If you’re a long-time Kojima fan counting down the days until you can strap on a delivery backpack and traverse the post-apocalyptic United States again, you’ve probably already searched for Death Stranding 2 OpenCritic updates to get a sense of how the sequel stacks up to the beloved 2019 original. Unlike user review platforms that can be flooded with review bombs or biased takes before a game even launches, OpenCritic aggregates scores from reputable professional critics across the globe, making it one of the most reliable places to gauge a new release’s quality before you spend your money. We’ve put together this breakdown to help you make sense of every part of the game’s OpenCritic page, from early previews to final launch scores, so you don’t waste time parsing conflicting takes from random social media accounts.
How Death Stranding 2 OpenCritic Scores Are Calculated
OpenCritic uses a far more transparent scoring system than many other review aggregation platforms, which is why it’s become a favorite for serious gamers. For high-profile releases like this one, the platform pulls reviews from over 120 verified critics, including major gaming outlets, independent YouTube reviewers, and niche Kojima-focused content creators who have a long track record of covering his work fairly. Each review is categorized as positive, neutral, or negative, and the overall score is based on the percentage of critics who recommend the game, rather than a weighted average that favors larger publications.
The Top Critic filter is the first tool you should use when you land on the game’s page, as it narrows results down to reviewers who have a proven history of consistent, nuanced coverage, rather than casual contributors who may only review a handful of games a year. OpenCritic also clearly separates pre-release preview coverage from full launch reviews, so you won’t see partial hands-on scores mixed in with final ratings that take the full 30+ hour campaign into account. When you’re scrolling through Death Stranding 2 OpenCritic reviews, you’ll notice most critics lead with their thoughts on whether the gameplay feels more accessible than the first entry.
If you see a very low or very high average score in the first 24 hours after reviews go live, don’t jump to conclusions. The average will level out as more critics submit their reviews over the first 72 hours post-launch, so it’s worth waiting a couple of days to get a full picture of the critical reception.
What Critics Are Prioritizing in Death Stranding 2 Reviews
The first Death Stranding was famously divisive when it launched, with some critics calling it a masterpiece and others dismissing it as a slow, repetitive delivery simulator. Critics reviewing the sequel will be focusing heavily on how it addresses the most common complaints from the first game, while retaining the elements that made it a cult favorite.
First up, gameplay loop improvements are top of the list for most reviewers. The first game’s slow, meditative traversal was a draw for many fans, but others found the early hours too repetitive and tedious. Reviewers will note if the sequel adds more varied side content, better traversal tools, and more dynamic world events that make each delivery feel unique, rather than a chore to check off a list. Story coherence is another big priority: Kojima’s narratives are famously convoluted, so critics will comment on whether the new plot lines featuring Fragile and the latest cast of characters are accessible to new players, or if you need to play the first game and its Director’s Cut DLC to follow what’s going on.
Asynchronous multiplayer features, the standout fan favorite from the first game, will also get a lot of coverage. Reviewers will highlight if the sequel expands on the system of leaving supplies, structures, and helpful messages for other players, or if it feels like a copy-paste of the 2019 system with no meaningful upgrades. If you care more about gameplay than story, you can use OpenCritic’s keyword filter to only show reviews that mention mechanics specifically, so you don’t have to sift through long plot analyses to get the info you care about.
Common Misconceptions About OpenCritic Scores for Major Releases
A lot of gamers make the mistake of treating OpenCritic scores as a definitive “good or bad” rating, but that’s not how the platform is designed to work. There are a few key myths you need to ignore when checking the game’s page to avoid making a bad purchasing decision.
Another thing to note is that Death Stranding 2 OpenCritic scores won’t include any points for pre-order bonuses or platform exclusive content, so you don’t have to worry about scores being inflated by outlets that get special access for pre-order promotions. If you’re on the fence about buying the game at launch, don’t just look at the overall score. Take 10 minutes to read 2-3 positive reviews and 1-2 negative reviews, to see if the complaints are things that would actually bother you personally.
For example, if a low-scoring review complains that the game is still too slow and focused on quiet delivery missions, that might not be a negative for you if you loved the calm, low-stress gameplay of the first Death Stranding.
How to Use OpenCritic to Decide If Death Stranding 2 Is Worth Buying
First, set your own priorities before you even look at the scores. Are you buying the game for the story, the multiplayer, the gameplay, or just because you’re a lifelong Kojima superfan? If you’re in that last group, you probably don’t need to look at reviews at all, but if you’re on the fence about spending $70 on launch day, OpenCritic has built-in tools to help you filter content to your specific tastes.
The custom review filters let you only see reviews from critics who gave the first Death Stranding a score similar to what you would have given it, so you’re getting opinions from people who share your preferences for the series. You can also filter reviews by platform, so if you’re playing on PS5 you don’t have to read reviews for the PC version that focus on port performance issues that don’t apply to your setup.
Make sure to check the “Critic Consensus” section at the top of the page too, which summarizes the most common positive and negative points across all reviews, so you don’t have to read 50 different reviews to get a general sense of the game’s strengths and weaknesses. If you wait a week after launch, you’ll also get access to verified user reviews, which can give you a sense of how casual fans are enjoying the game, compared to professional critics who might have different priorities when reviewing a big-budget release.
If the game earns a “Strong Recommended” badge on OpenCritic, that means over 75% of critics have given it a positive review, so it’s a very safe bet if you enjoyed the first game. Even if it doesn’t hit that threshold, take the time to read a few full reviews before you make your call, as scores alone never tell the full story for such a unique, niche series.
At the end of the day, no review score can tell you if you’ll personally love a game, but Death Stranding 2 OpenCritic coverage is the best place to get unbiased, aggregated opinions from people who have played the full game before you spend your money. Take scores with a grain of salt, prioritize reviews from critics who share your tastes, and don’t let one extreme review sway your decision either way. If you loved the first Death Stranding, chances are the sequel will deliver everything you’re hoping for, and OpenCritic will help you confirm that before you place your pre-order or pick up a copy on launch day.
