Even With More Combat, Death Stranding 2 Is Still a Great Cozy Game

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach‘s 48-hour early access is underway, and as more about the game’s story unfolds, the sequel’s changes are becoming more apparent. Ever since the first game launched back in 2019, there were a lot of questions about how Death Stranding 2 would evolve its premise.

At first, Death Standing was divisive. I vividly remember the initial feedback that claimed it to be a “walking simulator.” Yes, the game definitely doesn’t hold back with its slow-paced traversal, but over the years, the game has also gained a reputation as a surprisingly cozy option. Games like Stardew Valley and Animal Crossing are usually seen as the go-to choices for a cozy experience, but Death Stranding has gotten a second life as a relaxing pastime. Based on Hideo Kojima’s history, there were expectations that Death Stranding would be more action-oriented, so the lack of combat was jarring to some. However, action is a much bigger piece of Death Stranding 2, but those who prefer the cozy elements have no need to worry.

Related

How Death Stranding 2 Doubles as Hideo Kojima’s Love Letter to Pop Culture

Hideo Kojima is an avid pop culture lover, and Death Stranding 2 doubles as a stage for him to celebrate his favorite pieces of media.

Death Stranding 2 Honors its Cozy Roots, Despite More Combat

A Sequel That’s Still About the Journey

There are some serious heart-pounding moments with BTs and Higgs in Death Stranding 2, but overall, there is still an emphasis on deliveries and making connections with the many survivors Sam comes in contact with. The first giant BT that players face is no joke, and it’s intimidating enough to potentially scare away some players. However, Kojima Productions has included a special option that is a game-changer for such encounters.

Death Stranding 2 Lets Players Skip Bosses

It was confirmed before launch that Death Stranding 2 would allow players to bypass boss fights. Sam’s long journey puts him face-to-face with some major foes, but when players die when first fighting a boss, the game presents the option to skip forward. After choosing to skip, the story continues as if the boss was defeated, which is a great way to give fans the choice to enjoy the game on their own terms.

Many of Death Stranding 2‘s boss encounters are harrowing, and even though Sam has more weapons at his disposal, it doesn’t make it easier. Once gamers started seeing that Death Stranding is more about the journey over everything else, it opened the title up to a fresh audience, with many finding its world incredibly relaxing.

For a post-apocalyptic story, Death Stranding and its sequel are surprisingly soothing in a lot of ways. Getting from point A to point B, seeing preppers happy with Sam’s deliveries, and getting to watch his relationships with his allies grow and become stronger is incredibly satisfying, and all of those qualities are still there.

Cozy Fans Can Still Revel in Hideo Kojima’s Strange, Wonderful World

The introduction of more action is one of Death Stranding 2‘s many strong points, but it was also a risky decision that could have pushed some cozy gamers away. Thankfully, this shouldn’t be the case, as the game has just as many, if not more, gameplay elements that make it a relaxing story. If anything, more action and boss fights just give players more agency in how they approach the story. There are the occasional run-ins with armed survivors that are living in the wastelands of Australia and Mexico, but much of the original game’s cozy atmosphere is held intact.

Death Stranding 2: On the Beach

Systems

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

• 

•