Life is Strange: True Colors

In conclusion, if you want a game that will shake up your emotions in ways you didn’t know you needed your emotions shaken, Life Is Strange: True Colors is a must-play.

87%Game Brain Score

story, music

grinding, stability

91% User Score Based on 17,197 reviews

Critic Score 82%Based on 80 reviews

Platforms

Buy Nowfrom $12.83

Buy NowGet on Steam€59.99

Buy NowGet on Xbox Games Store

Buy NowGet on PS Store$17.99

About

In Life is Strange: True Colors, a Deluxe/Ultimate edition game, players uncover the truth about a small town tragedy as Alex Chen, a young woman with the ability to experience others' emotions. The edition includes an exclusive bonus story, "Wavelengths," and an outfit pack inspired by past protagonists. The Ultimate edition also features remastered versions of Life is Strange and Life is Strange: Before the Storm. Critics praise the game for its engaging storyline and deep character development.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

91%

Audience ScoreBased on 17,277 reviews

story5k positive mentions

grinding39 negative mentions

Emotionally resonant story with relatable characters.
Beautiful graphics and art direction that enhance the experience.
Engaging gameplay that allows for meaningful choices, despite some limitations.

The story feels predictable and lacks the depth of previous entries.
Many choices do not significantly impact the overall outcome.
The game is relatively short for its price, leading to a feeling of underwhelming value.

