Life is Strange: Before the Storm

Life is Strange: Before the Storm is an well-written, well-acted, and moving game that works both as a standalone game and a prequel.

85%Game Brain Score

story, music

stability, grinding

93% User Score Based on 14,754 reviews

Critic Score 77%Based on 19 reviews

Platforms

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Life is Strange: Before the Storm is a single player action adventure game with fantasy, drama, mystery and science fiction themes. It was developed by Deck Nine and was released on August 31, 2017. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

"Life is Strange: Before the Storm" is a narrative-driven adventure game that serves as a prequel to the original "Life is Strange." The game follows Chloe Price, a rebellious teenager, and her complex friendship with Rachel Amber, a popular girl with a hidden life. Through impactful choices and exploration, players will uncover the truth behind Rachel's family and the consequences of Chloe's actions before the events of the first game.

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Play Modes

Single-Player

Life is Strange: Before the Storm screenshot

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93%

Audience ScoreBased on 14,754 reviews

story3.2k positive mentions

stability87 negative mentions

The backtalk mechanic adds a clever twist to conversations, allowing players to engage in verbal confrontations that can be enjoyable.
The emotional depth of the story, particularly the relationship between Chloe and Rachel, is beautifully told and resonates with players, enhancing the overall experience.
The soundtrack, especially the contributions from the band Daughter, effectively complements the game's atmosphere and emotional moments.

The gameplay is criticized for being simplistic and linear, lacking the innovative mechanics that made the original game engaging.
Many players report significant stability issues, including crashes and graphical glitches, which disrupt the overall gameplay experience.
The monetization strategy, including high prices for additional content, is viewed as a cash grab, disappointing fans of the original game.

