Life is Strange: True Colors

Life is Strange: True Colors features a strong cast with even stronger performances. Taking around ten hours to complete, the story starts off strong but loses its balance before regaining stability towards the end of the game. Playing as Alex Chen, the story about loss and empathy is great and while there are some inconsistencies around the narrative, for the most part, the twists and turns work. Learning what led to the death of her brother Gabe comes with the cost of some heavy discoveries and playing as Alex, you’ll need to make some important choices — ones that felt like they made a difference. However, technical mishaps and frame rate issues hinder the experience.

89%Game Brain Score

story, music

grinding, stability

91% User Score Based on 12,913 reviews

Critic Score 82%Based on 2 reviews

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About

Life is Strange: True Colors is a single player action adventure game with fantasy, romance, drama, mystery and others themes. It was developed by Deck Nine and was released on September 9, 2021. It received positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

Buy Life Is Strange: True Colors on PlayStation Store. Embark on an emotional, narrative-led adventure where a unique power is the key to solving a thrilling mystery.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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91%

Audience ScoreBased on 12,913 reviews

story3.7k positive mentions

grinding24 negative mentions

story
9,435 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
58%
3%
The story of "Life is Strange: True Colors" follows Alex Chen, a young woman with the ability to sense and manipulate emotions, as she navigates themes of grief, friendship, and self-acceptance in the small town of Haven Springs after the mysterious death of her brother. While many players appreciate the emotional depth and character development, some criticize the story for being predictable, short, and lacking the impactful choices that defined earlier entries in the series. Overall, the narrative is engaging and heartfelt, though opinions vary on its execution compared to previous titles.
- “Set in the picturesque town of Haven Springs, the story delves into themes of grief, friendship, and self-acceptance as Alex seeks to uncover the truth behind her brother's mysterious death.”
- “Each decision, though subtle, ripples through the story like a pebble cast into a still pond.”
- “The story is well-paced and well-written with all its plot twists, conspiracies, and theories, making it a well-written story and the characters such as Alex, Steph, and Ryan made me feel connected to them and made me feel sorry for the choices I made.”
- “The story is very bland and uninspiring.”
- “The trailer itself already spoils for you what the story is about - it's a predictable murder mystery plot where Alex is investigating the death of her brother, so therefore, when you meet him, you have no reason to get invested into him as a character because you know that he's gonna die.”
- “The story feels somewhat underwhelming though.”
music
2,568 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
55%
44%
1%
The music in "Life is Strange: True Colors" has been widely praised for its emotional depth and ability to enhance the game's atmosphere, featuring a mix of original compositions and licensed tracks that resonate with players. Many reviewers noted the soundtrack's effectiveness in evoking feelings during key moments, with standout contributions from artists like mxmtoon and Angus & Julia Stone. However, some players felt that the music was less memorable compared to previous entries in the series, with occasional criticisms about its placement and integration into the gameplay. Overall, the soundtrack remains a highlight, contributing significantly to the game's immersive experience.
- “Visually, the game is stunning, with vibrant graphics and a fantastic soundtrack that enhances the atmosphere.”
- “The soundtrack, a mix of original compositions and licensed tracks, perfectly complements the game's mood and themes.”
- “The music, oh the music!”
- “Many times music didn't fade, it just came to a halt.”
- “Even the soundtrack which Life is Strange is known for fell flat for me this game.”
- “Things aren't as fleshed out, just out of what I've played the world feels very small, there's not much to look at, and it lacks much music.”
graphics
2,143 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
39%
1%
The graphics in "Life is Strange: True Colors" have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visuals and vibrant art style, marking a significant improvement over previous entries in the series. Players have praised the detailed character models, expressive animations, and the overall aesthetic of the game, which effectively enhances the emotional storytelling. However, some users reported technical issues such as flickering and frame drops, which detracted from the otherwise immersive experience.
- “Visually, the game is stunning, with vibrant graphics and a fantastic soundtrack that enhances the atmosphere.”
