Death Stranding Review

When Hideo Kojima announced Death Stranding at E3 2016, I was immediately hooked. The cryptic trailers left me with so many questions—what was this game about? Why was there a baby in a pod? Could this be some kind of spiritual successor to P.T. with Norman Reedus and Guillermo del Toro involved? Instead of giving answers, Kojima kept teasing more mysteries, and as the years passed, each new trailer only deepened my curiosity. In an era where game trailers often reveal too much, Death Stranding took the opposite approach. It was refreshing to see a game sell itself on worldbuilding and intrigue rather than just action-packed gameplay snippets.

When the game finally launched in November 2019, I dove in with high expectations, and I can confidently say that Death Stranding is unlike anything I’ve ever played before. It’s a bold, unconventional, and deeply immersive experience that won’t be for everyone—but for those willing to embrace its unique vision, it offers something truly special.

Set in a post-apocalyptic United States, Death Stranding introduces us to a world ravaged by a mysterious phenomenon known as the Death Stranding. This event has blurred the line between life and death, causing spectral entities called BTs (Beached Things) to roam the land and making traditional human interaction nearly impossible. Civilization has fractured, and the remnants of humanity now live in isolated bunkers, cut off from one another.

You step into the shoes of Sam Porter Bridges (played by Norman Reedus), a lone courier tasked with reconnecting these scattered survivors by delivering essential supplies and linking them to the Chiral Network—a system designed to restore communication and unity across the nation. Along the way, Sam encounters a cast of fascinating characters, including Fragile (Léa Seydoux), Deadman (Guillermo del Toro/Jesse Corti), Heartman (Nicolas Winding Refn/Darren Jacobs), and the enigmatic Cliff (Mads Mikkelsen), each with their own compelling backstories.

At the heart of it all is BB (Bridge Baby), a tiny infant in a pod that helps Sam detect BTs. The bond between Sam and BB quickly becomes one of the most emotionally resonant parts of the game, transforming what initially seems like a bizarre concept into something deeply human.

It’s no secret that Hideo Kojima has long been fascinated with filmmaking, and Death Stranding feels like his most cinematic project yet. The game is packed with lengthy, beautifully directed cutscenes that, thanks to the power of the Decima Engine, look absolutely stunning. The character animations, facial expressions, and atmospheric environments all add to the immersion, making this one of the most visually impressive games of the PS4 generation.

I personally loved how much emphasis the game placed on its story. Some might argue that Death Stranding has too many cutscenes, but for a world this complex and rich, I felt they were necessary. The concepts introduced—like DOOMS, Chiralium, and the Beach—are so unique that they require the extra exposition.

Mads Mikkelsen in particular delivers a standout performance, bringing depth and emotion to Cliff, a character whose true significance isn’t fully realized until later in the game. Norman Reedus also does a fantastic job as Sam, portraying a reluctant hero who slowly comes to understand the importance of his mission.

At its core, Death Stranding is a game about traversal. Many early impressions jokingly referred to it as a “walking simulator,” but that drastically undersells the depth of its mechanics. Every journey is a calculated endeavor—before setting out, you need to carefully manage your cargo, balance its weight distribution, and ensure you have the right tools for the trip ahead.

Climbing mountains, crossing rivers, and navigating treacherous terrain feels like a constant battle against the environment. Sam’s balance must be maintained, or you risk stumbling and damaging your cargo. But as the game progresses, you gain access to tools that make traversal easier—exoskeletons for improved speed and stability, climbing anchors and ladders to scale cliffs, and vehicles to cover longer distances.

Once on the road, every step mattered. The game’s physics system made me feel the weight of my cargo, forcing me to adjust my balance on uneven surfaces. Slipping down a hill or tripping over a rock could send my cargo flying, making me scramble to recover lost packages. It created an incredible sense of immersion—I wasn’t just playing as a porter; I feltlike one.

One of the game’s most brilliant mechanics is the ability to construct structures—bridges, roads, shelters—that persist in other players’ worlds thanks to the game’s asynchronous multiplayer system. Seeing a bridge placed by another player in just the right spot feels like a lifeline, reinforcing the game’s central theme of connections. I too could contribute materials to community projects, leave supplies for others, or simply “like” useful structures. It created a sense of shared struggle, as if we were all working together to rebuild this world, even though we never directly interacted.

But the world of Death Stranding isn’t just about terrain. BTs lurk in certain areas, invisible until you use your Bridge Baby (BB) to detect them. These encounters were some of the most tense moments in the game. Holding my breath to sneak past these ghostly entities while my BB frantically cried in my arms added an unsettling layer of horror that I wasn’t expecting. And if I got caught? I was dragged into an inky abyss, forced to battle monstrous BT bosses in surreal, nightmarish arenas.

Then there are the MULEs—human scavengers obsessed with stealing cargo. Unlike in most games, where combat is often the default solution, Death Stranding encourages non-lethal approaches. Killing someone means dealing with their body before it causes a voidout (a catastrophic explosion), adding an extra layer of strategy to every encounter.

As much as I loved Death Stranding, it’s not perfect. Some story chapters dragged on longer than necessary, requiring tedious backtracking that occasionally wore down my enthusiasm and seemed to be unnecessarily padded with missions resulting in a negative impact to the overall pacing of the game. The BT boss fights, while visually impressive, lacked variety—once I figured out how to beat one, the others largely followed the same pattern, resulting in an experience that felt repetitive.

Additionally, the slow-paced gameplay won’t appeal to everyone. If you’re looking for high-octane action, this really isn’t the game for you. But if you’re open to a more meditative, methodical, story rich experience with a tonne of worldbuilding, Death Stranding offers something truly unique.

In an era where most big publishers chase popular trends and prioritize live-service models, Death Stranding stands out as a singular vision brought to life. Kojima had a clear idea of what he wanted to create, and Sony gave him the freedom to make it happen. The result is a game that takes risks, challenges conventions, and delivers an experience unlike anything else on the market.

The fact that Death Stranding was developed in just over three years is mind-blowing. Most AAA games take far longer, and many end up feeling creatively diluted by corporate mandates. Here, you can feel the passion and ambition in every aspect of the game.

Final Thoughts

Death Stranding is not a game for everyone. It demands patience, embraces slow and deliberate gameplay, and refuses to conform to industry norms. But for those willing to engage with its world, mechanics, and themes, it offers a truly unforgettable experience.

It’s a game about connections—both literal and metaphorical. It’s about struggling through hardship, helping others, and finding meaning in seemingly mundane tasks. And in a world that often feels increasingly fragmented, Death Stranding’s message of unity feels more relevant than ever.

Hideo Kojima set out to create something truly different, and in my eyes, he succeeded. Love it or hate it, Death Stranding is a game that will be remembered for years to come.

A PS4 review code was provided by PlayStation for the purpose of this review.

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