story
8,258 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
59%
3%
The story of "Life is Strange: Before the Storm" serves as a poignant prequel, exploring the complex relationship between Chloe Price and Rachel Amber, while delving into themes of grief, rebellion, and identity. While some reviewers noted that the narrative lacks the depth and stakes of the original game, many praised its emotional resonance and character development, particularly in how it enriches the backstory of Chloe and her struggles. Overall, the game is seen as a compelling addition to the "Life is Strange" universe, though it may not fully satisfy those seeking the same level of intrigue and supernatural elements found in the first installment.
- “This is a really heart-touching detail the developers have painted into the storyline between the two.”
- “I finally get to understand why Chloe became who she is, how tragic and sad her story is.”
- “Chloe and Rachel’s story feels so human, so fragile, and so beautifully told.”
- “Story-wise, the third episode completely shits the bed and fails to deliver.”
- “The actual main storyline, centered on Rachel, tends to be melodramatic and feels like it lacks real stakes - the classic, and therefore entirely foreseeable, false jeopardy problem: we already know from Life is Strange 1 the fates of both main characters, and even most of the side characters.”
- “The story is completely nonsense from start to finish.”
music
2,388 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
40%
1%
The music in "Life is Strange: Before the Storm" has been widely praised for its emotional depth and ability to enhance the game's atmosphere, with many reviewers highlighting the contributions of the band Daughter, whose tracks resonate deeply with the narrative. Players appreciate how the soundtrack complements key moments, creating a poignant experience that lingers long after gameplay. While some feel the music lacks the diversity of the original game's soundtrack, it still effectively captures the essence of Chloe's character and the overall tone of the story.
- “The music really touched upon each scene.”
- “The music felt pretty much perfect; I've caught myself listening to the majority of the songs from the game in my spare time and even discovered new artists that I still listen to to this day.”
- “The soundtrack, composed by Daughter, fits the game’s melancholic vibe perfectly.”
- “While the soundtrack and environments still carry the vibe, almost everything else is a significant downgrade from the original game.”
- “The remastered version of this game messed up something like the way characters look, and sometimes they removed certain music at the same scene that both games experienced, which again ruins the vibe.”
- “The soundtrack also didn't resonate as closely as the original's soundtrack, which I've played on loop for a week.”
emotional
2,042 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
1%
The emotional aspect of "Life is Strange: Before the Storm" is widely praised, with many players noting its ability to evoke deep feelings through its storytelling, character development, and poignant moments. The relationship between Chloe and Rachel is particularly highlighted as both heartwarming and heartbreaking, enhancing the emotional weight of the narrative, especially for those familiar with the original game. While some reviews mention that it may not reach the same emotional heights as its predecessor, the game still delivers a powerful and immersive experience that resonates with players, often leaving them in tears.
- “This is a really heart-touching detail the developers have painted into the storyline between the two.”
- “The tempest play scene was especially powerful for me: when Rachel deviated from the script, refusing to grant Ariel freedom but instead promising a future together, I felt that old Life is Strange pull of emotional involvement.”
- “Short, bittersweet, but heavy with warmth, it captures Chloe’s sentimentality, her love for her family, and her devotion to Max. The way she arranges 'coincidences' and a sequence of events to spark their childhood memories as a farewell is heartbreaking.”
- “However, most of the game feels like a boring story under the cover of modern family issues related to drugs, friendships, truths, and lies.”
- “Most of the game is sitting and watching an utterly boring story that you just want to skip, and it feels like the game knows how boring it is, dragging every dialogue to the point where I want to scream.”
- “I'd say about 20% playing, 80% watching a boring storyline.”
gameplay
1,600 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
73%
6%
The gameplay in "Life is Strange: Before the Storm" has received mixed reviews, primarily due to the absence of the time-rewind mechanic that defined its predecessor. Instead, the game introduces a "backtalk" mechanic, allowing players to engage in verbal confrontations, which some find enjoyable while others see it as a weak substitute. Overall, the gameplay is described as simplistic and linear, focusing more on narrative and character interactions than on traditional gaming mechanics, leading to a more cinematic experience that may not satisfy those seeking deeper gameplay engagement.
- “The time rewind mechanic was too good; it complemented the dialogue tree sections and puzzle-searching sections in such synchronicity.”
- “The backtalk mechanic is clever and fitting, letting you weaponize her wit to push or provoke your way through problems.”
- “The gameplay is interesting and smooth, with the new 'backtalk' mechanic adding a fresh twist to conversations.”
- “The choices don't matter and there is no central mechanical hook; the arguing mechanic feels forced and awkward, making it hard to take accountability for your choices because the options are super vague.”
- “The gameplay is stripped down compared to the original, lacking the innovative mechanics that made the first game stand out.”
- “The backtalk mechanic is a weak imitation of the time-rewinding mechanic from the original game, making the gameplay feel less engaging and impactful.”
graphics
1,143 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
56%
4%