- “The graphics were gorgeous, the story was heartfelt and fun while also maintaining that intrigue and drama that made me fall in love with the original.”
- “The graphics and facial animation were top notch and with ray tracing on some scenes looked downright gorgeous.”
- “This game had more technical issues (crashing, graphical issues, weird flickering, frame drops) than it definitely should have.”
- “What is annoying, however, is a graphics bug that could not be fixed despite all the tips and tricks from the forums: despite otherwise fluid and smooth animation, there is often a streaky flickering that has no connection with the depth of detail or speed of movement.”
- “You're paying $60 for visuals only, not gameplay.”
emotional
2,068 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of "Life is Strange: True Colors" is widely praised for its well-developed characters and impactful storytelling, often leading players to tears. Many reviewers noted the game's ability to evoke a range of emotions, from joy to heartbreak, through relatable themes of grief, trauma, and empathy. However, some felt it lacked the intense emotional highs of previous entries in the series, suggesting that while it offers a touching experience, it may not reach the same depths as its predecessors.
- “The emotional highs are intense, and there are moments that genuinely tug at your heartstrings.”
- “A good emotional story led by fantastically written characters, and a flawed but lovable protagonist who, in my opinion, is very relatable.”
- “This game was an emotional rollercoaster on so many different levels.”
- “This game suffers from a horrendously boring story; there were very few moments that kept me invested and motivated me to keep playing, and you just don’t feel as strongly towards the characters that you did in the previous games.”
- “I mean, you can definitely buy it just to try it out, but don't get your hopes up for this game... for a fan of the original 'Life is Strange' series, it won't be as good as it might seem at first glance. For such a price and with such a boring story, I definitely do not recommend it.”
- “Boring story plot.”
gameplay
1,172 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
74%
3%
The gameplay in "Life is Strange: True Colors" retains the series' hallmark choice-based mechanics, allowing players to shape the narrative through decisions, but many feel these choices lack the depth and impact seen in previous titles. While the introduction of Alex's empathic powers adds a unique layer to interactions, the overall gameplay is often described as simplistic and linear, resembling more of an interactive story than a traditional game. Players have noted that the game is visually stunning and emotionally engaging, but the relatively short playtime and high price point have led to mixed feelings about its value.
- “Gameplay features the series’ signature choice-based mechanics, allowing players to shape the story through meaningful decisions.”
- “Alex's empathic abilities are central to the gameplay, allowing players to delve into the emotional landscapes of the characters she encounters.”
- “The gameplay is fun, especially in episode 3.”
- “Thing is, this doesn't actually do anything as far as gameplay goes.”
- “$80 + tax for ~10 hours of gameplay (not including the bonus episode) is not worth it.”
- “You as a player had no control on when and on who to use your power, so it felt pointless to have it as a gameplay mechanic.”
atmosphere
371 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
41%
2%
The atmosphere in "Life is Strange: True Colors" is widely praised for its stunning visuals, immersive sound design, and emotional depth, creating a cozy and engaging experience reminiscent of the original game. Players appreciate the game's ability to evoke strong feelings through its music and character interactions, although some note that the plot could be more complex. Overall, the atmosphere is described as beautiful, serene, and a significant highlight of the game, making it a must-play for fans of narrative-driven experiences.
- “The atmosphere, music, graphics, acting is amazing, probably best in the series.”
- “The atmosphere of haven springs is absolutely astonishing, the characters are complex with layers to peel like an onion, and the story is infused with heartfelt moments, intense lessons, and profound themes that make this game so beautiful.”
- “The stunning visuals and atmospheric soundtrack further enhance the immersive experience, making Life is Strange: True Colors a must-play for fans of narrative-driven games and anyone looking for a deeply engaging and thought-provoking adventure.”
- “The characters were sweet but super bland, the scenery was gorgeous but felt very limited, and all of that can be applied towards the plot and general atmosphere.”
- “It can barely even match the atmospheres the previous titles had.”
- “No music (which is huge in lis's used elements to build atmosphere and make players feel emotional), no sneaks on crying and desperate people (alex's whole power is feeling emotions and she basically explodes with how overwhelming they feel more than once, where is it now?), literally nothing.”
humor
197 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
98%
2%
