Life is Strange

 PC
User Score
8.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 3257 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2,751 out of 3257
  2. Mixed: 277 out of 3257
  3. Negative: 229 out of 3257

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  1. beatbird
    Dec 5, 2018
    10
    I love this game. A story, characters, conflicts, game mechanics. I want to empathize with the heroes, because they're worked out well. I want more!
  2. luongnd
    Feb 29, 2016
    8
    Basically a teenage fiction/drama, it starts very slowly and boringly from Episode 1. It gets better around the end of Episode 2. Episodes 3 really pulls you in. The game is not perfect, many of the game's core gameplay feel unsatisfying and pointless (clicking and "viewing" things which doesnt serve anything to the advancement of the game) - but the story itself is good. Keep in mind thatBasically a teenage fiction/drama, it starts very slowly and boringly from Episode 1. It gets better around the end of Episode 2. Episodes 3 really pulls you in. The game is not perfect, many of the game's core gameplay feel unsatisfying and pointless (clicking and "viewing" things which doesnt serve anything to the advancement of the game) - but the story itself is good. Keep in mind that this is a teenage story - therefore you shouldn't take the logic factor very seriously. The graphics are great in style, though face-animation are terrible - especially the lipsyncing. Framerate is very consistent and should perform well with decent hardware.… Expand
  3. Julia1d
    Mar 8, 2016
    10
    FANTÁSTICO! O que dizer desse jogo incrível? Jogo muito legal, realmente eu me superei, um dos melhores jogos de escolha, sinceramente este jogo me fez gostar mais desse tipo de categoria, conheci e gostei do trabalho.
  4. Lenluig
    Dec 31, 2017
    10
    HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

    Impossibly intense & affecting, Life Is strange is like a dream you don't want to wake up from.
    An addiction you don't want to recover from. Which stops time on both sides of the screen.

    Best narrative gaming experience of all time.
    TIMELESS MASTERPIECE
  5. Magni
    Aug 7, 2016
    9
    Absolutely beautiful game. Lovable characters, amazing music, great style, and pretty great emotional ups and downs. I can recommend for anybody who love interactive storytelling. 9/10
  6. jazzsta555
    Jul 22, 2016
    9
    If not for cringe, 10/10

    9/10 would not play again
    lelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelelellelelelelelelel
  7. touchofheaven
    Jul 23, 2020
    7
    Хорошая игра и один из ярчайших примеров, как хорошую игру можно испортить мутной концовкой. Отличные саундтреки.
  8. Opcode_
    Aug 6, 2016
    9
    Life is Strange is now one of my all time FAVORITE games. Is it perfect? No...its damn near close though. This game is beautiful in its own special, slightly twisted way. I can't say anything else because this game is the best going in COMPLETELY BLIND. I'm making this review though because you need to know what you are signing up for going in. Get yourself some tissues, and go through itLife is Strange is now one of my all time FAVORITE games. Is it perfect? No...its damn near close though. This game is beautiful in its own special, slightly twisted way. I can't say anything else because this game is the best going in COMPLETELY BLIND. I'm making this review though because you need to know what you are signing up for going in. Get yourself some tissues, and go through it with an open heart. This game will stay with you for YEARS.