story
12,619 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
57%
3%
The story of "Life is Strange: True Colors" follows Alex Chen, a young woman with the power of empathy, as she navigates the emotional landscape of her brother's mysterious death in the small town of Haven Springs. While many players appreciate the game's emotional depth and character development, some criticize its predictability, pacing issues, and the limited impact of player choices on the overall narrative. Overall, the game is praised for its beautiful visuals, engaging soundtrack, and heartfelt storytelling, though it is often viewed as less impactful than its predecessors in the series.
- “This installment follows the story of Alex Chen, a young woman with the power of empathy, the unique ability to experience and manipulate the emotions of others and read minds, as she unravels the mystery surrounding her brother's death in the quaint town of Haven Springs.”
- “Overall, Life is Strange: True Colors successfully recaptures the magic of the original game while introducing new elements that enhance the storytelling experience.”
- “The story, the characters, the emotions... it all just hit me in the best way possible.”
- “The story is as disappointing as it is contrived.”
- “Very poor character development, the story is not involving and completely uncommon for this series - there was no actual drama.”
- “Unfortunately, the story falls flat and is way too simple.”
music
3,369 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
43%
1%
The music in *Life is Strange: True Colors* has been widely praised for its evocative and immersive quality, featuring a mix of licensed tracks and original compositions that enhance the emotional depth of the narrative. Many players appreciate the indie and folk influences, with standout contributions from artists like Angus & Julia Stone and mxmtoon, creating a soundtrack that resonates with the game's themes and character experiences. However, some critics feel that while the music is enjoyable, it lacks the memorability and impact of previous installments in the series, with certain moments feeling less integrated into the gameplay.
- “Coupled with an evocative soundtrack that complements the game's emotional beats, True Colors delivers an experience that is both visually and audibly pleasing.”
- “The game’s licensed soundtrack, featuring indie artists like Phoebe Bridgers and Radiohead, complements the emotional tone of the story beautifully.”
- “The soundtrack is one of the qualities of the series, and True Colors continues that with an amazing score, with dreamy indie/folk tunes, but also some other songs to mix things up a bit.”
- “The soundtrack isn't as good as it was in the original either and there aren't many memorable tracks that will stick with you, but it does its job in the in-game world.”
- “The music is more sparse in this one.”
- “The music has also taken a noticeable hit, with the vast majority of the soundtrack being from the same two people (instead of a variety of indie bands) and most of it being incredibly forgettable, coupled with many of the more impactful scenes not even having music.”
graphics
2,879 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
39%
1%
The graphics in "Life is Strange: True Colors" are widely praised for their stunning visuals and significant improvements over previous titles in the series. Players appreciate the vibrant color palette, detailed character models, and enhanced facial animations that contribute to a more immersive experience. However, some users noted technical issues such as graphical glitches and long loading times, which can detract from the overall enjoyment of the game.
- “Life is Strange: True Colors is a great game with an interesting plot, memorable characters, and beautiful graphics and art direction.”
- “The enhanced visuals give the town a welcoming, almost dream-like quality, making it easy to get lost in its tranquil beauty despite the heavy themes.”
- “The graphics are absolutely gorgeous, with detailed character models and vibrant environments.”
- “But no, it's so bad, the mechanics make no sense, the graphics in certain scenes make the characters look like they are having a stroke... the storyline isn't even good, I've tried over and over to get back into it but I just get completely zoned out because of how boring it is.”
- “Graphically, this game is way ahead of its time (besides some of the background NPCs looking like a blob).”
- “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.”
emotional
2,851 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of "Life is Strange: True Colors" has garnered a wide range of responses from players, with many praising its ability to evoke deep feelings and create strong connections to the characters. While some players found the emotional depth and storytelling to be less impactful compared to earlier titles in the series, others appreciated the heartfelt moments and character development, often leading to tears and a sense of catharsis. Overall, the game is recognized for its emotional journey, exploring themes of grief, empathy, and personal growth, making it a compelling experience for fans of narrative-driven games.
- “Alex's motive to uncover the truth is explored really well, drawing players into Alex's world and her emotional journey.”
- “Life is strange emotionally wrecked me; true colors was incredibly cathartic.”
- “The emotional stakes are high from the beginning, and 'true colors' excels at making the player care about its characters.”
- “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.”
- “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 as you did in the previous games.”
- “Really boring story with boring characters.”
gameplay
1,625 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
74%
3%
The gameplay of "Life is Strange: True Colors" has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its simplicity and reliance on exploration and dialogue rather than complex mechanics or puzzles. While the introduction of Alex's empathic powers adds a unique layer to interactions, some feel it lacks the depth and impact of previous titles' gameplay elements. Overall, the game is praised for its emotional storytelling and character development, but many reviewers express disappointment in the limited gameplay variety and the relatively short playtime for its price.
- “Her ability to connect with and understand the emotions of those around her adds a unique layer to the gameplay, making interactions with other characters feel more impactful and genuine.”
- “The decision-making mechanic remains a core element of the game, and while some choices may seem less impactful compared to previous entries, True Colors still offers meaningful moments where players' decisions shape the narrative.”
- “The central gameplay mechanic, Alex's empath power, is extremely creative and allows for scenes and moments that no other game can replicate.”
- “The gameplay is shallow where you just walk around and press a button to make decisions in conversations and maybe solve a very simple puzzle.”
- “The gameplay and story are extremely underwhelming, predictable and bland.”
- “Fans of the franchise will find that the gameplay loop has not changed for 'True Colors', and those seeking an engaging gameplay experience will find that this (along with others in this genre) is lacking in providing a truly dynamic consequence system that encourages truly risky decisions.”
atmosphere
501 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
44%
1%
