For Kojima, those experiences led to a different approach for the sequel. His own sense of isolation that arose from having to develop Death Stranding 2 with a remote team saw him reconsidering its tale — yet it’s also this isolation that led to Kojima realizing the perils of digital connectivity.

Although the highly anticipated release of Hideo Kojima’s most recent venture, Death Stranding 2: On The Beach, is nearly here, and is being widely praised by critics for its quality and ingenuity, it’s likely that you haven’t played the game developer’s most creative game yet.

Death Stranding 2 is so much more than a retread of the first game — and it might be Hideo Kojima's best game yet.