The graphics in "Life is Strange: Before the Storm" have received mixed feedback from players. While many appreciate the game's unique art style and atmospheric visuals that evoke a painting-like quality, some criticize the graphics for being outdated or experiencing glitches. Overall, the visuals are seen as a step up from the original game, maintaining a charming aesthetic that complements the emotional storytelling, though they may not meet the standards of contemporary high-end graphics.
- “The visuals of this game really run well; it almost feels like you are in a picture or even a painting.”
- “The art style, music, and characters make it so lovable.”
- “The graphics may not be photorealistic, but they have a unique style that fits the mood of the game perfectly.”
- “The graphics are terrible.”
- “The graphics are just as bad as the first game.”
- “The graphics could have been better.”
atmosphere
378 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
52%
47%
1%
The atmosphere of "Life is Strange: Before the Storm" is widely praised for its immersive and emotional qualities, effectively capturing the essence of Arcadia Bay with stunning visuals and a hauntingly beautiful soundtrack. Players appreciate the attention to detail in the environment, character interactions, and the way music enhances the overall experience, creating a nostalgic yet fresh ambiance. While some feel it doesn't quite match the original game's depth, the prequel successfully maintains a captivating atmosphere that resonates with fans of the series.
- “The atmosphere of Arcadia Bay is still incredible, with small details that make it feel alive.”
- “The writing is poetic without feeling too forced, the visuals drip with atmosphere, and the soundtrack — raw, indie, and moody — fits every emotional beat perfectly.”
- “The soundtrack creates an atmosphere and makes you feel that you are a part of this incredible world.”
- “The reason I am giving this game a negative review is that, while it may be a decent enough standalone title, it fails to capture the charm and atmosphere that made me feel so in love with the first one.”
- “The first two episodes might have been beautiful, but the third one is so disappointing it ruins the atmosphere that had been built up until that moment.”
- “It just doesn't grab you in, you don't feel the atmosphere.”
humor
234 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
1%
The humor in "Life is Strange: Before the Storm" is a mixed bag, with many players appreciating Chloe's witty, sarcastic remarks and the game's ability to blend humor with emotional depth. While some moments are genuinely funny and relatable, others come off as cringeworthy or awkward, leading to a rollercoaster of emotions that can shift from laughter to sadness. Overall, the humor is often seen as a highlight, though it can be hit-or-miss depending on the context and execution.
- “It's funny, it's dark, it's sad, it's bittersweet, it's touching.”
- “The backtalk option is hilarious, and even the simple mechanics of how you interact with objects are pretty great.”
- “Chloe's expressions and remarks are incredibly funny; her broken feelings and the way she expresses them give a strong, deep connection with her.”
- “It's like a mixtape of emotions – equal parts funny, heartwarming, and cringey.”
- “Could've been an 8.5, but man, those hand gestures remind me of Ricky Bobby's interview in Talladega Nights, except it's not funny in this game.”
- “Insignificant or contains humorous glitches.”
character development
177 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
57%
5%
Character development in "Life is Strange: Before the Storm" receives mixed reviews, with many praising the depth and emotional resonance of Chloe and Rachel's arcs, while others criticize inconsistencies and rushed narratives. Players appreciate the exploration of Chloe's backstory and relationships, though some feel that the prequel struggles to align with the original game's character growth. Overall, the game is noted for its strong character moments and impactful storytelling, despite some flaws in execution.
- “One of the best games I have played... excellent story, character development, and you won't want the story to end.”
- “Before the storm really brings the emotional impact and character development a prequel should.”
- “The character development and backstory of Chloe are beautiful and add to the depth and wonder of the Life is Strange universe.”
- “With its lackluster writing, shallow character development, and uninspired gameplay, this prequel fails to recapture the magic of its predecessor.”
- “Some of the character development feels out of tune with what we see in the original Life is Strange.”
- “The story is very uneventful; it mostly just ends up being a miserable attempt at character development.”
optimization
121 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
48%
12%
Overall, the game's optimization received mixed reviews. While many players reported smooth performance on modern PCs and praised the improvements over the original, others experienced significant issues such as stuttering, crashes, and poor scaling on certain devices. The transition to a new engine has led to both enhanced visuals and some performance drawbacks, particularly for lower-end hardware.
- “The game runs smoothly on most modern PCs.”
- “Overall, Life is Strange is an impressive performance from a new developer, and a cut above what fans should have reasonably expected.”
- “The game is very well optimized and will run well on a number of systems with different hardware specifications.”
- “The only issues I have are the very occasional small visual errors, that some scenes should be longer, the fact the end specifically comes at you super fast and feels a little anticlimactic, and the fact that your choices and performance at certain sections really don't matter.”
- “Using Unity rather than Unreal Engine is the only pity, which restricts the performance of most exquisite frame.”
- “Optimization is abysmal.”
stability
101 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
4%
86%
The game's stability has been widely criticized, with many users reporting frequent crashes, freezes, and various graphical glitches that significantly disrupt gameplay. While some players experienced minor issues, the overall consensus indicates that the game is plagued by bugs, particularly during key scenes, making it frustrating for many. Despite these problems, a few users noted that the game runs smoothly on certain hardware configurations, suggesting that performance may vary depending on the system.
