Life is Strange 2

The jury is out on whether or not Life is Strange 2 is superior to the first game, but it is undoubtedly bolder and more ambitious, with something meaningful to say.

84%Game Brain Score

story, emotional

stability, grinding

89% User Score Based on 35,919 reviews

Critic Score 82%Based on 6 reviews

Platforms

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About

In Life is Strange 2, players assume the role of Sean, a teenager who embarks on a journey with his younger brother, Daniel, after a tragic event at their home. The game is a narrative-driven adventure that explores themes of brotherhood, loss, and the supernatural. Decisions made throughout the game will affect the relationship between the brothers and the outcome of their journey.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

+17

89%

Audience ScoreBased on 13,967 reviews

story3.3k positive mentions

stability90 negative mentions

story
8,929 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
58%
5%
The story of "Life is Strange 2" follows two brothers, Sean and Daniel Diaz, as they navigate a tumultuous journey across America after a tragic incident forces them to flee their home. Players are deeply engaged in the narrative, which explores themes of family, identity, and social issues, particularly racism and immigration, while their choices significantly impact the characters' development and the story's outcome. While some players appreciate the emotional depth and character growth, others criticize the pacing and perceived political messaging, leading to mixed feelings about the overall storytelling experience.
- “The story is always engaging and makes you feel attached to the characters.”
- “The characters are so well written and the story is incredible.”
- “The storytelling is immersive and emotionally charged, with every decision impacting their relationship and the world around them.”
- “The actual gameplay only serves to slow the pace of the story and bore you.”
- “My suspension of disbelief was destroyed by the fact that the inciting incident propelling the entire story forward just doesn't make sense.”
- “The story, though ambitious, comes off as rather average.”
emotional
1,912 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
1%
The emotional aspect of "Life is Strange 2" has been widely praised for its ability to evoke strong feelings, with many players reporting that they cried multiple times throughout the game. The story of two brothers navigating a challenging journey resonates deeply, touching on themes of family, loss, and societal issues, which enhances the emotional weight of the narrative. While some players felt less connected to the characters compared to the first game, the overall emotional impact remains significant, making it a memorable and heartfelt experience.
- “Life is Strange 2 is more than a game; it’s a heartfelt journey that challenges empathy, morality, and what family truly means.”
- “The storytelling is immersive and emotionally charged, with every decision impacting their relationship and the world around them.”
- “The journey of Sean and Daniel Diaz is a rollercoaster of emotions, from the heartbreaking tragedy that sets their journey in motion to the heartwarming moments of brotherly love and friendship that keep them going.”
- “The main problem with this game is two things - the boring main characters 'Sean' and 'Daniel', and the boring storyline that crawls along at a snail's pace.”
- “Overall, it was a boring storyline with characters I didn't even feel connected to.”
- “Just a terrible game, everything good from Life is Strange 1 is gone, replaced by bad gameplay and a boring story.”
music
1,322 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
42%
3%
The music in "Life is Strange 2" has received a mixed but generally positive reception, with many praising its emotional depth and ability to enhance the storytelling experience. While some players feel the soundtrack does not quite match the iconic status of the first game's music, it still features a blend of original compositions and licensed tracks that resonate well with the game's themes and moments. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a significant aspect of the game, contributing to its immersive atmosphere and emotional impact.
- “The soundtrack perfectly complements the game, adding emotional depth to key moments.”
- “The music in this game is a beautiful adventure with a stunning soundtrack that truly captures the essence of the journey.”
- “The music, the atmosphere, the beautiful nature shots... and many adventure hardships of an average typical teenager on the run with his little brother is all I needed to feel how special it is.”
- “The music in this game doesn't disappoint either, with some very enjoyable tracks, some good dialogue and okay (albeit worse than in lis1) environment exploration.”
- “The music is also not that great compared to especially lis1, and unlike lis: bts you have no familiar cast or location from the first hit game to piggyback on.”
- “The music wasn't as memorable as the first game but Jonathan Morali still does amazing work with a soft acoustic score with hints of electronic variety at times.”
gameplay
1,280 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
66%
8%
The gameplay in "Life is Strange 2" has received mixed reviews, with many players noting a significant shift from the mechanics of the first game. While some appreciate the emotional depth and narrative focus, others criticize the lack of engaging gameplay elements, feeling it leans more towards a visual novel format with minimal interactivity. The absence of the time-rewind mechanic and the reliance on dialogue choices and character interactions have left some players feeling that the gameplay is less impactful and more linear compared to its predecessor.