The humor in "Life is Strange: True Colors" is widely praised for its balance of lighthearted moments and emotional depth, with players enjoying witty dialogues and funny character interactions that enhance the overall experience. Many highlighted specific scenes, such as the live-action roleplay segment, as particularly amusing, while the main character, Alex, is noted for her relatable humor and emotional insights. Overall, the game successfully combines humor with poignant storytelling, making it an engaging and memorable experience.
- “My favorite chapter was definitely chapter 3 because it had a live action roleplay (larp) and the way they did it was so funny and very interactive as well!”
- “The writing for the dialogue was good too between characters, especially with Gabe since he can be quite witty and funny.”
- “The characters have depth and humor which personally feels so much better.”
- “It should be translated into 'drag one's testis' if you want to add authentic vulgar jokes (not funny).”
- “It had a perfect combo of everything I needed in a game to have a great time - a combo of cringey but funny dialogues and monologues, distinct characters, captivating mystery, sad revelations, and decisions that made you think over them for a long time (even when they didn't mean much in retrospect, it really didn't bother me at all).”
character development
173 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
53%
2%
Character development in "Life is Strange: True Colors" is widely praised, with many reviewers highlighting its emotional depth and the strong growth of the protagonist, Alex, as well as other characters. While some felt that the pacing and overall character arcs could have been improved, the game is noted for its engaging storytelling, well-designed characters, and the ability to evoke genuine emotional responses. Overall, it stands out in the series for its character-driven narrative, despite some criticisms regarding rushed development and pacing issues.
- “While some gameplay elements may feel familiar to fans of the series, the game's emotional depth and strong character development make it a standout title in the genre.”
- “This game brings some of the strongest character development in the series and is very effective at getting you invested in the characters right from chapter 1.”
- “Life is Strange: True Colors effectively leads you through an emotionally impactful story with strong character development through the power of empathy.”
- “It seems like there is less character development game-wide.”
- “There just didn't seem to be enough character development.”
- “The story felt a little bit rushed at times because a lot of relationship-building and character development seemed to have happened offscreen.”
optimization
147 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
50%
8%
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing significant performance issues such as stuttering, crashes, and frame rate drops, particularly when using high settings or advanced features like ray tracing. While many praised the stunning visuals and improved facial animations that enhance the overall experience, others noted that the game demands a powerful PC to run smoothly, leading to frustration for those with mid-range hardware. Overall, while the game is visually impressive, its optimization leaves room for improvement, especially for players expecting a seamless experience on various setups.
- “The game just looks gorgeous and is well optimized.”
- “The facial animations are the biggest improvement and, when mixed with the phenomenal voice acting performance from all the cast, it makes such a massive difference to help feel the emotions to an even greater degree.”
- “Game performance is great, the world is beautiful with RTX shadows and reflections, and I haven't run into any major bugs.”
- “Very poorly optimized.”
- “Has a lot of performance issues making gameplay as fluid as rocks.”
- “While I had performance issues on my PC that I was unable to resolve (very jerky frames and texture popping, despite having well above the required specs), I still really enjoyed the experience overall.”
replayability
137 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
70%
7%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players praising its multiple endings and significant choices that can lead to different outcomes, while others criticize it for limited variation and a lack of impactful decisions. Many reviews highlight that while there are elements that encourage replay, such as collectibles and achievements, the overall experience may not warrant multiple playthroughs due to its short length and predictable narrative. Overall, it seems that while some find replay value in exploring different choices, others feel the game lacks the depth needed for extensive replayability.
- “The choices players make have significant consequences, adding a layer of replayability as different decisions lead to different outcomes.”
- “Loads of surprises and loads of choices make this game replayable a couple of more times.”
- “The replayability is certainly there and I will be playing it multiple times to see how the other options affect the game.”
