Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is an upcoming action-adventure video game. It is being made by Kojima Productions and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment. This game is the sequel to the original Death Stranding and continues the story of the main character Sam Porter Bridges, played by Norman Reedus. It also features many returning and new characters.
The game will be released on June 26, 2025, for PlayStation 5. The story is set in a future world where everything has changed because of strange and dangerous creatures. Sam must travel across Australia to connect people and help save humanity.
The game is written and directed by Hideo Kojima, who is known for deep stories and emotional themes. The game’s team also includes Kenji Yano and Shuyo Murata as writers, Yoji Shinkawa as the artist, and music by Ludvig Forssell and Woodkid. The engine used to build the game is Decima, and it is designed only for single-player mode.
Let’s look at what this game includes and if it is safe for kids and teenagers.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Title | Death Stranding 2: On the Beach |
| Genre | Action-adventure |
| Developer | Kojima Productions |
| Publisher | Sony Interactive Entertainment |
| Director | Hideo Kojima |
| Platform | PlayStation 5 |
| Release Date | June 26, 2025 |
| Mode | Single-player only |
| Price | $69.99 (Standard), $79.99 (Deluxe) |
| Special Editions | Pre-order bonuses and early access |
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach Age Rating
The ESRB (Entertainment Software Rating Board) has rated the game as M for Mature 17+. This means the game is not made for children or young teens. It contains blood, violence, strong language, partial nudity, and mature themes. These things can be disturbing or inappropriate for players under 17.
As of now, the game has not yet received a PEGI rating, so players in Europe should wait for an official update before deciding based on PEGI.
Parents should know that this game is not family-friendly and should be played only by mature audiences who can understand dark and emotional content.
Age-Based Viewing Guide
| Age Group | Is It Suitable? | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| 6–12 years | Not suitable | Scary, violent, hard to understand, includes mature themes |
| 13–15 years | Not recommended | Strong language, violence, and emotional complexity |
| 16–17 years | Only with parental guidance | Some teens may handle it, but supervision is advised |
| 18+ years | Suitable | Mature audiences will understand and enjoy it |
Is This Game Suitable for Kids?
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is not suitable for children. The story is deep, emotional, and filled with dark ideas about death, loneliness, and saving the human race. It includes scenes that show:
- Graphic violence and blood
- Fire and explosions
- Weapons like guns and swords
- Jump scares with ghost-like creatures
- Nudity (bare backs and buttocks shown briefly)
- Strong curse words used during conversations
- Scenes showing drinking and smoking
Even though the game looks beautiful and has amazing visuals, it is made for older teens and adults only. Children may find it scary, hard to understand, or disturbing.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach Parents Guide
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach has been rated Mature 17+ by the ESRB. This means the game has content that may not be good for children or young teens. Below is a simple explanation of the things parents should know, based fully on the official ESRB report.
Violence and Gore
The game includes strong and sometimes graphic violence. Players can use melee weapons like a battle guitar and guns like machine guns and sniper rifles to fight enemies. Some enemies are soldiers, while others are androids or ghostly creatures.
Fights can be fast and intense, with realistic gun sounds, blood splashes, and slow-motion effects during attacks. There are also some scenes with extra gore, like:
- A man’s hands and legs being sliced off by a robot samurai
- A man being set on fire in a fantasy-like scene
- A man being cut in half by a giant machine
These scenes are very violent and may upset younger viewers.
Strong Language
The word “fk”** is used in the game. This is a strong curse word that may not be appropriate for kids and young teens.
Partial Nudity
There are scenes that show partial nudity, such as a character’s bare buttocks. These moments are not sexual but still not suitable for younger players.
Gameplay Themes
Players take the role of Sam Porter Bridges, a courier in a post-apocalyptic world. His job is to deliver packages and reconnect society. The game includes:
- Open-world travel
- Stealth missions (where enemies are knocked out quietly)
- Combat with guns and special weapons
- Fantasy-style machines and enemies
These missions are part of a serious story about saving humanity after a world disaster.
Game Story and Setting
The game is set 11 months after the events of the first Death Stranding. The world is still broken and full of danger. Players control Sam Porter Bridges, a man who works as a porter — a person who carries supplies and helps connect people across the land.
This time, the story takes place in Australia, which has been destroyed by strange creatures and supernatural events. Sam’s goal is to connect isolated colonies to a network called chiral network, which can help save humans from becoming extinct.
He is not alone. He travels with characters like Fragile and Higgs, who return from the first game. New characters played by actors Elle Fanning, Shioli Kutsuna, Luca Marinelli, and Debra Wilson also join the story. There are also special guest appearances by George Miller, Fatih Akin, and Nicolas Winding Refn.
The story includes many emotional themes like hope, pain, friendship, and the need to rebuild human society. It also shows how the world changed after the global pandemic, as the game’s writer Hideo Kojima changed the script after the COVID-19 outbreak.
Gameplay Overview
In this game, players explore the open world, cross dangerous areas, and avoid or fight enemies. There are multiple missions that involve carrying items, building roads and bridges, and helping other people.
Players will face ghost-like creatures called BTs and human enemies. The game gives you the option to fight or sneak past enemies. There is also a unique Social Strand System, where the structures you build can help other players in their own games.
New features include:
- Musical weapons like guitars
- Vehicles for faster travel
- Customization options for Sam’s suit and equipment
- Emotional cutscenes that move the story forward
Tips for Parents
If your teenager wants to play Death Stranding 2, here are some things to keep in mind:
- Watch the game trailer and gameplay videos to understand what it looks like.
- Read reviews or ask other parents who have experience with the first game.
- Use parental controls on PlayStation 5 to block mature content.
- Talk to your teen about what they might see in the game and how they feel about it.
- Check their emotional response—if they feel disturbed or scared, it may be best to stop playing.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is a beautifully made game with powerful storytelling, action, and emotions. But it is also full of dark and mature content. With blood, violence, strong language, and scary themes, it is clearly meant for older teens and adults.
This game is not right for younger players. Parents should be careful and make sure their teens are emotionally ready before they allow them to play.
FAQs
Q1. What is the age rating for Death Stranding 2: On the Beach?
A: Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is rated M for Mature 17+ by the ESRB. It includes blood and gore, partial nudity, strong language, and intense violence.
Q2. Is Death Stranding 2: On the Beach safe for kids?
A: No, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is not safe for kids. It contains graphic violence, bad language, and adult content that is meant only for players aged 17 and older.
Q3. What kind of violence is in Death Stranding 2: On the Beach?
A: The game shows realistic gunfights, blood splatter, and gory scenes, such as a man being cut in half or burned alive. There are also slow-motion attacks and stealth kills.
Q4. Does Death Stranding 2: On the Beach have nudity or sexual content?
A: The game has partial nudity, such as scenes that show a character’s bare buttocks. There is no sexual activity, but the nudity may still be inappropriate for younger players.
Q5. Can teenagers play Death Stranding 2: On the Beach?
A: Only older teens (17+) should play this game. Even then, parents should be aware of the content and decide if their teen is mature enough to handle it.
Q6. Is Death Stranding 2: On the Beach very scary?
A: Some parts of the game are scary, especially when players face ghost-like creatures and strange supernatural enemies. The dark tone and tense music can feel frightening.
Q7. What platform is Death Stranding 2: On the Beach available on?
A: Death Stranding 2: On the Beach will be released only on PlayStation 5 on June 26, 2025.
Q8. How much does Death Stranding 2: On the Beach cost?
A: The standard edition of the game costs around $69.99, while the deluxe edition is priced at $79.99. Pre-orders may include bonus content and early access.
