiS franchise, by far. A warm story about empathy, and the effect of it, that will leave a mark in your soul. | Read review |
| Stevivor | Stuart Gollan | 8.5 / 10 | 09-09-2021 | True Colors will delight fans of narrative games, but is unlikely to win over the doubters. You probably know if you’ll like this one, and I’m here to tell those people that they won’t be disappointed. | Read review |
| TechRaptor | Nick Maillet | 9.5 / 10 | 09-08-2021 | Life is Strange: True Colors is one of those rare follow-ups that takes everything right about the previous games and not only improves one everything across the board, but also gives the series a much needed revival. | Read review |
| The Escapist | Will Cruz | Recommended | 09-08-2021 | Video Review | Read review |
| The Games Machine | Erica Mura | 8.8 / 10 | 09-08-2021 | Life is Strange: True Colors catches up with the original Life is Strange on a narrative level and, unsurprisingly, improves the experience with superior graphics quality, remarkable voice acting, and a beautiful soundtrack. Once stepped out of the bus, it will be easy to totally identify with Alex and be carried away not only by her search for truth but also, more simply, by the everyday life and warmth that only a place like Haven Springs can offer. | Read review |
| The Outerhaven Productions | Kyle Simcox | 4.5 / 5 stars | 10-19-2021 | Deck Nine has crafted a truly wonderful tale of a community coping with loss and discovering where you belong in a world where you never quite fit in. Life is Strange: True Colors only has a few small issues but otherwise, the latest entry into the franchise is one that everyone should experience. | Read review |
| TheSixthAxis | Reuben Mount | 9 / 10 | 09-08-2021 | Life Is Strange: True Colors is an incredible new addition to the series. It brings perhaps the most likeable protagonist yet, the absolutely gorgeous Haven Springs, and an excellent supporting cast together for an intensely emotional but hopeful tale. With enough gorgeous sweeping cinematic shots to put an indie film to shame, and some absolutely incredible writing, Alex’s journey is something you must experience. | Read review |
| Thumbsticks | Aaron Bayne | 4 / 5 stars | 09-29-2021 | Life is Strange: True Colours features what really matters in a Life is Strange game: a likeable protagonist and a brilliant setting. It’s also received a massive visual upgrade this time around, which really makes the town of Haven Springs feel cosy, somewhere you want to spend your time. | Read review |
| TrueAchievements | Sean Carey | 4 / 5 stars | 09-08-2021 | Simply put, Life is Strange: True Colors is a must-play. | Read review |
| TrueGaming | Unknown | 7.5 / 10 | 09-13-2021 | Life is strange: True colors is a quiet, nice and beautiful experience that will also spend hours exploring the small city of Haven, building relationships and making memories with its inhabitants. | Read review |
| TrustedReviews | Thomas Deehan | 4.5 / 5 stars | 09-10-2021 | Deck Nine and Square Enix took a gamble on making Life is Strange: True Colors a full game from the get-go as opposed to an episodic adventure. But the decision has paid off, delivering one of the series’ more refined entries to date. Haven Springs is a joy to explore, and Alex’s emotional journey is one that will stay with me for a long time to come. | Read review |
| Twinfinite | Chris Jecks | 4.5 / 5 stars | 09-08-2021 | Life Is Strange: True Colors is right up there as one of the best games in the series, if not the outright best. Its characters are interestingly complex and believable, the writing is strong — albeit a bit clichéd in true Life Is Strange fashion — and its more sinister narrative has plenty of twists and turns that’ll keep you hooked. It’s all punctuated by heartwarming, lighthearted sections reminiscent of Before the Storm’s beloved ‘play’ scene, and its decisions will have you second-guessing yourself for hours. The whole experience is wrapped up in the strongest presentation values and a soundtrack that never skips a beat. This is a must-play for fans of the series, and a serious contender for my Game of the Year. | Read review |
