Death Stranding 2: Is the Epic Length Worth the Grind?

Introduction

After clocking over 100 hours in the original, I was both excited and wary when Kojima Productions announced Death Stranding 2: On the Beach. Early access hits June 24 for Deluxe buyers (full release June 26), and with playtime estimates ranging from 40 to 150+ hours, it’s time to ask: does this sequel expand the formula meaningfully, or simply grind it further?

Playtime Breakdown

Sticking roughly to industry reports, a straight run through the main story takes around 40–50 hours. Add most side quests and you’re looking at 60–70 hours. Trophy hunters aiming for 100 percent completion might invest 100 hours or more, and those chasing every collectible and social link could top 150 hours.

Feature	Specification
Publisher	Sony Interactive Entertainment
Release Date	June 26, 2024 (June 24 for Deluxe)
Genre	Action-Adventure, Open World
Platform	PlayStation 5

Gameplay Mechanics: New vs. Familiar

At its core, Death Stranding 2 still revolves around traversal and cargo management. Veterans will recognize the balancing act between weight distribution, stamina, and terrain navigation. New gadgets—such as hover crates and modular exoskeleton upgrades—add layers of strategy, letting you merge supply runs with exploration. However, the underlying loop remains similar: plan routes, deliver parcels, and upgrade infrastructure.

Compared to the first game, mission variety has expanded with dynamic weather effects that alter terrain in real time, and enemy encounters that require more tactical engagement. Yet if you were hoping for a radical reinvention of the delivery loop, this is an evolution rather than a revolution.

Pros and Cons

• Pros: Deep customization of routes and loadouts; a sprawling world that rewards patience; improved AI and environmental hazards.
• Cons: The delivery loop can still feel repetitive; side missions sometimes recycle objectives; completionists face a steep time investment.

What This Means for Players

If the contemplative pacing of the original hooked you, the sequel’s expanded toolkit and world will feel like home—just with even more ground to cover. For newcomers or those who found the first outing tedious, the same core design might test your tolerance for repetition. Ultimately, Death Stranding 2 excels when you lean into its freedom: speedrun the story or meticulously craft supply lines. It just depends on your appetite for Kojima’s singular brand of open-world plumbing.

Final Verdict

Death Stranding 2 delivers on its promise of sheer scale, offering a flexible playthrough from 40 to 150+ hours. It strikes a balance between familiar mechanics and incremental innovation, but the central delivery loop remains intact—whether you see that as comforting or overlong will define your experience. In the end, this sequel caters precisely to the kind of player who finds joy in every package delivered across a broken world.