Death Stranding 2 was my Game of the Year in 2025, and now on PC, it's my GOTY for 2026

I bought a PS4 solely to play the first game, so you can bet that I was all in when Death Stranding 2 was finally announced. The sequel is everything a follow-up should deliver, expanding the world while still nailing the narrative themes, but also changing the gameplay just enough that it’s still fantastic. The PS5 console-exclusive made me laugh, cry, and become frustrated during intense deliveries, and now, Death Stranding 2’s PC port has got me feeling all of those things once again.

I make it no secret that, despite the weird scenes and bizarre plot, Death Stranding 2 is one of the best action-adventure games of last year, and now that it’s available on PC under a year later, it’s high up on my list of 2026 Game of the Year nominees. Sure, that’s a little unfair – almost a bit of cheating on PlayStation’s front, but at the same time, it’s an absolutely essential PC game for anyone with even a small love for a great story with a killer gameplay loop.

Taking place almost directly after the events of the first game (there’s a handy recap, but I suggest you give the first one a shot), you play as Sam Porter Bridges once again, who has left his job as a Porter for the post-apocalyptic USA in favor of raising Lou, his adopted daughter, and the BB you spend the first game with – annoyingly, just spoiled it there, but it’s hard not to talk about it for the sequel.

Things quickly go south, and Death Stranding 2 hits you with gut punch after gut punch, forcing Sam to strap on his delivery boots and head to Australia with the crew of the DHV Magellan, a vessel that can traverse the tar currents, as he works with Fragile and the private Drawbridge company to bring Australia into the chiral network. It makes a lot more sense if you play the first game.

As you complete deliveries and connect new parts of Australia to the network, you’ll gain more gear that will make the gameplay easier, as well as get access to shared constructions that you and other Sams are pooling resources to. Rocky terrain becomes smooth roads, ones that constantly charge your vehicles, while you can place down climbing tools that other porters may be lucky enough to have spawned into their world. Make sure to spam those thumbs up for anything useful, and show your fellow porters you appreciate their efforts.

Death Stranding 2 feels like a twisted amalgamation of a few genres. The gameplay follows its predecessor to a tee, but it also diverges a little, taking some inspiration from Kojima’s Metal Gear Solid series, while the story grips onto your heart and constantly squeezes it, before showing a clear Solid Snake stand-in and treating it with absolute seriousness, as if you hadn’t just been bonked over the head with ‘look at this reference!’ The strangest thing is, somehow it works.

The game also has an absolutely mesmerising soundtrack, and while I was worried Low Roar’s absence would seriously negate Sam’s experience, Woodkid does an amazing job following on, making that Ryan Karazija-sized hole feel a little less heartbreaking. Hearing these calming melodies as you’re braving wildfires or climbing up a treacherous mountain adds to the atmosphere in a way that few games have ever done.

It’s a truly memorable experience, and if you have a solid gaming PC (I’m running a 4080, for reference), it looks absolutely stunning. If you’re looking for a genuinely incredible game to play, you should grab Death Stranding 2 – but before buying it on Steam, why not get it cheaper at Fanatical, with the game already at a discount, dropping it to just $62.99 / £62.99? You’re still getting a Steam key, so you don’t need to worry about downloading another launcher.

Hopefully, while I won’t be able to see you on your adventure, I’ll see your name pop up as you add your materials towards paving those roads – and remember to pop down a few structures for your fellow Sams while you’re at it.