Life is Strange: Double Exposure

68%
Game Brain Score Based on 3,320 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • music
Life is Strange: Double Exposure Game Cover
Life Is Strange: Double Exposure is a triumphant return for a matured Max Caulfield, a character-driven paranormal mystery that old fans and newcomers should embrace.
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"Life is Strange: Double Exposure" is an upcoming supernatural murder mystery game where players can pre-purchase the Ultimate Edition to access the first two chapters early and with no playtime limits. The Deluxe Edition includes two additional outfit packs for the protagonist, Max. The Spooky Outfit Pack allows players to embrace their ghost-hunting and monster-wrangling passions, perfect for Halloween or any time of the year. Saves automatically carry over to the full game.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Cloud
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
  • Xbox Game Pass
  • x_box_cloud_gaming
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

68%
Audience ScoreBased on 3,320 reviews
story757 positive mentions
optimization62 negative mentions
  • Stunning graphics and character animations that enhance the emotional experience.
  • Engaging soundtrack that complements the atmosphere and storytelling.
  • Interesting new powers for Max that add a fresh twist to the gameplay.
  • Weak and rushed ending that leaves many plot points unresolved.
  • Lack of meaningful choices that impact the story or character relationships.
  • Underdeveloped characters that fail to evoke emotional connections, especially compared to previous entries in the series.
  • story2,925 mentions

    The story of "Life is Strange: Double Exposure" has received mixed reviews, with many players praising its emotional depth and character development, particularly in the first three chapters. However, criticism arises in the later chapters, where the narrative becomes convoluted, with numerous plot holes and a lack of resolution for key storylines, leading to a sense of disappointment. While some players appreciate the return of Max Caulfield and the exploration of new themes, others feel that the story fails to capture the same impact and coherence as the original game, often feeling like a setup for future installments rather than a complete narrative.

    • “Living through her pain and growth made the story hit so much harder.”
    • “The first part is hard to top – the story, the atmosphere, the characters, and the superpower were all so well-crafted there.”
    • “The story completely captivated me.”
    • “The backstory is minimal, mostly pieced together from phone messages and posts.”
    • “Besides the weak backstory, there are numerous plot holes.”
    • “The story feels awkward and hard to follow.”
  • graphics670 mentions

    The graphics in "Life is Strange: Double Exposure" have received mixed reviews, with many praising the stunning visuals, improved facial animations, and overall artistic design that enhances the game's emotional depth. However, numerous players have reported significant performance issues, including graphical glitches, blurriness, and optimization problems, particularly on lower-end systems. While the game showcases impressive graphics, some feel that the focus on visuals detracts from the storytelling and gameplay experience.

    • “The graphics are an absolute standout; they've improved so much from the previous titles. The music is amazing, the facial animations were awesome and really added to the storytelling, and even got a couple of laughs out of me.”
    • “The graphics are beautiful, the storyline is so gripping, and the new powers added to Max are genius because it shows a link from Life is Strange 1.”
    • “The graphics are stunning, each scene beautifully capturing the emotions and nuances of the story, and this attention to detail really brings the game to another level.”
    • “The graphics are a blurry mess, especially when playing in 4k.”
    • “Unplayable due to poor graphics, even on the lowest quality setting.”
    • “The graphics are terrible quality, the game lags immensely, and there is a common problem with infinite loading screens.”
  • music568 mentions

    The music in "Life is Strange: Double Exposure" has received mixed reviews, with many praising its atmospheric quality and emotional resonance, consistent with the series' tradition. While some players found the soundtrack beautiful and fitting, others felt it lacked the memorable impact of previous titles, describing it as less diverse and sometimes too mellow. Overall, the soundtrack remains a highlight for many, enhancing the game's visuals and storytelling, despite some criticisms regarding audio mixing and the absence of iconic tracks from earlier games.

    • “The environmental design and soundtrack enhanced the emotional depth of the story, immersing me in its world.”
    • “The music feels carefully curated and timely, helping to connect the player with the world even when the story struggles to do so.”
    • “The soundtrack is kickass as usual, they haven't missed once with soundtracks and double exposure is undoubtedly a contender for best in the franchise.”
    • “The only thing I'm not fond of is that the soundtracks are not as diversified as in the first game.”
    • “The music isn't as good and very forgettable.”
    • “The soundtrack may be the strongest part of this game and possibly my favorite from the series.”
  • gameplay409 mentions

    The gameplay in "Life is Strange: Double Exposure" has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the new timeline-shifting mechanic but criticizing its execution and depth. While some found the puzzles engaging and the mechanics innovative, others felt the gameplay was repetitive, linear, and lacking in meaningful choices, leading to a less immersive experience compared to previous entries in the series. Overall, the game is seen as visually appealing with a strong narrative, but the gameplay often feels underdeveloped and constrained.

