Five years later, Hideo Kojima’s masterpiece makes more sense than ever

We hear a lot about polarization. Our culture and discourse seem increasingly determined to make binary choices everywhere, from choosing a side in console wars to acknowledging climate change. Scroll through YouTube and you’ll notice that almost every miniature face shows pain or ecstasy. Things are either great or terrible, and anyone seeking the middle often becomes exhausted by the pressure and pull of the extremes. Ironically, five years ago we got a game that was all about the importance of connection and common ground, only because it was one of the most divisive games of its time.

Death stranding was released on November 18, 2019 by gaming author and Metal gear creator Hideo Kojima. It launched with an incredible hype train behind it. A star-studded cast showcased groundbreaking visuals for Kojima’s first independent release. Free from the confines of his decades-long relationship with Japanese publisher Konami, the legendary game director and designer served up a visionary dystopia in which a delivery boy must navigate a North American continent besieged by strange interdimensional creatures and rain that makes things old. Things only get stranger from there.

Players take on the role of Sam Porter Bridges, played by the inimitable Norman Reedus, as he travels across this desolate, fragmented America in the aftermath of the titular ‘Death Stranding’, a catastrophic event that blurred the boundaries between the world of the living . and the dead. Ghostly entities known as BTs (Beached Things) lurk in the landscape and threaten humanity. Sam is unique, he can see BTS and has a connection to a liminal space called ‘The Beach’, which exists as a kind of purgatory between the world of the living and the dead.

The TL;DR version is that BTs are monsters and Sam is one of the few people who can fight them, which makes him the target of various factions vying for power in this new world. Despite his supernatural abilities, Sam’s main concern is figuratively and literally an ordinary activity: walking around and delivering supplies to survivors. The survivors are isolated in cities. Sam’s mission is to reconnect them by establishing the Chiral Network, a communications system designed to restore a sense of unity and survival across the country. It’s also a great vehicle for giving us some fun celebrity cameos like Conan O’Brien and Geoff Keighley.

Gameplay revolves around Sam’s journey as he delivers essential supplies across dangerous, varied terrain. Equipped with a variety of tools such as ladders, ropes and power suits, Sam must handle his load carefully to avoid losing his load or injuring himself on treacherous trails. This decision proved to be the most divisive among the players.

The game places a unique emphasis on balance and physics, requiring players to strategize each step. You literally control Sam’s balance as he walks and climbs with the L and R triggers. Many players saw the wide open spaces and thought that would be the case Skyrim– by sprinting and smashing a jump button. The one from Death Stranding A carefully considered walking mechanic takes something we never think about in games (walking around) and turns it into something that requires our attention. Haters called it a “walking simulator,” but many fans found it integral to how much they enjoyed exploring the world. If nothing else, Death stranding is a game that requires your attention.

In true Kojima fashion, there’s a fourth-wall breaking element to the game’s themes of connection and community. An asynchronous multiplayer system allows players to share structures, resources and paths, creating a world where every action leaves a trail that can help others on the same journey.

This becomes more rewarding the longer you play. It takes a lot of effort to build a road or a powered zipline, and getting likes from other players who have dropped your shortcuts into their game is a nice dopamine boost. It’s also useful early in the game, when you’re just a bald delivery boy struggling to get from A to B.

Perhaps the biggest part of it The one from Death Stranding legacy is the eerily prophetic timing. At launch, it was easy to take a cynical, eye-rolling view of Sam’s chosen profession. A delivery person? The man who brought us Solid Snake, perhaps the coolest soldier in the history of gaming, put us in the shoes of a glorified Amazon driver? Are we supposed to think these guys are important?

Then 2020 happened and, in fact, delivery drivers were the most important people in the world. Suddenly, Kojima’s dystopian fantasy felt a lot more real. It put the game in a completely different context that almost begs you to play it again (or give it a second chance).

Through its intricate gameplay, mysterious story and philosophical themes, Death stranding explored concepts of human connection, isolation, and the endurance required to bridge societal divides. The game’s story is deeply symbolic, drawing players into a layered experience that is both visually striking and emotionally resonant. The atmosphere is chaotic, with much of the esoteric Kojima flavor that some consider high art, and others as mindless nonsense. Five years later, there’s still nothing like it. At least until Death stranding 2 will drop in 2025. Hopefully this time without contamination.