Death Stranding 2 Review Scores
DS2 review embargo lifted in June 2025 ahead of the PS5 launch. The verdict: a critically acclaimed sequel that surpasses the original in nearly every way.
Aggregate Scores
90
Metacritic
100+ critics
89–92
OpenCritic
73+ critics
9/10
IGN
"Outstanding"
7/10
GameSpot
"Good"
4.93
/ 5.0
PSN Player Score
97% of players gave a perfect score on PlayStation Network — one of the highest player ratings for any Kojima Productions title.
What Critics Said
IGN — 9/10
"Death Stranding 2 is an outstanding sequel that refines everything that made the original special while adding meaningful new systems and a story that hits even harder."
Metacritic consensus
"Reviewers praised the improved movement and interaction systems, richer combat and stealth mechanics, and visuals described as among the best of this console generation."
GameSpot — 7/10
"A more mature and ambitious follow-up to the original, though its deliberate pacing and unconventional design won't win over everyone."
Critic Consensus: Pros & Cons
What reviewers loved
- +Visuals — best-in-class for this generation
- +Improved movement and traversal feel
- +Richer combat, stealth, and enemy variety
- +Story depth and emotional payoff
- +World design — Australia setting is stunning
- +PC port quality (Nixxes)
Common criticisms
- −Deliberate pacing — not for everyone
- −Story can be dense and abstract
- −GameSpot noted some repetitive delivery loops
- −High storage requirement (150 GB)
Is It Better Than DS1?
| Category | DS1 | DS2 |
|---|---|---|
| Metacritic | 82 | 90 ↑ |
| Combat depth | Basic | Expanded ↑ |
| Movement systems | Good | Refined ↑ |
| World size | USA | Australia (larger) ↑ |
| PC port quality | Good (had Denuvo) | Excellent, no DRM ↑ |
The critical consensus is clear: DS2 is a more polished, deeper, and more ambitious game than its predecessor.
Verdict: Worth It
Metacritic 90 · No DRM · Excellent PC port · Available now