Death Stranding 2: On the Beach has launched on PS5, offering an epic cross-continental journey across Australia as Sam Porter Bridges works to bring a new land online via the Chiral Network. So, how long does the adventure last? We’ve gathered playtime stats from IGN team members, detailing how many hours they invested in the main story and how they chose to spend their time in-game.
Simon Cardy - Senior Editor
I completed Death Stranding 2’s narrative just after the 34-hour mark. I was so invested in the twisting plot that I stuck mostly to primary missions, completing only a small number of optional tasks along the way. Thankfully, this approach didn't make progress overly challenging — while optional orders do reward useful gear, the sequel streamlines many of the original’s friction points, keeping your path forward manageable. That said, late-game combat sequences and a few demanding long-distance deliveries still offered a stiff challenge.
Since then, I’ve added another ten hours to my playthrough, fully connecting both Australia and Mexico to the Chiral Network. Even so, I’m driven to max out every facility’s connection rating. As someone who hates leaving things unfinished, I'll soon return to Sam’s boots and wrap up every remaining mission Death Stranding 2 has waiting.
Matt Kim - Senior Feature Editor
My playthrough to the credits clocked in at around 38 hours — and no, half of that wasn’t cutscenes. Hideo Kojima clearly refined his cinematic approach here, trimming runtime to keep players engaged with gameplay. I stayed focused on the central campaign, completing a few side jobs that likely added a couple of hours, but there’s plenty more optional content I can’t wait to return to. Who knows, maybe I’ll even go for the platinum trophy.
How Does Death Stranding 2 Compare to Other Kojima Games?
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is a substantial cross-continental trek, but how does its length stack up against the original and other Kojima classics? Using data from How Long to Beat, we’ve compared average main story completion times across the core Metal Gear Solid series and Sam’s earlier outing.
Metal Gear Solid - 11 ½ HoursMetal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty - 13 hoursMetal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater - 16 hoursMetal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots - 18 ½ hoursMetal Gear Solid 5: The Phantom Pain - 45 ½ hoursDeath Stranding - 40 ½ hoursDeath Stranding 2: On the Beach - 37 ⅔ hours (IGN average)Nick Limon - Executive Producer
I reached the end credits after 41 hours, taking a relaxed pace to soak in the sights and sounds of Mexico and Australia, often walking to the rhythm of my portable music player. While I didn’t link up the entire continent, I brought most regions into the Chiral Network — leaving just a few holdouts I intend to connect soon. Much of my playtime involved raising my standing with Preppers, using gear and upgrades that matched my personal style. Compared to the original, Death Stranding 2 seems packed with more tailored side content (at least from my experience — I didn’t dive deep into the original’s Director’s Cut), and I’m eager to uncover it all. Keep on keeping on!
Are you jumping into Death Stranding 2? Do you plan to take it slow and clear every side delivery, or are you here for the story and aiming to reach the finale quickly? Let us know your approach in the comments!
