Life is Strange: True Colors

 PC
Metascore
81

Generally favorable reviews - based on 26 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 22 out of 26
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 26
  3. Negative: 0 out of 26
  1. Player 2
    Sep 12, 2021
    100
    I have a lot of feelings about this game, and I’m not even sure that I’m finished processing them yet. I’m going to need to play it again. But for now, I do know that this game is powerful, and it’s going to hold its own special place in my heart for a long time.
  2. CGMagazine
    Sep 8, 2021
    95
    Life Is Strange: True Colors is an unforgettable journey with some meaningful messages.
  3. COGconnected
    Sep 8, 2021
    92
    Set in an idyllic town, amongst the harmony of nature, Life is Strange: True Colors might appear to be an escapist fantasy. But it has something to say. Subtly, and most importantly effectively, it reflects its characters and themes onto the player. It’s a timely reminder of the importance of empathy, and an adventure that ultimately kept me glued to it from start to finish.
  5. Digital Spy
    Oct 22, 2021
    90
    True Colors makes an extremely strong case for the best Life Is Strange game yet, with an affecting story that tackles themes such as loss and belonging and featuring the series' most likeable protagonist to date in Alex Chen. The town of Haven Springs is also a standout, and by the end of the game, I was sad that I had to say goodbye to the cast of characters. Hopefully this isn't the last time we see Alex.
  6. PC Invasion
    Sep 10, 2021
    90
    Somehow the team over at Deck Nine has taken the franchise to the next level. Life is Strange: True Colors is an experience that can resonate at an emotional level that's rarely seen nowadays, delivered with both maturity and grace. You'd have to be crazy to miss out on this epic adventure in small town, America.
  7. God is a Geek
    Sep 8, 2021
    90
    Life is Strange: True Colors is a powerful story of loss, love, and overcoming the things that hold you back. The empathy abilities add depth, and Alex is one of the best characters Life is Strange has ever seen.
  8. PC Gamer
    Sep 8, 2021
    86
    Visually gorgeous and emotionally raw, True Colors is an incredible continuation of the Life is Strange series.
  9. Game World Navigator Magazine
    Oct 22, 2021
    85
    With Dontnod, there’s always a small town and the death of a friend to get the story rolling. But this time around, characters, plot and setting are far more developed than in previous games. [Issue#255, p.62]
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  10. MGG
    Sep 8, 2021
    85
    With its rich emotional proposal, Life is Strange: True Colors managed to arouse our empathy on many occasions. Even if it is not free of flaws (repetitions, invisible walls, long loading times...), it knows how to create the right atmosphere by relying on melancholic music and good acting. Its concept of auras works perfectly and allows for some very nice sequences. With its neat graphics, its excellent voice acting and its endearing characters, it is a great Life is Strange.
  11. GameGrin
    Sep 8, 2021
    85
    What True Colors lacks in the emotional gut-wrench that the previous games have, it makes it for with a refined format that presents a story that fits right into the series and tells it in the best way seen so far. You're very unlikely to be disappointed here.
  12. New Game Network
    Sep 27, 2021
    83
    There is a vast rainbow of greatness within Life is Strange: True Colors. Its awesome characters, emotional connections, effective humor, intricate animations, fun moments, and outstanding music are why it is one of the best narrative adventure games in years.
  13. Merlin'in Kazanı (Turkey)
    Sep 22, 2021
    82
    Life is Strange: True Colors is a really successful production with the emotions and great atmosphere that it feels to the player.
  14. GameStar
    Sep 8, 2021
    82
    An extraordinary narrative adventure game that will stay in your memory for a long time, but it would have benefited from more interactivity.
  15. Adventure Gamers
    Jan 3, 2022
    80
    Life Is Strange: True Colors paints a pretty picture, creating a story you’ll really want to invest in, with only a slow plot point or two distracting from what is otherwise a great work of art.
  16. GamesBeat
    Oct 15, 2021
    80
    While Alex’s story didn’t have the most action in it, it was full of emotion and it was a story worth telling. I give this one five stars out of five when it comes to its narrative, but I drop it down a notch to four stars out of five because of the clunky movement and too-familiar gameplay. I’m looking forward to what Dontnod and Deck Nine can do with next-generation platforms and the future Unreal Engine. But for now, they fell just a little short of what I was hoping for.
  17. Worth Playing
    Sep 8, 2021
    80
    Life is Strange: True Colors is a fun entry in the franchise. It doesn't really break any rules or do anything shocking, but it's a comfortable game to play. The time I spent in Haven Springs put me in a shockingly good mood for a game revolving around a murder, and I welcomed the entire experience. Unfortunately, the tacked-on murder mystery drags down the story somewhat and keeps it from reaching the highest highs that it can. If you're a fan of the franchise, you're sure to like this latest entry.
  18. VG247
    Sep 8, 2021
    80
    Of the Life is Strange games I've completed (2 is still woefully unfinished for me atm), True Colors is my favorite. It strikes the perfect balance of focus on Alex as a person, the town of Haven Springs as a community, and how the two interact and change each other. While I'm still not sold on the superpowers as a mechanic or narrative device, they're unobtrusive enough to be fine, and do provide more to actually do besides walking around, looking at things and talking to people. If you liked previous entries in the Life is Strange series, you'll probably enjoy this one. It's a tighter, cleaner take on the formula, but at its heart, it's still the balance of magic and mundane that’s become signature to these games.
  19. Windows Central
    Sep 8, 2021
    80
    Life is Strange: True Colors struggles to justify some of its earlier chapters, but makes up for it with strong characters and a fun LARP session to mix up the gameplay. Though it doesn't quite live up to the mystery and intrigue of the original game, True Colors still shines on its own.
  20. PCGamesN
    Sep 8, 2021
    80
    Its story doesn't quite stick the landing, but this is a beautiful game - not just in its look, sound, and feel, or even in its real and relatable characters, but in its message and its delivery.
  21. Attack of the Fanboy
    Sep 8, 2021
    80
    True Colors is a big step up for the series and shows that Life is Strange is in good hands with Deck Nine.
  22. IGN France
    Sep 8, 2021
    80
    Deck Nine Games perfectly takes over from Dondnod, keeping the narrative formula intact and upgrading the licence technically. Important choices will be made, with a true reflection on mourning and the meaning of the word Home. A great game.
  23. Vandal
    Sep 8, 2021
    75
    True Colors doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel (or do anything new at all, actually), but if you have enjoyed previous entries in the series you will like this emotional journey.
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In Progress & Unscored

