Screenshots & trailers
What players say
Why the number is what it is: aspect mentions counted across 299 sampled Steam reviews (256 positive / 43 negative), recent and most-helpful. Plain keyword counting, fully reproducible; nothing here is written by a machine.
What positive reviews talk about
- Story & writing30% mention it
- Music & audio10% mention it
- Visuals & art9% mention it
- Combat5% mention it
- Grind & repetition5% mention it
What negative reviews complain about
- Story & writing35% mention it
- Grind & repetition23% mention it
- Bugs & crashes16% mention it
- Controls & UI14% mention it
- Visuals & art12% mention it
Satisfaction by hours played
Same score, different games: see how sentiment holds up the longer people play.
Under 5h
50%
28 reviews
5-15h
69%
36 reviews
15-40h
84%
63 reviews
40-100h
94%
134 reviews
100h+
100%
38 reviews
Review sentiment over time
Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.
How this score was computed
The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (Metacritic) | – | 85 | 18 |
| Creator reviews (1 tracked) | – | 100 | 1 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 92% | 86 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 85 | 340 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 89% | 83 | 202 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 300 reviews sampled · 578 total reviews in window · weighted 209.9 up / 25.6 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (66)
Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.
- 90
“Death Stranding: Director's Cut is great way to revisit the game, especially if you enjoyed your first playthrough. And now it's time to go back to the roads most taken with your fellow BB in hands. Unity always beats isolation, you only need to make the first step.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“If you loved the original, Director's Cut won't really offer anything mind blowing when it comes to the gameplay. A couple of innovations might please those that found the original too sluggish or repetitive, but what really makes the game shine this time around, is a flawless presentation. Graphics, audio and controls, make this as immersive and memorable experience as possible. Still not a title anyone could enjoy, but those who will - won't ever forget it.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Death Stranding Director's Cut is a fantastic port of a fascinating game. It introduces lots of new features that enrich the experience, the graphics and performance get a big boost, and PS5's bells and whistles are all put through their paces. It all adds up to make this the best way to play Kojima Productions' insane adventure, whether you're new to the experience or want to pick up where you left off. It's not going to change anyone's mind one way or the other, it's still Death Stranding, like it or not, but Director's Cut certainly presents the game in the best light.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“Death Stranding: Director’s Cut is a solid remaster with smart upgrades that build upon the original release without taking away from what made it a unique experience. The game itself has a lot to say and some of it is genuinely compelling, however, the pacing is abhorrent and the core gameplay is a deadly pill made out of tedium and boredom, that I really wish I hadn’t swallowed. Let’s hope I’m a Repatriate.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Death Stranding: Director’s Cut is easily the best version of Kojima’s latest game. The new features and additions are more than worth the $10 upgrade for existing owners. Visually the game always looked amazing, but the new higher resolution just showcases the details even better. For anyone who enjoyed the original this upgrade is easy to recommend. For those that never played it, this is the version to get. I continue to think about this game on a weekly basis and enjoyed revisiting it with the new content.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Featuring 4K textures, smooth frame rates, and new content that complements the core story, Death Stranding: Director's Cut tops the vanilla game in nearly every way.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“While I took a lot away from it the first time, Death Stranding Director’s Cut affected me far more and left an even more positive impression. Regardless of whether someone likes it or not, it sticks with you. Even if the story doesn’t click, the underlying concepts stay with you. And at a time when we can’t easily travel or connect, having this game where you can and make a difference in strangers’ lives online is very welcome.”
read full review ↗ - 87
“I very much enjoyed Death Stranding on the PS4, and that hasn't changed after playing through Death Stranding: Director's Cut on the PS5. It's not perfect in its overall story and gameplay execution, and it isn't a game that everyone will enjoy. If you can get past that, it's still is a uniquely rewarding experience that looks and plays better on a PS5, and it's one of the few PS5 titles that doesn't demand a fortune to upgrade for existent owners. At the same time, the content additions are a bit thin and don't add a lot to the experience, so the upgrades in visuals and performance are likely the main reason to upgrade your version.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“I am a genuine fan of Hideo Kojima's work and Death Stranding as a whole, but the lack of substantial new content to justify the additional price of entry holds back Death Stranding Director's Cut from reaching the soaring heights it potentially could. There is maybe enough new content to keep a returning player engaged for a weekend or so, but there really isn't anything in this update that couldn't have been included in a PS5 patch. However, Death Stranding itself is a modern marvel of creativity and risk-taking that I consider a "must play" for anyone who has not yet experienced it, and the upgrades in the Director’s Cut make it the optimal way to tackle this unique journey.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“It is unlikely that those who hated Death Stranding in its standard version will be able to change their judgment about the Director's Cut; all other players, on the other hand, shouldn't miss the opportunity to live and play again the adventure of Sam Porter Bridges.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“It is undeniable that returning to the world of Death Stranding after the year we've all had was affecting in ways I never anticipated going in. It didn't strike me the first time just how much positive feedback the game gives for every little thing Sam does. It didn't strike me the first time just how accurate the game would be in how isolation makes every interaction with a live human being into an event. The hope, the despair, the determination of it all just plain hits differently now, and in ways that make the game one to experience even if you don't end up liking it enough to stick with it for dozens of hours. The Director's Cut still does an admirable job goosing up that experience for maximum immersion. Even while trying to nudge itself towards something more approachable, there is still nothing quite like this game.”
read full review ↗ - 83
“When Death Stranding came out in 2019 I was in a bit of a conflict: on the one hand it was a great gameplay experience that presented me with something I hadn't played before, but in terms of story it sometimes completely derailed by tons of dialogue. The Director's Cut gives me the same feeling, but I'm convinced that newcomers will definitely take advantage and enjoy the new quality-of-life additions and the DualSense features. On the other hand, it offers owners of the PlayStation 4 version enough additions and improvements to justify a ten euro upgrade should they want to play this unique game again. ”
read full review ↗
GameMAG
PLAY Zine
Push Square
ZTGD
PCMag
Siliconera
Worth Playing
Checkpoint Gaming
Eurogamer
GameSpot
Power Unlimited…and 54 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
No patch announcements found on Steam yet.