IGN contributors have recently unveiled their completion times and thoughts on Death Stranding 2—and each account reflects a journey well beyond the 34-hour mark.
Senior Editor Simon Cardy:
“When I completed the story of Death Stranding 2, my total playtime had just surpassed 34 hours. Naturally, I was wholly absorbed in its twisting, enigmatic narrative, focusing primarily on the main storyline with only a dozen or so optional objectives pursued along the way. Thankfully, this didn’t overly complicate my journey—while completing side orders does grant access to additional tools to ease your path, the sequel notably reduces the friction present in the original, meaning objectives rarely feel like arduous undertakings. That’s not to say it’s effortless—some combat encounters and long-haul deliveries near the campaign’s end genuinely gave me pause for strategic thought.
Since then, I’ve invested another ten hours, successfully reconnecting all of Australia and Mexico to the Chiral Network. Yet I still feel the compulsion to elevate every facility’s connection level to five stars. As someone who struggles to leave things unfinished, I know it won’t be long before I once again step into Sam Porter Bridges’ boots to wrap up those endlessly addictive remaining missions.”
Senior Features Editor Matt Kim:
“I spent roughly 38 hours completing the main campaign of Death Stranding 2 and watching the credits roll. No, cutscenes didn’t take up 50% of that time. Hideo Kojima has clearly taken a more restrained approach to cinematic interludes in this sequel—it seems deliberate, as though he sought to rein himself in, keeping cutscenes concise to ensure players remain fully immersed in gameplay. And immersed I was, devoting nearly all of my time to the campaign’s central thread. I did dabble in a handful of side quests, which likely added a few extra hours to my playtime, but there remains a wealth of content I haven’t yet explored. I’m excited to dive back in and inch toward 100% completion. Who knows? I might even go for the Platinum Trophy.”
Executive Producer Nick Limon:
“I reached the end credits of Death Stranding 2 at the 41-hour mark. I took my time—wandering through the farthest corners of Mexico and Australia, soaking in the scenery and music as I walked, the tunes of my portable music player accompanying every step. While I didn’t reconnect the entirety of Australia, I did bring most of the region into the Chiral Network. A handful of stragglers remain, and I plan to cross them off the list in the coming days.
Much of my time was spent boosting my reputation with reserve members, utilizing items and upgrades that matched my playstyle and drew my attention. Unlike the first game, Death Stranding 2 feels richer in tailor-made side content—or at least it has in my experience, though I didn’t engage much with the ‘Director’s Cut’ of the original. I can’t wait to delve deeper. Onward to the end!”
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