7 Reasons to Play Death Stranding 2: On the Beach

Hideo Kojima's Death Stranding 2: On the Beach delivers epic new gameplay mechanics, stunning Australian environments, and deeper storytelling that makes it one of 2025's most anticipated gaming experiences.

7 Reasons to Play Death Stranding 2: On the Beach | LIST-EM. Article Image by 'Kojima Productions'

Boy, do I have a treat for you today! Death Stranding 2: On the Beach just dropped on June 26, 2025, and honestly, I can't put my damn controller down. As someone who absolutely loved the first game despite all the "walking simulator" criticism, I'm here to tell you why this sequel is an absolute masterpiece that you need to experience right now.

Let me break down exactly why Death Stranding 2 should be at the top of your gaming list - and trust me, after 30+ hours with this gorgeous beast, I've got some pretty strong opinions to share.

01 AUSTRALIA IS ABSOLUTELY BREATHTAKING
 

Man, oh man - the switch from post-apocalyptic America to the Australian continent is nothing short of spectacular. I'm talking about massive deserts, lush jungles, flooded coastal regions, and rocky landscapes that'll make your jaw drop to the floor.

The dynamic weather system isn't just eye candy either - it actually affects gameplay in meaningful ways. Heavy rain makes terrain slippery, nighttime navigation becomes genuinely challenging, and bushfires create real environmental hazards you'll need to navigate around. It's like Kojima Productions took everything beautiful about Australia and cranked it up to eleven while adding their signature post-apocalyptic twist.

The attention to detail is insane - they've even included Vegemite and authentic Aussie slang throughout the game. As someone who's always wanted more games set in diverse locations, this Australian setting feels fresh, authentic, and absolutely stunning on PS5.

02 COMBAT IS FINALLY EPIC AND STRATEGIC

Here's where things get really exciting - Death Stranding 2 has completely revolutionized its combat system, and it feels amazing. Unlike the first game where avoiding enemies was usually your best bet, this sequel gives you legitimate choices: full combat, stealth approaches, or classic avoidance tactics.

The new skill tree system is absolutely brilliant, letting you specialize Sam's abilities across combat, stealth, or delivery-focused builds. You can experiment with different approaches and each playthrough will feel genuinely different. The blood boomerang weapon is particularly satisfying, and the new camouflage options remind me of the best parts of Metal Gear Solid V.

BT encounters are now direct and engaging rather than just tense avoidance scenarios. You can actually see these otherworldly enemies and use various combat tactics to deal with them. It's the perfect evolution of Kojima's design philosophy - giving players meaningful choice in how they approach every situation.

03 TRAVERSAL HAS BEEN COMPLETELY REVOLUTIONIZED

The traversal improvements in Death Stranding 2 are absolutely game-changing. We're talking monorail construction to connect major outposts, which makes long-distance travel so much more efficient and strategic. The new gravity harness and hover pack give you incredible vertical movement options that completely change how you approach terrain.

What really gets me excited is how they've made the core delivery gameplay feel rewarding instead of tedious. Kojima himself compared the leap in quality to going from Metal Gear Solid 1 to Metal Gear Solid 2, and honestly, that's spot on. The improved weather forecasting systems and sturdier gear make planning your routes feel genuinely tactical.

The ability to combine ladders to create longer ones is such a simple but brilliant addition. Plus, the new vehicles and enhanced online elements with player-built structures like ramps and upgraded ziplines make every journey feel collaborative and dynamic.

04 ELLE FANNING'S PERFORMANCE IS LEGENDARY

Elle Fanning joining the Death Stranding cast as "Tomorrow" is absolutely incredible. This marks her first venture into video game acting, and boy, does she bring something special to this world. 

What's particularly exciting is that Death Stranding 2's story was reportedly written specifically around Fanning's character, emphasizing her central importance to the narrative. Geoff Keighley himself confirmed she plays the "central role" in the game. Her performance alongside returning favorites like Norman Reedus and Léa Seydoux creates some genuinely emotional moments.

The expanded cast also includes fantastic additions like George Miller as Tarman and Shioli Kutsuna as Rainy. Each new character brings depth and personality to this already rich world, and Fanning's presence elevates the entire experience.
 

05 THE SOCIAL STRAND SYSTEM IS MORE AMAZING THAN EVER

 

The returning Social Strand System has been enhanced in ways that'll blow your mind. If you loved leaving ladders and bridges for other players in the first game, you're going to absolutely love what they've done here.

Players can now build roads, bridges, ziplines, and even safe houses that benefit the entire community. The indirect cooperation feels more meaningful than ever - I've genuinely been moved by finding perfectly placed structures from other players that saved my cargo runs. The ability to donate resources to community projects and finish incomplete deliveries creates this wonderful sense of global cooperation.

What makes it even better is how your reputation grows as you help other players, giving you access to valuable resources and new gear. It's this beautiful cycle of cooperation that makes every playthrough feel connected to a larger gaming community, even when you're playing solo.

06 THE STORY TACKLES CONNECTION IN BRILLIANT WAYS

Kojima's storytelling in Death Stranding 2 is more focused and accessible while maintaining that signature surreal edge. Set eleven months after the first game, Sam's been living quietly while automated delivery drones handle most logistics. When Fragile calls him back to reconnect Mexico and Australia to the chiral network, the adventure kicks into high gear.

The narrative explores themes of family, loss, and human connection through bizarre imagery like talking puppets and tar creatures. Characters like Dollman and Tomorrow bring unique perspectives to questions about whether we should have connected in the first place. The addition of an in-game glossary called the Corpus helps explain characters and lore without interrupting gameplay flow.

What I really appreciate is how the sequel's plot feels clearer and more direct while still being wonderfully weird. It's Kojima at his storytelling best - thought-provoking, emotionally resonant, and absolutely unforgettable.

07 IT'S A GENUINE PS5 SHOWCASE EXPERIENCE

Death Stranding 2 absolutely maximizes the PS5's capabilities in ways that'll make you grateful you own Sony's powerhouse console. The fast loading times, improved graphics, and buttery smooth frame rates create an incredibly immersive experience. Character animations are more nuanced than ever, and the environmental textures are simply gorgeous.

The game leverages everything special about PS5 hardware - from the DualSense controller's haptic feedback enhancing the traversal experience to the 3D audio creating incredibly atmospheric soundscapes. Every rainstorm, every footstep, every piece of cargo shifting in your backpack feels tactile and real.

As a PS5 exclusive launched in June 2025, it perfectly showcases what next-gen gaming can achieve when developers fully commit to a platform. This isn't a cross-gen compromise - it's a game built specifically to highlight why the PS5 is such an amazing piece of hardware.

What do you think? Let me know down below!

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