Life is Strange

83%
Game Brain Score Based on 50,347 reviews
  • story
  • music
  • emotional
Life is Strange Game Cover
Life Is Strange is an impressive mixture of great writing, great voice acting, and interactive storytelling that'll pull on your heart strings like it's going out of style.
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"Life is Strange" is a single-player mystery role-playing game, renowned for its outstanding story, fabulous mechanics, spectacular visuals, and splendid music. The game allows you to rewind time and impact the past, present, and future, creating a highly emotional and amazingly atmospheric experience. With great replayability and attention to detail, it's no wonder the game has received high praise from critics and players alike. Episode 1 is now free to play.

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  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Android
  • Cloud
  • Linux
  • Mobile Platform
  • Play​Station
  • Play​station 3
  • Tablet
  • Xbox
  • Xbox 360
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Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

83%
Audience ScoreBased on 50,347 reviews
story15,202 positive mentions
stability206 negative mentions
  • story31,755 mentions

    The story of "Life is Strange" is widely praised for its emotional depth, intricate character development, and engaging narrative that explores themes of friendship, loss, and the consequences of choices. Players are drawn into the life of Max Caulfield, who discovers her ability to rewind time, allowing for a unique gameplay mechanic that intertwines with the unfolding story. While some critiques mention plot holes and the linearity of the narrative, the overall experience is described as captivating, with many players expressing a strong emotional connection to the characters and their journeys.

    • “Damn, I feel like crying just by writing this. I'm so thankful to Dontnod for developing such a masterpiece, a masterpiece that didn't need 4K RTX graphics to impress and neither an ultra high budget mocap technology to do so, just love and an amazing story.”
    • “The story is expertly paced, building tension and emotional impact over time until the game's climax, which is sure to leave players speechless.”
    • “Life is Strange is a beautifully written story that will definitely leave an impression on the player about the choices we make in our lives, and the possible consequences of changing those decisions.”
    • “The story and characters are uninspiring, and I regret playing and finishing the game.”
    • “The story and most of the characters are just odd and disconnected from reality, and it's weird how I end up more attached to almost everyone else (even David) but the main couple.”
    • “The plot twists and even the ending just feel very forced and unsatisfying, considering all the thoughts and deliberation the player puts into all their choices and actions throughout the entire 18-hour game.”
  • music7,989 mentions

    The music in "Life is Strange" is widely praised for its exceptional quality and emotional resonance, featuring a carefully curated selection of indie and alternative tracks that enhance the game's atmosphere and storytelling. Players often highlight how the soundtrack complements key moments, evoking nostalgia and deep emotional responses, making it a memorable aspect of the overall experience. Many reviewers express a lasting attachment to the music, frequently adding songs from the game to their personal playlists, underscoring its impact on their gaming experience.

    • “The music, in particular, is outstanding, with a wide range of indie and alternative tracks that add to the game's emotional impact.”
    • “The soundtrack is beautifully composed as well, and fits the game better than any music-game pair in recent memory.”
    • “The soundtrack is a perfect 10/10 match for the style and feel of this game, and the characters are very memorable.”
    • “I regret buying this just for its visuals and music back in the day.”
    • “The audio of the characters speaking sometimes cuts out and the music remains.”
    • “The music is definitely unique to the game, and although it is of an acquired taste, I didn't enjoy it.”
  • emotional7,290 mentions

    The emotional aspect of "Life is Strange" is widely praised, with players describing it as a powerful and immersive experience that evokes a wide range of feelings, from joy to deep sadness. Many reviewers noted that the game's narrative, character development, and impactful choices lead to genuine emotional connections, often resulting in tears during pivotal moments. The soundtrack further enhances the emotional weight of the story, making it a memorable journey that resonates with players long after they finish the game.

    • “This was a beautiful rollercoaster that gut-punched me so hard with emotional damage.”
    • “I cried like everybody else, and now that I've finished, I don't quite know what to do with myself anymore.”
    • “Life is Strange is an incredibly emotional and immersive game that takes players on a journey through the life of a teenage girl named Max.”
    • “Wooden characters and a boring story, but it's funny to see French developers trying to create a realistic American high school.”
    • “Slow, boring story; couldn't care less about this game.”
    • “I’m personally allergic to high school drama, so I’ll give Life is Strange high marks for effort and technical achievement, but a failing score for its boring story, cliché characters, and ridiculous plot twists.”
  • graphics5,703 mentions

    The graphics of "Life is Strange" have received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its unique hand-painted art style that evokes a watercolor aesthetic, enhancing the game's emotional storytelling. While some critiques point to dated textures and occasional lip-sync issues, the overall visual presentation is often described as beautiful and atmospheric, effectively complementing the narrative. Despite not being cutting-edge by modern standards, the graphics contribute to a nostalgic and immersive experience that resonates with players.

