I’m anything but a completionist. In all my years as a gamer, I’ve only earned two platinum trophies: one for Game of Thrones and one for Astro’s Playroom, neither particularly demanding (you just had to finish Game of Thrones to get it).
Death Stranding 2 does something that very few games manage to do: it awakens the hidden completionist in me.
One of the main reasons I’m not a trophy hunter is because I play games primarily for their stories. Once the credits roll, any urge to engage with optional content vanishes completely. That’s why I usually try to finish all the side quests before the main quest. And it’s also why I’m now taking my time in Hideo Kojima’s fantastic new creation; to soak in every corner of this fascinating, shared world.
None of that takes away from Death Stranding 2’s story itself. I’m 35 hours in and only just reached Chapter 3, but I’m fully intrigued. Part of me wants to rush ahead to see what bizarre and emotional twists still lie ahead. But for now, I’m choosing patience, because there are still so many small stones I can lay in this world we’re building together.
An Antisocial Gamer in a Social World
Here’s a small sidenote about me as a gamer: I’m very much the antisocial type. A lot of gamers love multiplayer experiences. They strategize, chat, and laugh with their (online) friends. I totally get the appeal, and I’m sure it can be a lot of fun, but when I power on my console and pick up the controller, I want to feel completely immersed in the game world. Just me and the experience. No one else.
Gaming, for me, is a moment of peace. After a long day at work, I want quiet. Feet up, no talking, just…chill. That’s why I tend to switch games to offline mode as soon as possible. That’s led to me trying to beat Elden Ring solo (absolutely impossible for a Souls noob like me), and a Death Stranding 1 playthrough where I insisted on collecting every single building material by myself, because in offline mode, no one’s going to help you out.
I still appreciated Death Stranding 1 at the time, but it wouldn’t have made it anywhere near my top 50. Still, in preparation for Death Stranding 2, I decided to give it another shot, this time in online mode. And that’s when it slowly started to click a lot more. I realized I’d missed the very thing that makes this game such a beautiful, unique experience.
Also, I understood the story a lot better this time around, which helped a ton too.
“Normally, I’m all about following the narrative. But here, together with all the other porters, we’re crafting our own.“
Armed with this new “life lesson,” I dove into Death Stranding 2 full of excitement, and this time I was hooked from the very first moment. Sure, I’m still the kind of antisocial gamer who likes to enjoy his quiet time in silence, but that doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate the sense of community and connection that online play brings. Quite the opposite, actually.
Instead of pushing forward with the main orders and progressing the story, I now find myself doing everything I can to support my fellow porters in the shared world. I spend in-game days chasing goals I set for myself, not necessarily the ones the game asks of me. Normally, I’m all about following the narrative. But here, together with all the other porters, we’re crafting our own.
I’ll admit; the music player also plays a big part in this. Trekking thousands of meters to collect metals and ceramics from one facility, only to deliver them elsewhere to build a road, a monorail, or activate a mine; it all feels so much better with that beautiful soundtrack playing in the background.
Building a Better World Together, One Stone at a Time
But the real highlight of the online world? Signs of life from familiar faces. My involvement in the warm and welcoming gaming community on Bluesky has chipped away at my antisocial gamer status over the past few years.
For the first time, I’m actually adding friends, hoping to stumble across their structures, signs, footsteps, or mushrooms (you pigs). I was eagerly awaiting the moment I’d spot one of these little signs of life in my world, and when it finally happened, it didn’t disappoint.
For someone who prefers not to talk but can deeply appreciate a sense of connection, the way online play works in Death Stranding 2 is just perfect. I genuinely get a kick out of spotting a sign from someone I’ve gotten to know on Bluesky. Just knowing they walked the same path, stood in that exact spot. It creates a feeling that, so far, only Death Stranding has been able to deliver (pun intended).
It’s the kind of experience I don’t want to end. Not until I’ve unlocked every possible tool that can make my journey a little easier. Not until I’ve helped every possible prepper out of trouble, and learned as much about them as I can.
In Death Stranding 1, I was alone. In Death Stranding 2, I’m connected. The signs of life from familiar names remind me that my Sam isn’t alone in his mission. We’re working together toward the same goals, making the world just a bit better and more beautiful for each other, one stone at a time.
And really, isn’t that the very heart of Death Stranding?
