Death Stranding 2: On the Beach takes Sam on another journey centered around connecting humanity, except this time, the story expands beyond the UCA. Venturing into both Mexico and Australia, Death Stranding 2 introduces a variety of fresh environmental hazards and characters to run into. The environmental hazards are harrowing enough to experience, but there is one danger that is even more terrifying: BTs.
BTs are nothing new to Death Stranding‘s world, but this time around, they can be a force to be reckoned with. Kojima Productions has introduced a fresh roster of BT types, and they give the game an unexpected horror edge. Death Stranding definitely isn’t known for its horror elements, but its sequel leans into the more terrifying aspects of BTs, even entering body horror territory.
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Death Stranding 2 Embraces Body Horror for Some of Its Most Terrifying BT Encounters
Death Stranding 2 Comes Out Swinging With its First Boss
Kojima Productions promised more action for Death Stranding 2, but it’s still surprising just how early on the game throws players into its first BT boss battle. This BT run-in happens during the Order 6 level, and when players first get a glimpse at what they’re about to fight, it may have some thinking they mistakenly booted up Resident Evil Village instead of Death Stranding 2.
The BT in question is a giant floating head that splits open to reveal what can only be described as an entrance to Hell itself. It almost looks like Kojima’s own take on The Thing. Adorned with tentacle-like appendages that grow out of the head, Death Stranding 2‘s first major boss encounter turns the game into a full-blown horror experience for a few moments. That isn’t the only way BTs bring some serious body horror energy to the game, though.
There are plenty of emotional moments in Death Stranding 2, but there is one character backstory that also boasts a touch of horror. A flashback involving Tarman features BTs spilling out of a chiral whale’s stomach. The BTs push their way out of the tar-covered mammal, oozing onto a ship’s deck. It’s borderline gut-churning, but this moment is also just the right amount of body horror to drive home just how otherworldly Death Stranding 2‘s BTs really are.
Death Stranding 2 elevates many of the original concepts introduced in the first game. Traversal is easier, thanks to vehicles being given early on, alongside other features like adaptive music, more weapon choices, and even the option to skip boss fights in order to progress through the story faster.
Death Stranding 2’s Terrifying BTs Further Prove That Kojima Has Plenty of Horror Potential
- Hideo Kojima was once tapped by Konami to head the now-canceled Silent Hills.
- Kojima’s iconic PT demo kickstarted a fresh brand of psychologically-chilling horror games.
PT was made as a teaser for the now-defunct Silent Hills. Never getting a Silent Hill game from Kojima is a sad reminder, but the game’s cancellation paved the way for Death Stranding to be possible. He may have never gotten the chance to dive into the Silent Hill franchise, but he gets to explore plenty of horror elements with the BTs and their unique designs.
Now that Kojima has been able to experiment with body horror, it will be interesting to see if it influences his upcoming game, OD, in any major way. There isn’t much known about OD at the moment, but confirmation that the horror title is being co-written by Jordan Peele is an exciting promise of something wonderfully sinister. Death Stranding 2 may not be a full-blown horror experience, but it can definitely give body horror fans an unexpected way to scratch that specific itch.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
- Released
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June 26, 2025
- ESRB
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Mature 17+ // Violence, Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Strong Language
- Publisher(s)
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Sony Interactive Entertainment
- Engine
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Decima
- Franchise
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Death Stranding
- Number of Players
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Single-player
- PS5 Release Date
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June 26, 2025