    • “Life is Strange is an immersive gaming experience that offers impressive visuals and a well-designed game world.”
    • “The game's graphics and sound design are top-notch, with a stunning art style that captures the game's themes and tone.”
    • “The graphics are visually incredibly pleasing to the eye, containing soft colors with many golden and brown tones to convey the perfect autumn mood.”
    • “The graphics are a bit so-so (though the art style does have its charms), and while Life is Strange's handling of choice-based gameplay felt quite innovative at the time of its release, I think the worldbuilding, pacing, and character dynamics are what really hold the game up.”
    • “The graphics are showing their age a bit from a technical perspective, but the visual aesthetic holds up very well.”
    • “The graphics are quite buggy sometimes and there are some broken interactions, but nothing too bad.”
  • gameplay5,575 mentions

    The gameplay of "Life is Strange" is primarily narrative-driven, featuring a unique time-rewind mechanic that allows players to explore different choices and their consequences. While the gameplay is often described as simplistic and reminiscent of point-and-click adventure games, it effectively enhances the emotional depth of the story, making players feel the weight of their decisions. Overall, the game is praised for its engaging narrative and character development, though some players note that the gameplay can feel tedious or limited at times.

    • “Amazing stories and gameplay that stick around in the mind long after it has been played.”
    • “The game's mechanics are well-designed, with choices that affect the outcome of the story and time-travel mechanics that add an interesting layer of gameplay.”
    • “With its engaging narrative, exceptional art and music, and intuitive gameplay mechanics, the game is a must-play for fans of narrative-driven games or anyone looking for a unique and emotional gaming experience.”
    • “The gameplay is absolutely linear; you will always get where the movie needs you to be.”
    • “Gameplay is almost nonexistent: you walk around interacting with things, choosing dialogues without much clue of where they will lead to.”
    • “The gameplay is mostly slow-paced storytelling; there isn't really much fancy stuff you have to do except for walking around and clicking on things.”
  • atmosphere1,620 mentions

    The atmosphere of "Life is Strange" is widely praised for its immersive and emotionally engaging qualities, enhanced by a unique art style and a carefully curated soundtrack that complements the game's themes. Players often describe the setting of Arcadia Bay as both beautiful and haunting, creating a nostalgic yet melancholic vibe that resonates deeply throughout the narrative. Despite some criticisms regarding plot inconsistencies, the overall atmosphere is considered one of the game's strongest aspects, drawing players into a rich, character-driven experience that lingers long after gameplay.

    • “The game's art style and soundtrack are also exceptional, providing a unique and immersive atmosphere that perfectly captures the game's themes and setting.”
    • “Very emotionally engaging story with all the characters, the whole atmosphere of the game is simply breathtaking. I fully got immersed into the game & dove deep into their world & it felt like I was there myself & not just playing a video game.”
    • “The atmosphere of the world is also immaculate, from the music to the environment, Arcadia Bay feels alive.”
    • “The atmosphere of the game is by far my favorite part.”
    • “The atmosphere while in game along with the soundtrack is what sells this game experience.”
    • “The atmosphere is mostly nostalgic and faded.”
  • character development636 mentions

    Character development in "Life is Strange" is widely praised for its depth and emotional resonance, with many reviewers highlighting the intricate relationships and growth of characters like Max and Chloe. Players appreciate how choices impact character arcs, making them feel invested in the narrative and the characters' journeys. However, some critiques mention inconsistencies and a lack of development for certain side characters, suggesting that while the main characters are well-crafted, others could benefit from more depth. Overall, the game is recognized as a standout example of storytelling and character development in video games.

    • “The character development is outstanding.”
    • “Life is Strange masterfully unites a simple gameplay mechanic with deep and complex character development and interactions.”
    • “The character development is superb, and with a choose-your-own-adventure-esque storytelling mechanic, your decisions have serious effects on the game.”
    • “The plot has more holes than Swiss cheese, and the characters are unlikable, bland, cliché archetypes, that go through zero character development.”
    • “Scenario is weak, character development is ultra weak ... and since this game is mostly about the story ... I would not recommend it!”
    • “But let's just move forward since the depth she has as a character is the equivalent of a cesspool in the Sahara Desert and there isn't much else to expect from her character in terms of character development for the entire game.”
  • replayability551 mentions

    The reviews on replayability for the game are mixed, with many players noting that while the game offers a variety of choices that can lead to different outcomes, the overall replay value is limited. Some players appreciate the ability to explore different story paths and endings, citing high replayability due to the impactful choices, while others feel that knowing the story diminishes the desire to replay. Overall, the consensus suggests that while there is some replay value, particularly for completionists or those interested in exploring all narrative branches, many players find the game less engaging upon subsequent playthroughs.