    • “The gameplay feels solid and familiar, and if you enjoyed the unique storytelling and emotional depth of the first game, this one will hit you right in the feels.”
    • “The new gameplay mechanics are very interesting and fun to play around with.”
    • “The gameplay kept me hooked, with moments that had me on the edge of my seat and others that made me smile and laugh.”
    • “The gameplay is rather handholdy and the powers aren't fully explored, but I still think it's worth playing for any fans of the series.”
    • “The gameplay feels rushed and not in tune with the original story either.”
    • “The gameplay quickly gets boring because of the new Max’s power (as it requires a lot of pointless running back and forth).”
  • emotional301 mentions

    The emotional aspect of "Life is Strange: Double Exposure" has received mixed reviews, with many players noting a significant drop in emotional depth compared to previous entries in the series. While some moments resonate and evoke nostalgia, the overall narrative struggles to create meaningful connections with characters, leading to a lack of impactful emotional stakes. Critics highlight that the game often feels rushed and fails to deliver the heartfelt storytelling that fans have come to expect, resulting in a less engaging emotional experience.

    • “Their stories were beautifully written and so heartfelt.”
    • “This game packs emotional punches and I was both yelling and guffawing at my screen - both positive things.”
    • “Life is strange: double exposure is a truly lovely, emotional, and beautiful game.”
    • “This game is not even comparable to the previous games of Life is Strange; it has a boring storyline, and Denuvo is ruining the performance.”
    • “Boring, repetitive with a boring story.”
    • “Life is Strange 2 had plenty to love but was ultimately a deeply boring story, with boring characters, a boring power, and very poorly written all around.”
  • optimization246 mentions

    The optimization of "Life is Strange: Double Exposure" has received widespread criticism, with many players reporting significant performance issues, including low frame rates, stuttering, and graphical glitches, even on high-end systems. While some users noted that the game looks visually stunning, the lack of proper optimization tools, such as DLSS or frame generation, has left many feeling frustrated and unable to enjoy the experience fully. Overall, the game's technical state is seen as a major drawback, leading to recommendations for potential players to wait for patches before purchasing.

    • “Despite some optimization issues that did bother me at times, Life is Strange: Double Exposure delivers a compelling experience filled with beautiful twists and a return to the classic gameplay style we love.”
    • “The game is also pretty well optimized on PC, and runs very well even on higher settings on something like a base 2080.”
    • “The graphics are gorgeous, especially for the Life is Strange series, and despite some of the characters/love interests being thrown at you, their personalities and performances are memorable.”
    • “The game is so poorly optimized that it heavily detracts from the actual beauty of the game.”
    • “The performance should have been handled better and I'm disappointed with how games are coming out nowadays with it being badly optimized.”
    • “Absolute terrible performance even in the lower settings despite not even looking good to the point it totally detracts from the game itself.”
  • stability115 mentions

    The game's stability has been widely criticized, with numerous players reporting a plethora of bugs and glitches, particularly in the later chapters, including visual issues, crashes, and performance problems. While some users experienced minimal issues, many found the game to be poorly optimized and frustratingly unstable, leading to a recommendation to wait for patches before purchasing. Overall, the consensus is that the game is a "buggy mess," detracting significantly from the overall experience.

    • “The game itself looks great and, apart from minor issues, runs smoothly. It has an intriguing story, although some parts feel a bit forced and out of the player's control. Still, it manages to maintain a great experience throughout.”
    • “Early access is not as buggy as I thought it would be; the graphics are good, and the game is pretty stable otherwise.”
    • “The entire game is buggy as hell and by the last couple of chapters, everything feels rushed at best, lazy and disappointing at worst.”
    • “Crashes and freezes frequently, to the point where it's unplayable.”
    • “This game is nothing more than a mess of bugs, glitches, and game-breaking issues.”
  • atmosphere103 mentions

    The atmosphere in "Life is Strange: Double Exposure" is widely praised for its immersive quality, combining beautiful graphics, a hauntingly effective soundtrack, and a cozy yet emotionally charged setting. Many reviewers note that the game successfully captures the essence of previous installments, evoking nostalgia while introducing new characters and environments that enhance the overall experience. However, some critics feel that it doesn't fully reach the emotional depth or complexity of earlier titles, despite maintaining a strong atmospheric presence throughout.