- “Amazing story, graphics, and gameplay; words can't describe how much I love this game.”
- “I took 1571 screenshots during my overall gameplay; just saying I'm absolutely in love with this game.”
- “Gameplay is much more immersive than I had initially predicted.”
- “The actual gameplay only serves to slow the pace of the story and bore you.”
- “The telekinesis mechanic turned out to be a massive disappointment; the power is not controlled by the main character and is not interleaved with the incredibly bland gameplay in any way.”
- “Gameplay has become non-existent; even looking at various objects is less interesting than in the first game, the story is not as good, and the characters are poorly written.”
graphics
1,239 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
49%
1%
The graphics of "Life is Strange 2" have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visuals and improved art style compared to the first game. Players appreciate the detailed environments, vibrant colors, and atmospheric lighting that enhance the storytelling experience. While some minor graphical glitches were noted, the overall presentation is considered a significant upgrade, contributing to the game's emotional depth and immersive quality.
- “I really love the graphics and how much detail they put into the game.”
- “The visuals are stunning, capturing the essence of the American landscape with beautiful, hand-crafted environments that enhance the storytelling.”
- “The graphics are beautiful, the story is moving, and this first episode is quite a lengthy gameplay in itself, especially during the sales happening right now.”
- “The graphics are dated, but it's an older game, so it makes sense. The storyline is fun!”
- “The graphics could use some help, but the story and character development are there.”
- “The graphics are sub-par, but they have a stylized charm to them.”
atmosphere
227 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
42%
3%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive and emotional qualities, enhanced by a captivating soundtrack and stunning visuals. Many players appreciate the game's ability to evoke a range of feelings through its detailed environments and character interactions, creating a nostalgic and contemplative experience. While some feel it doesn't quite match the iconic atmosphere of the original installment, the overall presentation remains a strong point, making it a compelling journey worth experiencing.
- “The atmosphere of this game is unmatched.”
- “The music and voice acting also contribute significantly to the game's atmosphere, making every moment feel genuine and heartfelt.”
- “The atmosphere pulls you in, the soundtrack is on point, and the visuals of forests, country, and cities are absolutely gorgeous.”
- “The atmosphere, characters, and general concepts might be better in your head canon than the way they tell it here.”
- “I'm surprised the devs didn't give us the power, they made us the big brother who has to control a 9/10 year old for most of the game, it made the gameplay just so boring and half of it is just slow boring conversations with your brother or someone else, there is no atmosphere of a party like in Life is Strange 1, no atmosphere of choices that have actual meaning.”
- “Other than that, this game just flat out fails to capture the original atmosphere of the first Life is Strange game.”
character development
209 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
52%
13%
Character development in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising the depth and emotional growth of the main characters, particularly the bond between Sean and Daniel. However, some players expressed frustration over the lack of development for side characters and the episodic structure that limits meaningful interactions. Overall, while the game excels in character design and emotional storytelling, it struggles with consistency and depth in character arcs compared to its predecessor.
- “The storytelling and character development in this game are truly exceptional.”
- “The character development of the brothers is beautiful.”
- “Life is Strange 2's story and character development is some of the best writing I've seen in quite a while.”
- “There's little room for character development, and the lack of closure—outside of random letters and pictures found later in the game—feels frustrating.”
- “From the contrived dialogue to the lackluster character development, this sequel fails to live up to the expectations set by the original.”
- “For a story that is so centered around character development, the incentive to get to know and form valuable connections with the characters is lost due to the nature of being constantly on the run.”
stability
99 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
3%
91%
The game has been widely reported as unstable, with numerous users experiencing a variety of bugs and glitches, including graphical issues, animation errors, and audio overlaps. While some players noted minor glitches that did not significantly detract from their enjoyment, many expressed frustration with the frequency and severity of these technical problems, which often interrupted gameplay and immersion. Overall, the game's stability appears to be a significant concern for many players.
- “No bugs, no glitches.”
- “It runs great, natively, on Linux.”
- “No glitches or problems with it whatsoever.”
- “The game suffers from graphical glitches, animation errors, lip-sync problems, and occasional bugs.”
- “There are a lot of visual glitches and bugs, way more than in the first game, and tons of sound glitches that take you out of the whole experience.”
