Games To Play If You Love Death Stranding
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Games To Play If You Love Death Stranding
We take a look at some other titles you're sure to enjoy if you love Death Stranding. is an excellent way to close out not just 2019 for gaming, but the entire decade. In a generation where AAA games increasingly became more homogenized with time, Death Stranding proves that genuine creativity will always have its place in the medium. Even when the industry is at its worst, games like remind us why we love video games. Like any good game, there are dozens of different reasons why someone might like Death Stranding. Its slower pace is refreshing; its script is thematically dense while nowhere near as dry as its AAA counterparts; and the core gameplay loop is downright addicting, tossing players against unseen enemies in high-tension environments. Death Stranding is a long game, too, but that just means it'll be hard to let go. Having a game lined up to play is never a bad thing. Updated on August 23, 2022 by Tom Wilson: Death Stranding has certainly left its mark on a lot of games since it launched back in 2019. Fortunately, this means that people who absolutely loved the game have a ton of new content to go and enjoy. While some of those are obvious, others are indie gems that are a little harder to find. From a game all about delivering mail in a small American town to driving your BB-themed motorbike through hordes of zombies, these games are sure to fulfil your Death Stranding needs and then some. THEGAMER VIDEO OF THE DAY Lake
Lake is a pretty special game. It is a narrative-driven indie all about finding yourself in a harsh and unforgiving world, making new connections and living your best life. Sure, it may not feature an apocalyptic setting, and you definitely won't have to contend with BTs trying to grab you at every moment, but the similarities between it and Death Stranding are far more numerous than you may expect. If you want to boil Lake down to a single mechanic, it would be delivering mail to the wonderful people of Providence Oaks. You'll drive your truck from house to house all while listening to quaint country music, and get to observe snapshots of your fellow residents by their front doors. If you play Death Stranding for the mail delivery aspect, or just want to indulge in themes about making connections and forging your own path, then definitely check out Lake. Days Gone
is all about atmosphere. Whether it's slowly making your way through a darkened zombie-infested tunnel, or driving through the barren apocalyptic wasteland and taking in the sights, you're bound to get swept up in its horrifying, nightmarish, and at times serene world. Of course, when you're not just scooting around on your bike, you'll be fighting zombies and helping out communities that have been left stranded by the rest of the world. If you're a super fan of Death Stranding, then you're in for a treat, as Days Gone also features Death Stranding exclusive items you can equip. Fancy a bike themed after BB? Well, you've got it. It's actually a really cool crossover, and while it doesn't make a lot of sense in context, it's still amazing to see. Suffice to say, if you like the apocalyptic nature of Death Stranding, as well as themes of connecting communities, then you'll love Days Gone. Sable
Stop us if you've heard this one before, but is a game all about making connections across a desolate world. Wow. Shocker, we know. However, Sable does it in a way that no other game really has. You're given an objective to make a mask that determines what you'll be doing for the rest of your life, and that's pretty much it. You've just got to get out there and figure things out for yourself. Along the way, you may bump into a whole host of colourful characters each with their own missions. Or you might not. Really, that's up to how inquisitive you are. What makes Sable such a great game for fans of Death Stranding is just how well it nails the atmosphere of venturing out alone. You have your glider – a hoverbike that's in tune with your feelings – but other than that, you're really on your own. That makes the moments when you do connect with someone all the more special, just like how distribution centres can fill you with such warmth in Death Stranding. Shadow Of The Colossus
Team Ico's second title, tasks players with traversing a barren world to kill basically the only living things left. There is a deep sadness permeating the game as you get closer and closer to finishing off all the colossi in this legendary PS2 title. The game famously did not run well on the original hardware, but . It is a great example of gaming telling the story through gameplay mechanics in a way no other medium can. Ghost Of Tsushima
is more action-packed than Death Stranding, but there is a lot connecting the two. They are both exclusive to Sony consoles, though Death Stranding is also available on PC. Additionally, they are both unique open-world games that organically integrate the UI and gameplay mechanics into the world. Ghost of Tsushima also recently received a director's cut, Stalker Shadow Of Chernobyl
Stalker Shadow Of Chernobyl is not specifically an open-world game, the world is divided up into separate areas, but exploration is a big part of the experience. Like Death Stranding, it is a slow, meditative experience. The game became a cult classic, leading to from Ukrainian developer GSC Gameworld being greenlit. There are also two expansions to Shadow of Chernobyl, offering more content Metal Gear Solid 5 The Phantom Pain
If anybody went into Death Stranding without knowing Hideo Kojima's prior work, then now is as good a time as ever to find out. The Phantom Pain is closest to Death Stranding because it is an open-world game. Stealth, combat, and sabotage are the main objectives in , and not simply reaching a destination. Metal Gear Solid