- “I got 4 of the six main endings and there isn't a lot of variation there, plus the lack of an ability to skip or fast forward hampers replayability.”
- “My hours played at the time of writing this review is the length of the game; there was an episode in amongst it where I struggled to stay awake and this game has zero replayability factor as it's predictable, uninspired and you're not left wanting to go back and make different choices just to see what happens.”
- “Word of warning though, the game is very short compared to previous titles and player choice has very little to no impact on the end of the game, which removes replayability.”
grinding
86 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
69%
28%
The grinding aspect of the game has been widely criticized, with many players feeling that it requires an excessive time commitment, often describing the experience as tedious and monotonous. Reviewers noted that the gameplay is filled with busywork, including repetitive puzzles and lengthy dialogue that detracts from the overall enjoyment. Overall, the consensus is that the game feels artificially prolonged, making it less appealing for those who prefer a more engaging and streamlined experience.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “A bit grindy sometimes.”
- “One long, tedious grind.”
- “The game tries to pass off tedious puzzles and quick-time events as gameplay, but it just feels like busywork.”
- “I really wanted to love this game, but there are just so many glaring problems with it that the process of playing it was tedious and disappointing at every turn.”
- “By this, I mean that the game felt artificially dragged out by some parts that were frankly quite tedious, but the actual story itself felt shorter because it didn’t occupy all the game.”
stability
76 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
2%
87%
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting various visual glitches, such as flickering textures and character model issues, that can detract from the experience. While some users experienced crashes and significant bugs, others noted that the game ran smoothly without major issues. Overall, while the game features impressive visuals and storytelling, it suffers from a range of minor to moderate stability problems that may require patches for a more polished experience.
- “From a technical standpoint, the game runs great.”
- “The story's good, graphics good, no glitches, a touching story where choices actually matter.”
- “Runs great but loads slow.”
- “There is currently a known bug that still hasn't been fixed after the months since its release where if you quit the DLC by any means, either pause > quit game or if your game freezes and closes, which apparently is fairly common in the DLC from what I've seen online, you lose your save file.”
- “The game glitches as soon as the main menu loads in and continues through the entire time I play it.”
- “Too many graphic glitches (auras would appear as solid squares, a lot of flickering, characters popping in/out, and an awful lot of t-posing), all stuff that can be fixed but really took you out of the story and I'd expect it to be more polished at this price point.”
monetization
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of the game has been widely criticized, with many reviewers labeling it a "cash grab" due to its heavy reliance on advertisements and DLC shortly after release. Players feel that the game prioritizes licensed music and promotional content over quality gameplay, leading to a disappointing experience that detracts from the engaging narrative and character development. Overall, the monetization strategy has left a negative impression, overshadowing the game's positive elements.
- “Definitely not worth the price and feels like a cash grab.”
- “This is a game that spent more on licensed music and advertising than quality control and game testing.”
- “All of this is obviously my opinion but I'm calling out the corporate cash grab, which is ironic because the game is literally about a corrupt company.”

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82%Critics’ scoreBased on 2 critic reviews

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12h Median play time

12h Average play time

10h Main story

13h Completionist

8-14h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 158 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Life is Strange: True Colors is a action adventure game with fantasy, romance, drama, mystery and others themes.

Life is Strange: True Colors is available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5 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 12 hours playing Life is Strange: True Colors.

Life is Strange: True Colors was released on September 9, 2021.

Life is Strange: True Colors was developed by Deck Nine.

Life is Strange: True Colors has received positive reviews from players and positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its grinding.

Life is Strange: True Colors is a single player game.

Similar games include Life is Strange: Before the Storm, Life is Strange 2, Life is Strange, Life is Strange: Double Exposure, Tell Me Why and others.

Life is Strange: True Colors

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