The Death Stranding 2: On the Beach review embargo has been lifted, with early reviews positioning the upcoming title as one of the highest-rated games of 2025. The positive reception reinforces Sony’s decision to make Death Stranding 2 its flagship PlayStation exclusive for summer 2025.
The original Death Stranding received a mixed response from critics following its late 2019 release. While its average score on OpenCritic stands at a respectable 83, the game proved somewhat polarizing, with many reviewers criticizing its slow pace and gameplay focused largely on traversal, inventory management, and fetch quests. Conversely, some critics praised it as one of the most innovative games in recent memory that cements Hideo Kojima’s status as a video game auteur. According to OpenCritic data, nearly one in four reviewers did not recommend Death Stranding—an unusually low recommendation rate for a game with a non-zero rate of reviews calling it a masterpiece.
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Death Stranding 2: On the Beach appears to be significantly less polarizing. Following the lifting of its review embargo on June 23, the upcoming sequel received a wave of highly favorable reviews, earning a “Mighty” rating on OpenCritic with an average score of 90 and a near-perfect 97% recommendation rate. By these metrics, Death Stranding 2 is currently one of the highest-rated games of 2025, with OpenCritic’s “Hall of Fame” list for this year placing it only behind Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and Split Fiction.
What Critics Are Saying About Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
Looking beyond the arbitrary numbers, many reviewers describe the upcoming title as a clear improvement over its predecessor, retaining what worked while addressing its shortcomings. Death Stranding 2 is said to feature somewhat improved pacing and deeper gameplay, particularly in its stealth and combat systems. Some reviewers have also praised the addition of an RPG-like skill tree as contributing both gameplay flexibility and replay value. Another frequently cited strength is the game’s world design, featuring ever-shifting environments that present tactical challenges and offer greater variety than the original.
Top 10 Highest-Rated Games of 2025 (So Far)
|
Game |
OpenCritic Avg. |
Release Date |
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
1. |
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 |
92 |
Apr 24 |
|
2. |
Split Fiction |
90 |
Mar 6 |
|
3. |
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach |
90 |
Jun 26 |
|
4. |
Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2 |
89 |
Feb 4 |
|
5. |
Blue Prince |
89 |
Apr 10 |
|
6. |
Street Fighter 6: Years 1-2 Fighters Edition |
89 |
Jun 5 |
|
7. |
Monster Hunter Wilds |
89 |
Feb 27 |
|
8. |
Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo |
89 |
May 28 |
|
9. |
Keep Driving |
89 |
Feb 26 |
|
10. |
The Talos Principle: Reawakened |
88 |
Apr 10 |
As for criticisms, the story’s finale has been described as overly messy—a complaint that was also frequently directed at the first game. Similarly, the critical consensus suggests that inventory management from the first Death Stranding still lacks the intuitiveness many hoped for in the sequel.
Death Stranding 2 officially releases on June 26, at midnight ET. However, the game will also have a brief early access period that starts exactly two days beforehand. Access to this preview period is restricted to consumers who purchase its Collector’s or Digital Deluxe Editions, priced at $79.99 and $229.99, respectively. PlayStation Direct still lists the Collector’s Edition as available in the U.S. as of June 23.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
- Released
-
June 26, 2025
- ESRB
-
Mature 17+ // Violence, Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Strong Language
- Publisher(s)
-
Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Engine
-
Decima
- Franchise
-
Death Stranding
- Number of Players
-
Single-player
- PS5 Release Date
-
June 26, 2025