    • “This game has beautiful visuals, an amazing and fun story that can alter with many of your decisions, great music, and replayability.”
    • “The character choice and 'butterfly effect' aspect is also an amazing developmental tool that provides the player with a good amount of replayability, as any true gamer will want to discover, witness, and unlock all of the outcomes and possible scenarios the game has to offer.”
    • “The choices you make actually matter and do affect all the intricacies of the story, so the replay value can be insanely high.”
    • “I love it, but the game kind of gets ruined if you know what's going to happen, so there isn't any replay value.”
    • “The only con I would ever attribute to this game is replayability.”
    • “Choices don't matter in the end; the game has no replayability.”
  • humor434 mentions

    The humor in "Life is Strange" is described as a blend of charming, awkward, and sometimes cringe-worthy moments that evoke laughter amidst the game's emotional depth. Players appreciate the witty dialogue and humorous character interactions, though some find the humor dated or forced, reflecting early 2010s culture. Overall, the game successfully balances lightheartedness with serious themes, creating a unique experience that can make players laugh and cry simultaneously.

    • “This game is the best mix of curiosity, humor, and adventure.”
    • “Life is Strange is a game packed with insanely good humor that takes a dark turn when you least expect it.”
    • “The dialogue is a bit cringe, but that's why it's funny, if that makes sense.”
    • “Not funny, cried for 15 minutes.”
    • “There are some cliché moments and comments made by the protagonist; some are funny, some cringey, though the voice acting is overall pretty good.”
    • “Life is Strange tries a bit too hard to make the dialogue funny and instead makes it a little cringey at times, but I will let that pass.”
  • stability224 mentions

    The game's stability has received mixed feedback, with many players reporting various bugs and glitches, particularly related to graphics, audio synchronization, and gameplay mechanics. While some users experienced significant issues that affected their enjoyment, others found the glitches to be minor and manageable, often overshadowed by the game's strong narrative and emotional impact. Overall, while the game is not free from technical problems, many players still recommend it for its engaging story despite the occasional instability.

    • “Technically, it runs great.”
    • “I'm also very surprised that the game is relatively bug-free; I only experienced one in my entire playthrough, so the QA team definitely deserves credit.”
    • “Overall, the game is fairly bug-free, at least it was for me.”
    • “My god, this is so buggy I can't even do much without getting stuck with a max moaning on a red trippy background every few minutes.”
    • “The remaster has new bugs and graphics glitches.”
    • “The only downside is there are some glitches with gameplay that can cause you to get stuck and have to play sections over and over again if it doesn't work properly.”
  • optimization222 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is generally well-received, with many players reporting smooth performance even on lower-end hardware. However, some users experienced issues such as stuttering, frame tearing, and inconsistent frame rates, particularly during cutscenes. While the game runs well for most, there are notable exceptions where performance dips and bugs can detract from the experience.

    • “The game runs smoothly and shouldn't require some hyperspace supercomputer to play, for whilst the graphics are indeed crisp and beautiful, they aren't exactly Crysis level of demanding.”
    • “This game has a truly strong and emotional storyline, nice music, a lot of gameplay, and great optimization for all PCs, whether they are high-end or low-end.”
    • “Gameplay is top-notch, graphics optimization is on point, it's also easy to run, so gamers with lower-end PCs don't have to give up their hopes on playing this game!”
    • “While the game does not have high system requirements, it is still not perfectly optimized.”
    • “The controls don't work, the story is lukewarm, and it's so poorly optimized that I had to buy a RTX 3080 just to run the damn thing.”
    • “It's also quite poorly optimized, and also quite buggy, which is a major flaw for a game mainly consisting of cutscenes.”
  • grinding204 mentions

    The reviews consistently highlight that the game features significant grinding elements, often described as tedious and frustrating. Many players feel that the gameplay mechanics, particularly the puzzles and fetch quests, detract from the overall experience, making it feel unnecessarily prolonged and repetitive. While some appreciate the engaging story and character development, the grinding aspects are frequently noted as a major drawback that can diminish enjoyment.

    • “Puzzles are also enjoyable and not tedious.”
    • “The searching through the environments to gather additional information for the overall story and backstory is well done and not tedious.”
    • “A bit grindy... sometimes.”
    • “Ultimately, what sinks the game for me is its tedious, dry, and grinding moment-to-moment gameplay, and I wish the developers had chucked out the majority of this and chosen to rely more, instead, on polishing Life is Strange's plot and characters, because that's where I feel the majority of the impact is.”
    • “The gameplay can be, and often is, incredibly tedious.”
    • “The very last episode is pretty much a nonstop corridor towards the end, patched up with quick time events and a very boring and tedious 'stealth' sequence.”
  • monetization21 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players expressing frustration over misleading advertising that promised multiple endings and meaningful choices, which they felt were not delivered. While some appreciated the game's quality and atmosphere, they criticized the lack of visibility in marketing, suggesting that better promotion could have attracted more players. Overall, the game's monetization strategy appears to be overshadowed by concerns about its advertising integrity and the perceived value of player choices.

    • “But by the time this advertising lie came out, I had paid for the game beyond the refund policy.”
    • “Despite the advertisement, your choices do not matter.”
    • “This game made me buy a Polaroid camera and $300 worth of exposures, ggwp subtle advertising by Square Enix.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

75% average critic score

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Play time

12hMedian play time
14hAverage play time
5-19hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 176 analyzed playthroughs

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