Summary
- Death Stranding 2 introduces a Proficiency system, akin to classic RPGs, allowing players control over Sam's growth.
- The new RPG mechanics in Death Stranding 2 offer a personalized and varied gameplay experience for players.
- The sequel expands beyond the original game by centering in Australia and incorporating more RPG elements in gameplay.
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach hands-on previews have officially gone live, which means fans have been treated to a more in-depth look at its world, gameplay, and story. Based on what has now been revealed, Death Stranding 2 is bringing an even greater host of changes to the original game than was originally anticipated, to the point that it feels like it might be a different experience altogether. Whether those changes ultimately work in its favor remains to be seen, but at the very least, these changes suggest Death Stranding could be broadening its audience alongside its horizons in the sequel.
There were plenty of noteworthy features revealed about Death Stranding 2's world and story, from the fact that it is primarily set in Australia rather than America, to the quickened pacing of the narrative. However, one of the significant changes appears to make Death Stranding 2 more of an RPG than the first game was. Officially, both Death Stranding and its successor are action-adventure games, even though the first game had role-playing elements here and there. Death Stranding 2, on the other hand, is making some classic RPG mechanics a core part of its gameplay.
Death Stranding 2 Might Be a Mobius Strip Disguised as a Road Trip
Based on what has been revealed so far and the lack of context surrounding it, Death Stranding 2 might be setting players up for an endless road trip.
Death Stranding 2's Progression Mechanics Are Derivative of Classic RPGs
The First Death Stranding Relied Heavily on the Porter Grade System
The first Death Stranding wasn't technically an RPG, but it did have some RPG systems at play — albeit, primarily in the background. The most prominent RPG system in Death Stranding was its Porter Grade System, which passively increased stats like balance, carrying capacity, and stability based on delivery performance. Since the gameplay loop for Death Stranding revolved primarily around its delivery mechanics, so too did its progression. Categories like Speed, Cargo Condition, and Miscellaneous tracked how well players handled deliveries, but had no direct relation to Death Stranding's combat or traversal skills beyond what impacted Sam's encumbrance.
Another defining characteristic of an RPG is that it allows players to have a unique, personal experience. Death Stranding offers a universal experience, even with its Porter Grade System in place.
While it might technically be considered an RPG system, the Porter Grade System in Death Stranding only exhibited light role-playing elements. Sam's growth didn't impact playstyle variety or player agency and instead was simply a way for Sam to grow and become a more efficient porter. For it to be a true role-playing experience, Death Stranding would have needed a progression system that allowed players to have more control over Sam's growth, rather than merely being the instigator of that growth.
Death Stranding 2's Proficiency System Applies a 'Learning by Doing' Approach
This is where Death Stranding 2 and its new Proficiency system come in. Rather than simply relying on the Porter Grade System introduced in the first game, Death Stranding 2 introduces a Proficiency system with twelve new Proficiency stats that grow based on how the game is played. For all intents and purposes, Death Stranding 2's new Proficiency system applies the "learning by doing" approach of classic RPGs like The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion and many others that came before it.
Just as similar systems do in games like The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion, Death Stranding 2's Proficiency system means Sam's playstyle is going to change depending on what players do. For example, if they use melee more often, Sam's melee Proficiency will grow, meaning his skill in that area will improve. Should players want to enhance Sam's ability to traverse rough terrain, they simply need to walk across rough terrain, and his ability to do so without stumbling will improve.
In other words, Death Stranding 2 gives players more control over Sam's progression than they had in the first game. With the Proficiency system, players can now develop a personalized version of Sam Porter Bridges, meaning two players might end up with very different versions of the same character by the time the credits roll. In the end, this makes Death Stranding 2: On the Beach the RPG the first game only flirted with, and that could be one of the many things that increases its appeal to a broader audience this time.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 90 /100 Critics Rec: 95%
- Released
- June 26, 2025
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ // Violence, Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Strong Language
- Developer(s)
- Kojima Productions
- Publisher(s)
- Sony Interactive Entertainment