    • “The music selection got under my skin and supports the dense atmosphere of the game.”
    • “The atmosphere was great, Max and her friends were great, and every chapter's ending made me excited for what was coming.”
    • “The graphics and atmosphere are stunning, capturing the essence of the original perfectly.”
    • “The music carries a lot, but the scenes are missing all atmosphere.”
    • “This shift toward a 'superpower' spectacle dilutes the introspective, grounded atmosphere that initially defined the series.”
    • “Completely lacks the atmosphere that made former Life is Strange games.”
  • monetization87 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game has been widely criticized as a blatant cash grab, with many reviewers feeling that it exploits nostalgia for the original series without delivering a meaningful experience. Players express disappointment over the high price points for standard and deluxe editions, as well as the inclusion of DLCs that lock achievements, leading to a perception of greed from the developers. Overall, the consensus is that the game prioritizes profit over quality storytelling, leaving fans feeling disillusioned.

    • “Not worth the money, absolute cash grab.”
    • “This game was just a nostalgic cash grab with questionable writing decisions filled with plot holes and multiple game editions going up to $80.”
    • “Ultimately, I can only condemn double exposure as an unfinished, soulless cash grab that relies on the Life is Strange brand without respecting its legacy.”
  • humor70 mentions

    The humor in "Life is Strange: Double Exposure" is a notable highlight, with many players appreciating the witty dialogue, quirky character interactions, and Max's signature awkwardness. While some found the humor to be a refreshing return to form, others felt it occasionally fell flat or became overly reliant on modern tropes. Overall, the game balances funny moments with character depth, though some players noted that the emotional weight of previous titles was lacking.

    • “There is something to discover at every corner, including the sometimes really funny messages in Max's cell phone, which flesh out the characters even better.”
    • “Max feels just like her old, awkwardly funny self but more mature; the characters are intriguing, the story is compelling, and it's visually stunning.”
    • “The writing was consistently charming and often even funny (difficult for video games to be), and I loved most of the characters.”
  • character development57 mentions

    Character development in this game has been widely criticized, with many reviewers noting a significant lack of depth and connection among characters, particularly compared to previous installments in the series. While some characters, like Moses and Gwen, received praise for their development, others, including Max and Safi, felt flat and poorly executed, leading to a disjointed narrative experience. Overall, the game fails to deliver the emotional depth and impactful choices that fans have come to expect, resulting in a disappointing portrayal of character growth.

    • “Character development regarding our favorite snoopy nerd is very well made and there is obvious care and love for the character.”
    • “Yeah, we don't have the characters from the other parts, but it's been 10 years for Max! She's moved on and that's great to see the character development here.”
    • “I really enjoyed playing as Max again, it was nice to see her character development.”
    • “The story is so rushed and there is no character development towards Max. The characters are flat and easily replaceable.”
    • “Despite its strengths, Double Exposure suffers from some familiar pitfalls seen in previous Deck9 titles, including issues with character development, pacing, and the limited impact of player choices.”
    • “There’s no meaningful character development; the game feels empty and rushed, almost as if Max was added last-minute to lure fans and boost sales.”
  • grinding30 mentions

    Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and often frustrating, with many sections feeling unnecessarily prolonged and repetitive. The mechanics, while occasionally interesting, are frequently described as lacking the engaging quality of previous titles, leading to a sense of boredom and a lack of enthusiasm for replaying. Many reviewers express that the game feels padded with unnecessary tasks, making the experience feel like a slog at times.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “And yeah, let's not forget the very, and I mean very, confusing achievement grinding which was compared to the other games 2x harder and very confusing.”
    • “I truly loved Life is Strange 1 and 2, and even enjoyed Before the Storm and True Colors, but Double Exposure receives the worst indictment I can give of any game: I found it tedious and boring, and couldn't make it through chapter 3.”
    • “Surprisingly good story, but still suffers from the tedious gameplay mechanics that can make this game feel like a slog at times.”
  • replayability14 mentions

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating the optional content and different outcomes that encourage multiple playthroughs, while others criticize the predictable story and lack of significant differences between choices, leading to a consensus of low replay value compared to earlier titles in the series. Overall, while some find it engaging enough to explore thoroughly, many reviewers agree that it does not offer the same level of replayability as its predecessors.

    • “Replayability—people on Steam reviews would have you unfairly believe this is a '5 hour game.' That is not true; the game will let you finish fast if you want to, but there is tons of optional content (journal entries, text messages, social media posts, optional conversations, and observations in every single room). Not to mention, you get a strong urge to replay the game to test different outcomes.”
    • “For once, a Life is Strange game actually had more gameplay and replayability in its achievement hunting.”
    • “I feel like it is giving me more replayability than True Colors, yet it costs less.”
    • “The game's story is very predictable, has so many loose ends, no replay value, and has countless optimization issues.”
    • “There's no replay value, unlike the previous titles.”
    • “Replayable: 2/10, since there is no real difference between choices and... yeah it really didn't hook me like the best and first game.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

74% average critic score

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Play time

12hMedian play time
12hAverage play time
10-17hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 16 analyzed playthroughs

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