These games will help determine whether you'll like Death Stranding

Out of the mind of Hideo Kojima comes Death Stranding, a game that’s hard to explain and even harder to rank in terms of good and bad. Based on info provided via early reviews, it’s clear that you’ll either like Death Stranding or hate it. When attempting to make a decision as to whether you should purchase the game or not, reviews can also be deceiving.

After all, reviews are based on one person’s opinion, and it can be hard to know if their opinion will align with your own unless you actually play the game. Rather than tell you our thoughts on Death Stranding, we thought it’d be better to list games that Death Stranding reminds us of and go from there. If you like these games, you may like Death Stranding!

These games will help you determine whether you’ll like Death Stranding

Metal Gear Solid 5, any Hideo Kojima game

Alright, let’s cross this category off the list right away. If you like Metal Gear Solid 5, or any Hideo Kojima game for that matter, you’ll like Death Stranding. Having poured quite a bit of time into the Metal Gear series over the years, we can safely say that Kojima’s style of game development is on prominent display in Death Stranding (as you’d expect).

Yes, the mechanics of Death Stranding are different, with less direct action involved. However, the characters, story, and overall weirdness are all reminiscent of previous Kojima titles. If you like Kojima games, you’ll like Death Stranding. It’s like saying the sky is blue, but it’s worth mentioning just the same.

Dear Esther

In many reviews, Death Stranding is referred to as a walking simulator, which makes sense as you’re tasked with trekking across the country in an attempt to connect a fractured nation. If you enjoy other games that fall under the category of walking simulator like Dear Esther, you may also enjoy Death Stranding. What ties games like Dear Esther to Death Stranding are their interesting, often bleak worlds and characters.

There’s a prominent sense of loneliness felt in both Dear Esther and Death Stranding along with some ambiguity to story elements pertaining to the main character. The more you play, the more you learn, but you also have to be patient. If you have no trouble with slower paced “walking sim” games like Dear Esther, The Vanishing of Ethan Carter or SOMA, go ahead and give Death Stranding a try.

Deadly Premonition

Prior to Death Stranding, Deadly Premonition occupied the top spot on the “WTF” list for many gamers. Having played both, we can definitely see similarities when it comes to thematic elements and tone. You’ll find a distinct touch of humor and “camp” in both games, despite the inclusion of serious subject matter and background drama.

Technically, you could say both games are flawed, but it’s the presence of these flaws that help them stand out from the crowd. Many have complained that Death Stranding takes a while to warm up and become interesting, and that its gameplay isn’t enjoyable in a conventional sense. For Deadly Premonition, things like structure, design, and voice acting can all be a little… questionable at times.

That said, you’ll find an unmistakable air of charm in both titles, and yes, even value.

Inside

Inside is a game that you walk away from confused, yet profoundly moved at the same time. Death Stranding has a similar impact, leaving you to contemplate the meaning behind its message long after the credits roll. If you gravitate towards games like Inside, Oxenfree, or Firewatch, you may like Death Stranding. Gameplay and length vary, but they’re all games that move you on a deep, personal level.

Everyone will walk away from games in this category with a different outlook on what they just played. For Death Stranding, it may take more than one playthrough to extract everything there is to offer, and it’ll certainly be a game that’s talked about for years to come. If you like what Playdead did with Inside, you may also appreciate what Kojima is trying to do with Death Stranding.

Rust

We know what you’re thinking, how is Rust like Death Stranding? Well, one area where Death Stranding challenges its players is how you explore the terrain around you. You have to stack your backpack as neatly as possible when making deliveries to avoid toppling over. You have to use things like ladders and ropes to get around obstacles. You can drown in the water if you’re not careful.

Death Stranding isn’t a survival game per se, but there are many aspects of it that incorporate the idea of survival and self-preservation. Rust – and survival games like it – teach you the importance of planning and patience. You need to acquire resources and explore your environment carefully in order to succeed. Yes, it can be frustrating at first, but once you get the hang of it, you feel a distinct sense of accomplishment.

The same is true in Death Stranding. Heck, you can even leave clues and helpful items (we won’t say pee mushrooms but... pee mushrooms) behind for other players to find. If you enjoy survival mechanics in games like Rust or Scum, you may enjoy what Kojima has done with things like backpack management.

In the end, Death Stranding is its own game. Comparisons can be made between other titles, but the only way to know for sure if you’ll enjoy Death Stranding is to play it. If we had to make a personal recommendation, we’d say that yeah, Death Stranding is worth a closer look.

That said, we want to know your thoughts on the matter. Do you like any of the games mentioned in this list, if so, will you play Death Stranding? Why or why not? Comment below!