The atmosphere in "Life is Strange: True Colors" is widely praised for its warmth, vibrancy, and emotional depth, effectively capturing the essence of the small-town setting of Haven Springs. Players appreciate the stunning visuals, immersive soundtrack, and the way the environment enhances character interactions and storytelling, creating a cozy and engaging experience. While some critiques mention a lack of complexity in the plot and character depth, the overall atmosphere remains a standout feature that resonates deeply with fans of the series.
- “This is truly a magical and touching experience, full of colorful characters, beautiful scenery, and a soothing and healing atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere, music, and graphics were beautiful.”
- “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 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.”
- “Every 'Life is Strange' has small daily actions for you to perform or errands to fulfill in order to create atmosphere and shape the characters, but here this technique is overused.”
humor
245 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
98%
2%
The humor in "Life is Strange: True Colors" is widely praised for its blend of lighthearted moments and emotional depth, with players frequently laughing out loud during gameplay. The game's witty dialogue, particularly between characters like Alex and Gabe, along with humorous scenarios such as the live-action roleplay (larp) segment, contribute to its charm and relatability. Overall, the humor effectively balances the game's more poignant themes, making for an engaging and entertaining experience.
- “The town was immersive, and despite my initial misgivings at one of the segments, a larp game in the game, at the end of that chapter I was laughing out loud with genuine amusement and getting really invested in the whole thing.”
- “It's human, dramatic, poignant, and emotional with plenty of humor to keep things going.”
- “The story and character interactions range from sweet, funny, and delightful to powerful and heartbreaking.”
- “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
232 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
53%
6%
Character development in "Life is Strange: True Colors" receives mixed reviews, with many praising the depth and emotional resonance of the main character, Alex, and her relationships with others. While some players highlight the game's strong character arcs and engaging storytelling, others feel that the development is uneven, with certain characters lacking depth and some narrative elements feeling rushed or superficial. Overall, the game is noted for its impressive character design and voice acting, but opinions vary on the effectiveness and pacing of character growth throughout the story.
- “The storytelling and character development are top-notch.”
- “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.”
- “But where this game truly shines is the storytelling and character development that happens over the length of the game.”
- “Very poor character development; the story is not involving and completely uncommon for this series - there was no actual drama.”
- “It seems like there is less character development game-wide.”
- “The story felt a little bit rushed at times because a lot of relationship-building and character development seemed to have happened offscreen.”
optimization
212 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
44%
49%
8%
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing significant performance issues such as stuttering and crashes, particularly on high settings or with certain hardware configurations. While many praised the game's visuals and character animations, others noted that it is poorly optimized for PC, especially at 4K resolution, leading to inconsistent frame rates. Overall, while some players found the game to run smoothly, many reported that optimization remains a notable concern.
- “The game just looks gorgeous and is well optimized.”
- “✔️ Well-optimized, no technical issues.”
- “Game performance is great, the world is beautiful with RTX shadows and reflections, and I haven't run into any major bugs.”
- “The game is also not optimized.”
- “Very poorly optimized.”
- “Has a lot of performance issues making gameplay as fluid as rocks.”
replayability
174 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
75%
6%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with many players noting that while there are multiple endings and choices that can lead to different outcomes, a significant portion of the gameplay remains repetitive. Some reviewers appreciate the depth added by decision-making and collectibles, while others criticize the limited impact of choices and the short playtime, suggesting that replaying the game may not be worth the investment. Overall, it offers some replay value, but many feel it lacks the depth and variation found in previous titles in the series.
- “It added a whole new level of replayability and interactivity with the game.”
- “The choices players make have significant consequences, adding a layer of replayability as different decisions lead to different outcomes.”
- “The replayability is certainly there and I will be playing it multiple times to see how the other options affect the game.”
- “Overall, this is certainly recommended, it was fun to go through but obviously has virtually zero 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
115 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
64%
34%
The grinding aspect of the game has been widely criticized, with many players describing it as tedious and time-consuming, often requiring excessive effort to progress. Reviewers noted that the gameplay feels artificially extended through repetitive tasks and unengaging dialogue, leading to a sense of monotony. Overall, the consensus is that the game demands more time and patience than many players are willing to invest.
- “A bit grindy sometimes.”
- “One long, tedious grind.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “These segments are tedious and don't do much more than pad out the completion time.”
- “The game tries to pass off tedious puzzles and quick-time events as gameplay, but it just feels like busywork.”
stability
97 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
4%
84%
The game's stability has received mixed feedback, with many players reporting minor visual glitches and occasional crashes, while others experienced a smoother gameplay experience with no significant issues. Common problems include flickering textures, lip-syncing issues, and save file corruption, particularly when starting DLC. Overall, while some players found the game polished and nearly bug-free, others noted persistent glitches that detracted from the experience.
- “Perfectly optimized and absolutely bug free from start to finish.”
- “I only had one crash and one minor visual glitch throughout my whole playthrough, so my experience was almost bug free, which is nice to see in today's times.”
- “From a technical standpoint, the game runs great.”
- “However, I did experience visual glitches, from flickering shadows to textures often loading late.”
- “There is currently a known bug that still hasn't been fixed after months since its release where if you quit the DLC by any means, either pause > quit game or if your game freezes and closes, you lose your save file.”
- “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
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
94%
The monetization aspect of the game has been criticized as a blatant cash grab, with players feeling misled by advertising that promised more than what was delivered. Many reviewers noted that the game prioritizes microtransactions and DLC over quality content, 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 strengths.
- “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.”