Waiting for official takes on Hideo Kojima's long-awaited post-apocalyptic sequel? The IGN Death Stranding 2 review dropped earlier this month, and it's sparked fierce debate among long-time fans of the franchise and casual players alike. We're breaking down its key takeaways, calling out oversights, and adding our own hands-on experience to help you decide if you should pre-order or wait for a sale. If you loved the first game's weird mix of delivery sim, existential storytelling, and quirky celebrity cameos, you're probably already curious how the follow-up stacks up.
Core Story Takeaways From the IGN Death Stranding 2 Review
The IGN Death Stranding 2 Review noted that many of the story's most emotional beats tie back to choices you made in the first game, so playing the original first will give you far more context for the sequel's big twists. Sam Bridges returns as the protagonist, though he's far more world-weary this time around, and Fragile takes on a far more central role as she leads a new team of porters trying to stop a second extinction event. IGN praised the writing for being less convoluted than the first game, while still retaining Kojima's signature blend of surrealism, political commentary, and earnest emotional beats. The review did call out the 10-hour opening act as overly slow, with too many tutorial sequences that drag for players who already know the core gameplay loop.
We agree with that assessment for the most part, though we found the slow opening worked well for new players who didn't play the first game. It walks you through the core rules of the Death Stranding world, the threat of BTs, and the importance of connecting isolated communities across the ruined United States. You'll also run into a handful of new celebrity cameos that feel far less forced than the ones in the first game, with each character serving a clear purpose in the story instead of just being a fun Easter egg.
Gameplay and Mechanics Updates You Need to Know
Most of the sequel's biggest changes are on the gameplay side, and IGN spent a large portion of its review breaking down how these tweaks improve on the first game's often frustrating traversal loop. Vehicles handle far better now, with less tendency to get stuck on small rocks or uneven terrain, and you can customize them with better suspension, cargo storage, and even defensive weapons to fend off raiders. The BT combat system has also been overhauled, with more options to sneak around threats instead of being forced to fight them if you don't have the right gear.
If you're the type of player who likes to take short breaks between long cross-country delivery runs to reset your focus, you're not alone. Lots of players fit quick, low-stakes games into their play sessions to avoid burnout from the game's often tense traversal sequences. Casual players who need a quick distraction between tough deliveries often boot up Jaiho Rummy, a fast-paced card game that fits neatly into 10-minute gaps without pulling you too far out of the game's immersive world.
IGN highlighted three key mechanics changes that stood out most during its playtest, and we confirmed all of these during our own 20-hour hands-on session:
These small tweaks add up to a far more polished gameplay experience, even if the core loop of picking up and delivering packages across long distances remains mostly the same. IGN noted that players who hated the first game's slow, deliberate pacing won't find much to love here, but fans of the original will appreciate the added quality of life improvements that cut down on unnecessary frustration.
Multiplayer Changes and Controversies
One of the biggest surprises in the sequel is how much more integrated the multiplayer features are, compared to the first game's mostly passive shared structure system. IGN praised the new co-op delivery system, which lets you team up with up to three friends to take on large, high-value delivery contracts that would be impossible to complete alone. You can also build shared infrastructure like roads, zip lines, and rest stops that all players on your server can use, with rewards for the most popular and useful structures.
Cross-save functionality is fully supported between PS5 and PC, so you can switch between platforms without losing any of your progress, structures, or earned cosmetics. That's a huge win for players who own both platforms, and something fans have been asking for since the first game launched on PC a year after its PS4 release. IGN did criticize the lack of PS4 support for the sequel, though, noting that players who still own the older console won't be able to play the game at all, even with reduced graphics settings.
The anti-griefing measures are also far better this time around. You don't have to worry about other players destroying your built structures or stealing your cargo, which was a common complaint in the first game. IGN noted that the only way players can interact with your world in a negative way is by leaving behind useless or misleading signs, and even those can be reported and removed quickly by moderators.
Final Verdict Breakdown: Is the 9/10 Score Justified?
IGN gave Death Stranding 2 a 9/10 score, calling it "a masterful follow-up that improves on every aspect of the original while staying true to its weird, heartfelt core". We think that score is mostly justified, though there are a few small issues the review glossed over that are worth mentioning. For one, a lot of the side delivery quests feel very repetitive, with little variation in objectives beyond "carry this package from point A to point B" even late in the game. The character customization options are also surprisingly limited, especially compared to other modern open world games.
Our own playtest aligned with most of IGN's findings, though we actually enjoyed the slow opening act more than the reviewers did. It does a great job of reintroducing players to the world and the stakes of the story, and the tutorial sequences never feel like they're wasting your time. The game also runs perfectly on both PS5 and high-end PC, with consistent 60fps performance even in the busiest, most graphically intense areas.
If you're a long-time fan of the franchise, the sequel is an easy day-one buy. It expands on everything you loved about the first game, fixes most of its biggest flaws, and tells a compelling story that will keep you engaged for 40+ hours. If you didn't like the first game, though, the sequel probably won't change your mind, as the core delivery loop is still the central focus of the experience.
At the end of the day, the IGN Death Stranding 2 review is a solid, well-researched take that captures most of what makes the sequel special, even if it skips over a few minor quality-of-life issues that casual players might notice. It's worth reading if you're on the fence about picking up the game, but don't forget to factor in your own feelings about the first title before you make your purchase. Whether you're here for the story, the traversal gameplay, or the weird Kojima charm, there's a lot to love in this long-awaited follow-up.