- “Runs great on Linux.”
- “Performance-wise, the game runs great the majority of the time.”
- “What's important is the game runs fine and is bug-free, which, from my experience, it does.”
- “This version on Steam is insanely buggy and will absolutely crash for most people constantly.”
- “The game was also buggy, crashing at certain scenes to the point of making playing impossible.”
- “I like the game itself, but the frequent graphical glitches make it unplayable; despite finding threads from years ago, the developers still have not fixed the bugs.”
replayability
69 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
59%
6%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players noting limited replay value due to a lack of significant changes in outcomes, while others appreciate the impact of choices and multiple endings that encourage exploration of different storylines. Collectibles and the emotional depth of the narrative add some incentive for a second playthrough, but many feel that the absence of a rewind mechanic diminishes the overall replayability. Overall, while there are elements that can enhance replay value, it may not be enough to sustain long-term interest for all players.
- “The choices you make significantly impact the story, offering a lot of replayability as you explore different outcomes.”
- “The game's multiple endings also add to its replayability.”
- “Despite being a story-driven game, Before the Storm has a lot of replay value (even more than the first game), since the decisions you make are substantially more weighty due to the lack of the rewind power.”
- “Overall, I think the game is worth playing but doesn't hold a lot of replay value.”
- “You might want to wait for a discount though, as the game is kind of short (for me about 10 hours with a fair bit of exploration), and replayability is obviously lacking.”
- “No twists with the time-rewinding, etc. I do also think that the game has very little replayability; I could probably revisit the first Life is Strange, but in this one, it just doesn't have a compelling enough story or turn of events to encourage you to play again any time in the future.”
grinding
47 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
43%
51%
The grinding aspect of the game has been widely criticized for being excessively tedious and time-consuming, with many players feeling that it detracts from the overall enjoyment. Tasks often feel like filler, lacking meaningful engagement, and the backtalk mechanic is seen as a poor substitute for more dynamic gameplay elements. Overall, players express a strong desire for a more streamlined experience, as the current grinding can make the game feel frustrating and drawn-out.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “A bit grindy sometimes.”
- “Medium level of grinding.”
- “It seems like finding the balance between tedious and child's play got a little lost.”
- “This makes the game feel extraordinarily tedious and takes all the joy out of interacting with the environment or fully exploring the dialogue options.”
- “I liked the first 'Life is Strange', but this prequel is terribly tedious.”
monetization
39 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
5%
87%
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many users labeling it a "cash grab" due to high prices for additional content, such as bonus episodes and outfit packs, which they feel should have been included in the base game. While some appreciate the effort put into the game's development and story, the overall sentiment leans towards disappointment regarding the perceived exploitation of the original game's popularity for profit. Despite these criticisms, a few users noted that the game still offers enjoyable experiences, albeit with a lingering sense of nostalgia-driven monetization.
- “In today's market filled with microtransactions and special edition bonuses limited to an item, it's so good to see that something good can come out of a deluxe edition.”
- “No microtransactions, thank you!”
- “A personal request to the developers is to avoid the modern business models of microtransactions and gimmicks like buying extra outfits, which the deluxe edition also includes. This feels like a step in this direction. Don't go any further.”
- “Even on sale, the price tag wasn't great, and with the 'bonus episode' that costs as much as the game, it feels cash grabby.”
- “If you loved or liked the first game (and/or Life is Strange 2), do yourself a favor and stay away from this hideous attempt at monetization by Square Enix, which reads like AAA fan-fiction.”
- “This episode is 100% needed to complete Life is Strange: Before the Storm and should be a part of the game and not some stupid 'deluxe' upgrade that is 100% unnecessary from the publisher and just a cash grab.”

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77%Critics’ scoreBased on 19 critic reviews

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10h Median play time

11h Average play time

10h Main story

13h Completionist

8-14h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 37 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Life is Strange: Before the Storm is a action adventure game with fantasy, drama, mystery and science fiction themes.

Life is Strange: Before the Storm is available on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, iPhone and others.

The main story can be completed in around 10 hours, while the entire game is estimated to take about 13 hours to finish. On average players spend around 11 hours playing Life is Strange: Before the Storm.

Life is Strange: Before the Storm was released on August 31, 2017.

Life is Strange: Before the Storm was developed by Deck Nine.

Life is Strange: Before the Storm has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its stability.

Life is Strange: Before the Storm is a single player game.

Similar games include Life is Strange, Life is Strange 2, Life is Strange: True Colors, Life is Strange: Double Exposure, The Walking Dead: Season Two and others.

Life is Strange: Before the Storm

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