It goes without saying, but as a series has a clear influence on Death Stranding. In many respects, Death Stranding feels like a natural evolution of The Phantom Pain's core gameplay. Stealth and non-lethal vs lethal combat is still very much in play. Anyone who hasn't played the first MGS owes it to themselves to see how Kojima's approach to 3D game design has evolved since 1998. Not just that, , more so than just about any "cinematic" game that's come out this generation. MGS actually manages to emulate the movie feel without feeling like anything but a video game. Silent Hill 2
To think there was a time when Hideo Kojima was actively working on a new game. Silent Hills could have revitalized the series, and Death Stranding's horror elements can be easily tied back to what Kojima accomplished with P.T. That said, it's not like amazing Silent Hill games don't already exist, and . Intelligent, emotionally mature, and home to one of the best scripts in gaming, Silent Hill 2 is everything a video game story should strive for. Really, it's everything a game should strive for in general. Beyond its story, this is the best iteration of Silent Hill there is, with a balance struck between combat and puzzle-solving. Ico
Ico is slow, atmospheric, and all about forging a connection with the characters in the game. Just as players in Death Stranding find themselves growing fond of their BB, so will players grow fond of Yorda as they escort the princess around one of the most immersive worlds in gaming. Ico isn't a particularly long game, but it'll never leave those who have played it. Like Death Stranding, the core gameplay loop requires that players really pay attention and focus. Bursting through will lead to problems, and a little bit of stealth goes a long way. Shadow of the Colossus is another amazing game worth playing, but Ico better scratches that Death Stranding itch. Or maybe it's the other way around. The Legend Of Zelda Breath Of The Wild
It seems highly likely will be seen as one of the defining games of not only this past generation, but of the decade. It was a breath of fresh air, not just for The Legend of Zelda and Nintendo, but also for the open-world format. Open worlds haven't been the same since Breath of the Wild set the bar incredibly high. Every little inch matters. Thankfully, Death Stranding models itself more off of BotW than it does the Ubisoft formula – albeit Death Stranding is intentionally a bit emptier, emphasizing atmosphere and mood. BotW is like that, too, but it's the sheer quality of exploration that makes it worth playing. Nier Automata
Yoko Taro and Hideo Kojima don't have much in common as far as their designs go, Their fingerprints are over everything they work on, regardless of the capacity in which they contribute to the game. is Taro's latest game, and one of his best. While the core combat is fast and frantic – unlike Death Stranding – the story and script are thematically brilliant, and Automata is layered from start to finish. It's the benchmark modern story-driven games should strive to reach. Say something, or don't say anything at all. Red Dead Redemption 2
For as hostile and oppressive as Death Stranding's depiction of the United States is, it's a very livable world. There's so much clear effort put into every facet of the world, from the lore to the actual geography. In a generation where most open worlds are devoid of meaningful content, that's a big deal. makes use of a lot of empty space, but it's in benefit to the tone of the game. The American west is on its way out, and these empty spaces are the last bastion of a way of life that's slowly being faded away. Outlast
Death Stranding is by no means a horror game, but it does have quite a few horror elements, especially when confronting BTs and especially in the first half of the game. Sam is basically defenseless for hours. Weapons unlock very slowly, forcing players to get through their first few BT encounters on stealth alone. . Players cannot fight back whatsoever, creating a gameplay loop that's conceptually similar to Death Stranding's opening hours. intense passion for horror can scratch that P.T. itch unlike anything else. For extra scares, play Outlast II after finishing the first. Journey
In a period where the market was oversaturated with space marines, gloom & doom, and generic flavor of the month games (that's one trend that hasn't been kicked), offered something more meaningful and specific to the medium. Understanding the interconnectivity that comes with gaming, Journey silently pairs strangers to journey together on an introspective mission of self-discovery. Considering how often Death Stranding slows itself down to simply let players live in the world and listen to Low Roar, Journey makes a comfortable follow-up. Super Mario 64
This might seem like a strange pick, and rest assured it absolutely is, but please hear us out. What could and Death Stranding have in common? Well, not too much outside the fact that the former laid the groundwork for pretty much all 3D games that have since followed. Death Stranding isn't a platformer, but it's all about moving through a 3D environment carefully & thoughtfully. Death Stranding, , has one of the most unique control schemes for a modern AAA game. Between gripping, jumping, dashing, Sam's cargo, and Sam's stamina Death Stranding is a game all about moving around that's not too dissimilar to Super Mario 64, at least conceptually. Nintendo was nice enough to re-release . Unfortunately, it only had a limited release and is no longer for sale. You could probably still find a copy in the wild if you look hard enough, however. Metal Gear 1987
In regard to the "Strand" genre, when Metal Gear came out for the MSX2 in 1987. Stealth as a video game genre only truly materialized after Metal Gear. It isn't the first game Kojima worked on, but it's an important one and a title that often goes ignored. Don't go into it expecting Metal Gear Solid. Go in expecting an 8-bit game by the man behind Death Stranding. It's a charming stealth game, with great level design and plenty of fun set pieces. Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake is the (much) better game, but there's no reason not to play both, especially after finishing Death Stranding.