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  1. Rock, Paper, Shotgun
    Sep 8, 2021
    That, I think, was always the strength of Life Is Strange anyway. People liked spending time with Max and Chloe. I'm long since past the point where people listening to mimbling guitar while looking out the window is anything but annoying to me now, but True Colors moves the series forward, and is perhaps a better reflection of how the teens who might have loved the original Life Is Strange games are growing up, too. Alas, as much as I liked its enjoyable cast and Alex's interesting empath powers, the rest of True Colors just falls short of true brilliance. Life Is Strange games are often given to painting their issues in black and white rather than shades of grey, and I'm disappointed True Colors ended up using such a limited palette, too.

Awards & Rankings

65
#65 Best PC Game of 2021
32
#32 Most Discussed PC Game of 2021

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
6.8

Mixed or average reviews- based on 280 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 153 out of 280
  2. Mixed: 65 out of 280
  3. Negative: 62 out of 280
  1. KevinG9999
    Sep 14, 2021
    4
    This review contains spoilers, click full review link to view. The game is way too slow at the beginning and rushed at the end. The superpower is quite irrelevant and useless. You learned a lot by accessing the past events through designated objects but have no use for that information. You can absorb people's emotions but you can do it twice throughout the game with no consequences. You rarely have a chance to use your power, and most of it is insignificant. You don't establish a real connection with anyone except the one you romanced, and it's so obvious. At the end of the game where you confront Jed, those who decided to help you later on sit awkwardly silence at the beginning. To the point that I feel Alex is totally alone in this scenario, despite her running around trying to help people. I helped Charlotte on the biggest role with Ethan, I helped Eleanor by telling Riley about her condition and her tasks in flower shop, I helped Mac's relationship and his mental breakdown, I helped Riley for telling the truth about Eleanor, I helped Ryan from suicidal thought, and I helped Ethan for his boring long game. What did I get in return? NOTHING, because most of them didn't even show up; they just... disappeared. These characters are extremely selfish, and what is the point of helping them except keeping the game longer. At the end, I decided to **** this town and left with Steph, and the game gave me an unsatisfied ending. NO ONE, those I helped, even go out and say good bye; even Gabe disappeared after my decision without words. NO ONE CARE ABOUT YOU. Improved graphics and good musics, but too many plot holes. A total waste of time.… Full Review »
  2. Fuse00
    Sep 12, 2021
    4
    The main problem is, the game is boring. It has no intrigue, no complex relationships between characters, as it was in LiS 1, no road movieThe main problem is, the game is boring. It has no intrigue, no complex relationships between characters, as it was in LiS 1, no road movie dynamic with variety of new characters and locations as it was in LiS 2. Superpowers of the main character are useless. She can see the emotional aura, but in most cases the emotion is obvious even without her "power", like the guy is yelling - red aura, he's angry, the golden aura -he's happy (which is obvious because he's laughing).

    Plus, devs decision to make main character introvert geek girl again(!) looks like a hope to trigger LiS 1 fans and nothing more than that. Alex is the quite shallow character, she has no charisma of her own, I personally feel no empathy to her which makes it difficult for me to involve myself into the local drama.

    The town is nice, graphics is good, mocap looks great in cutscenes. Nothing else could be said about this game.    … Full Review »
  3. TheTrashBoi
    Sep 11, 2021
    10
    An immense improvement over Life is Strange 2, bravo Deck Nine! The game is a bit pricey though and the game is shorter than previous mainlineAn immense improvement over Life is Strange 2, bravo Deck Nine! The game is a bit pricey though and the game is shorter than previous mainline entries so I do recommend buying this on sale though. I loved Alex’s story so much and I can’t wait to see what Deck Nine do next in the future.… Full Review »
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