| VG247 | Ty Galiz-Rowe | Recommended | 09-08-2021 | If you liked previous entries in the Life is Strange series, you’ll probably enjoy this one. It’s a tighter, cleaner take on the formula, but at its heart, it’s still the balance of magic and mundane that’s become signature to these games. | Read review |
| VGChartz | Lee Mehr | 5.5 / 10 | 10-05-2021 | It’s a game that elicits a plethora of vivid emotions, both good & bad, but my overriding true color by the end was beige. | Read review |
| Video Chums | Mary Billington | 7.6 / 10 | 09-08-2021 | Life is Strange: True Colors presents a tale of empathy as you witness a town struggle to deal with a tragic event. I enjoyed my time in Haven, especially when seeing the world through the eyes of different characters and the ending presented an interesting twist. However, it’s all over quickly and the mystery-solving portion is lackluster but it’s an ultimately rewarding experience. | Read review |
| VideoGamer | Josh Wise | 7 / 10 | 09-08-2021 | True Colors is the best game in the series since Before the Storm, and it will satisfy your narrative craving for a time. | Read review |
| Washington Post | Shannon Liao | Recommended | 09-10-2021 | True Colors is worth exploring in its entirety, but it glosses over the rougher parts of life, painting them in a romantic light. | Read review |
| Wccftech | Rosh Kelly | 9.5 / 10 | 09-08-2021 | Life is Strange: True Colors is another success for Deck Nine, highlighting how well they understand the source material and its connection with the audience. The new characters, location, and power are an instant classic of the series and we can only hope they continue to develop this world alongside DONTNOD. | Read review |
| We Got This Covered | Eric Hall | 4.5 / 5 stars | 09-08-2021 | Life is Strange: True Colors delivers an engaging and emotionally cathartic tale along with a surprisingly fulfilling new power. Its earnestness may not be for everyone, but fans of the series will find much to enjoy with this Deck Nine outing. | Read review |
| WellPlayed | Kieron Verbrugge | 10 / 10 | 09-09-2021 | The best Life is Strange game yet. Through the concept of empathy, True Colors manages to drive video game storytelling to new heights. An expanded scope, hugely impressive production values and new, bingeable format make this a must-play for fans of narrative adventures. | Read review |
| Windows Central | Jennifer Locke | 4 / 5 stars | 09-08-2021 | Life is Strange: True Colors struggles to justify some of its earlier chapters, but makes up for it with strong characters and a fun LARP session to mix up the gameplay. Though it doesn’t quite live up to the mystery and intrigue of the original game, True Colors still shines on its own. | Read review |
| Worth Playing | Chris “Atom” DeAngelus | 8 / 10 | 09-08-2021 | Life is Strange: True Colors is a fun entry in the franchise. It doesn’t really break any rules or do anything shocking, but it’s a comfortable game to play. The time I spent in Haven Springs put me in a shockingly good mood for a game revolving around a murder, and I welcomed the entire experience. Unfortunately, the tacked-on murder mystery drags down the story somewhat and keeps it from reaching the highest highs that it can. If you’re a fan of the franchise, you’re sure to like this latest entry. | Read review |
| Xbox Achievements | Dan Webb | 90 / 100 | 09-08-2021 | Life Is Strange: True Colors is a return to form for the franchise, which delivers a captivating story from start to finish, one that will see you go through all the emotions. Just like Alex Chen herself. | Read review |
| Zoomg | علی گودرزی | 7.5 / 10 | 09-21-2021 | Life Is Strange: True Colors is a work whose experience is recommended to all lovers of the Life Is Strange series, fans of story-driven games and fans of drama stories. | Read review |
Awards & Recognition
RECOGNITION
Life is Strange: True Colors Credits
CREDITS
DIRECTOR(S):
Zak Garriss
PRODUCER(S):
Rebeccah Bassell
DESIGNER(S):
Christopher Sica, Chris Floyd
PROGRAMMER(S):
Todd Bolinger
ARTIST(S):
Andrew Weatherl
WRITER(S):
Jonathan Zimmerman Felice Kuan, Ryan Clements, Mallory Littleton, Deandra Fallon Warrick
COMPOSER(S):
Angus & Julia Stone, Novo Amor, mxmtoon
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