- “Life is strange 2 is a racist, buggy mess written and produced by hacks who lack the skill to properly shill their backwards ideas.”
replayability
91 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
66%
3%
Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability due to multiple endings and impactful choices that significantly alter the narrative experience. Many players find themselves drawn to replay the game to explore different outcomes, although some express concerns about the game's length and engagement level affecting their desire to replay. Despite mixed opinions on certain titles within the franchise, the general consensus highlights a strong replay value, particularly for those who enjoy story-driven gameplay.
- “The choices you make significantly impact the narrative, leading to multiple different endings, which adds a layer of replayability and keeps you invested in seeing how different decisions play out.”
- “The game's humor, writing, and character design are all top-notch, and the game's replayability ensures that players will keep coming back for more.”
- “You will want to play it again and see how the story unfolds when you choose different paths, which means you get actual replayability on a story-driven game.”
- “It adds a layer of replayability, but I’m not certain since the lack of gameplay and engagement can make you go through the game over and over again.”
- “While better than 'Before the Storm' and a fun enough game to play through, Life is Strange 2 feels hollow as if it is missing something, and because of this, it loses its replayability in my opinion.”
- “After beating the game, all I have to say is: it's boring, uninteresting, and it has zero replayability.”
humor
86 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with players noting both genuinely funny moments and instances of awkward or contrived humor. While some found the comedic elements to be engaging and relatable, others felt that the humor often fell flat or felt out of place, particularly in contrast to the game's more serious themes. Overall, the humor adds a layer of levity to the emotional narrative, though its effectiveness varies among players.
- “The game is packed with hilarious dialogue, pop culture references, and witty one-liners that keep players engaged and entertained.”
- “This game was better than all of my expectations; it had me crying, laughing, in total shock, and so much more!”
- “The story contains a lot of funny moments and many other not-so-funny emotions.”
grinding
64 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
5%
50%
45%
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious and time-consuming, often requiring a significant investment of time to progress. Many reviews highlight the slow pacing and repetitive tasks that detract from the overall enjoyment, with some suggesting that the game feels like a grindfest. While some moments of the story pick up, they are often overshadowed by long stretches of unengaging gameplay.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “A bit grindy sometimes.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding (for all endings).”
- “The game is too slow-paced, too tedious, too long-winded, with not enough happening, and even the story-heavy portions that are happening aren't all that well-written nor interesting.”
- “A lot of the time you spend doing tedious tasks or waiting for events to happen; they could have really condensed the whole thing down into a mini game the size of one episode.”
optimization
61 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
54%
10%
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its smooth performance and good graphics on various systems, while others report significant performance issues, including slow launch times and poor optimization on lower-end rigs. Overall, many users noted that while the game runs well on higher settings, it can struggle on mid-tier systems, leading to a range of experiences from excellent to frustrating.
- “Optimization of the game - 10/10”
- “The game is very optimized and thus has good performance; of course, this also depends on the system that you are playing on.”
- “Performance is excellent; the game runs smooth as silk on max graphics.”
- “This game is so poorly optimized that it can't run the first episode on the lowest settings on my gaming rig.”
- “It is very slow to launch, with barely acceptable performance in some situations.”
- “If you want an example of a poorly optimized game, this is it.”
monetization
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
7%
80%
The monetization strategy of the game has drawn significant criticism, with many players labeling it a "cash grab" due to the requirement to purchase each episode separately. While there are no microtransactions, the presence of product placements and a perceived lack of effort in the game's development have left fans feeling frustrated and disappointed compared to the original title. Overall, the monetization approach has overshadowed the gameplay experience for many reviewers.
- “No microtransactions, thank you!”
- “At least there are no microtransactions.”
- “A separate issue here but each episode is a separate purchase - not sure for the reasoning of this other than more cash grabs as it's not like they are being used to get player feedback before making the next episode.”
- “Just oh my god, I am not a part of a minority, but I am infuriated with how little effort was made to masquerade this cash grab.”
- “If the following episodes get better then I'll amend the review, but when I look up information about episode 2, the forecast only gets worse.... I rank the original Life is Strange as my all-time favorite game, and it's sad to see the second season become a shameless cash grab, and to have a political agenda that it doesn't need.”