Life is Strange 2

Life is Strange 2 tells the story of the brothers Sean and Daniel Diaz fleeing from Seattle towards Mexico. Sean tries to protect his younger brother and teach him to use his telekinetic power responsibly.

Life is Strange 2 launched in September 2018 with the first episode on PC, PS4 and Xbox One. The five-part story was completed by 2019. The Mac and Linux versions were released on Dec 19, 2019. Since Feb 2, 2023, the complete journey is also available on Nintendo Switch.

Life is Strange 2 was originally released for PC, PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch. The PC versions support Windows, macOS and Linux. On PS5, the PS4 version can be played via backward compatibility; a standalone PS5 version was not released. The Switch version includes all five episodes.

You control Sean from a third-person perspective, explore changing locations and, in conversations and difficult situations, decide how the brothers act. The telekinetic power belongs to Daniel. Through his decisions, Sean influences how the boy deals with this ability and with other people.

The story consists of five consecutive episodes. Besides the opening chapter, the other episodes can be purchased individually. The Complete Season bundles all five. The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit is a free, standalone short adventure connected to Life is Strange 2. Further additional content includes cosmetic packs and language options.

On Windows, the game requires at least a 64-bit PC with an Intel Core i3-2100 or AMD Phenom X4 945, 4 GB RAM, GeForce GTX 650 or Radeon HD 7770, and 40 GB of free storage. Recommended are a Core i5-3470 or FX-8350, 6 GB RAM and a GTX 970 or Radeon R9 280X.

Sean's behaviour affects more than just immediate dialogue. Daniel watches whether his brother helps, lies, steals or takes risks, and learns from it. These experiences shape his attitude towards other people and towards his telekinetic power. The relationship between the two is therefore the game's central choice system.

The five chapters follow Sean and Daniel on a long journey through the United States. New places and encounters confront the brothers with different conflicts. The episodes tell a connected story and are designed to be played in their intended order.

Sean is sixteen years old and, after their flight, becomes Daniel's most important caregiver. His younger brother has to deal with loss, fear and a power that is hard to control. On the way towards Mexico, the two meet people whose decisions and behaviour shape their future lives.

Jonathan Morali, who already composed the music for the first Life is Strange, also wrote music for the second part. In addition, there are licensed tracks from artists including Phoenix, Bloc Party and First Aid Kit. The hand-painted look and the soundtrack emphasise the personal conflicts along the journey.

Life is Strange 2 is a single-player adventure. On PC, German on-screen text and subtitles are available. English voice acting is included. Nintendo lists German, English, French, Spanish and Italian among the supported languages of the Switch version.