    P.S. - The Soundtrack for this game is the best one I've ever heard. Yes its even better than [That Game you're thinking of].    … Expand
  9. alexmartin
    Jan 11, 2017
    10
    Masterpiece 10/10. Best game ever created.
    best game best game best game best game best game best game best game best game.
    A Unique Brilliant Game.
  10. gearup099
    Aug 10, 2016
    10
    I'm lost for words in this game, the feels, I think it's perfectly made, thumbs up for the creator and those who work on this game, really. This game is stuck in my head everywhere I go. I feel terrible for buying this game so cheap. I'm more of a Fps,moba and mmorpg type of player so when I first bought this game, I really didn't care at it first. But this game can really change yourI'm lost for words in this game, the feels, I think it's perfectly made, thumbs up for the creator and those who work on this game, really. This game is stuck in my head everywhere I go. I feel terrible for buying this game so cheap. I'm more of a Fps,moba and mmorpg type of player so when I first bought this game, I really didn't care at it first. But this game can really change your perspective on other games and life. Srsly I hope in the future we don't make some time travel machine cause it can f*cked up everything real bad. Also it contains many philosophical questions that makes us want to question our lives. Thank you!… Expand
  11. DaviOchner
    Aug 12, 2016
    10
    Ótimo jogo
    Belo enredo, uma ótima trilha sonora que combina com cada elemento do jogo.
    Esse game merece mais que uma nota 10, pois para quem acompanhou sabe que no jogo ou você fica emocionado ou chora de verdade....jogos que chegam fazer uma pessoa se emocionar, ou ate mesmo chorar realmente merece um oscar pois não é nada fácil criar titulos assim...esse foi o 2° jogo que ja joguei e    Ótimo jogo
    Belo enredo, uma ótima trilha sonora que combina com cada elemento do jogo.
    Esse game merece mais que uma nota 10, pois para quem acompanhou sabe que no jogo ou você fica emocionado ou chora de verdade....jogos que chegam fazer uma pessoa se emocionar, ou ate mesmo chorar realmente merece um oscar pois não é nada fácil criar titulos assim...esse foi o 2° jogo que ja joguei e que me deixou emocionado.    … Expand
  12. Neng-
    Jun 3, 2017
    8
    Look, I'm so bad at decision making, i just can't choose between something that has similar pros and cons, so when I'm pushed to the edge to make any choice in life is strange, i consider all possibilities and make sure the decision I'm making is right, but it turns out that i often get that wrong and I fail miserably, luckily this kind of feature with the reverse time made me able to seeLook, I'm so bad at decision making, i just can't choose between something that has similar pros and cons, so when I'm pushed to the edge to make any choice in life is strange, i consider all possibilities and make sure the decision I'm making is right, but it turns out that i often get that wrong and I fail miserably, luckily this kind of feature with the reverse time made me able to see the actual consequences before deciding, so it made so much sense that you didn't have to reset manually to the last checkpoint and repeat it, it's an included feature within the game! And it's actually implemented and has a meaning in the actual plot!

    The game is full of references to video games and films, the soundtrack is pure bliss and the main character is so easy to connect with that you get so implied in the story.

    It has some issues with the story itself, maybe an story a bit more mature would have been more interesting, maybe some events happening are kind of cliche, but i think it compensates well with all its strengths. Definitely worth playing.    … Expand
  13. RoseWhite1
    Sep 26, 2016
    10
    Get the horror head
    Get the crying head
    I cant leave you in my head I cant leave you in my head you still crying my head"created BY THE LEGEND i will say this game legend crying my head my mind my soul and now i get heart problem sometime i going in hospital to check my heart and doctor get confuse and think how a 16 years old girl get heart problem they ask why? i dont answer them    Get the horror head
    Get the crying head
    I cant leave you in my head
    I cant leave you in my head
    you still crying my head"created BY THE LEGEND
    i will say this game legend
    crying my head my mind my soul and now i get heart problem sometime i going in hospital to check my
    heart and doctor get confuse and think how a 16 years old girl get heart problem they ask why? i dont answer them but the feelings in my heart can say sometime i crying for my heart problem but i still hide my pain in my heart for this game i want to know why this game moment and song suffer heart pain doesnt matter if i die for my heart problem for this game i know about this i know this mine in my soul    … Expand
  14. mikepatyaev
    Oct 6, 2016
    7
    One of the most carefully crafted games I've played. With a great, engaging story and good character development, episode 1 had me wanting episode 2 right from the get-go. If the other episodes are half as good as this telltale inspired episodic drama, then we're in for a treat.
  15. Esvext
    Aug 21, 2021
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. My personal GOTY for 2015. I was lucky I bought the game when there were already 4 episodes out of 5, because it would have been very hard to wait between episodes 3 and 4. The game is a great narrative adventure.… Expand
  16. dandalis
    Jan 22, 2020
    8
    Great adventure game. Has plenty of properly emotional moments and a fine nostalgic vibe that i really loved. Dontnod shows that you dont need super, mega AAA game budget to make an impactful and beautiful game, and makes excellent use of Unreal Engine 3 with hand crafted visuals. Original soundtrack was very nicely done and licensed songs were really well picked aswell.

    As a sci fi    Great adventure game. Has plenty of properly emotional moments and a fine nostalgic vibe that i really loved. Dontnod shows that you dont need super, mega AAA game budget to make an impactful and beautiful game, and makes excellent use of Unreal Engine 3 with hand crafted visuals. Original soundtrack was very nicely done and licensed songs were really well picked aswell.

    As a sci fi fan, the way the time travel is handled in the game fascinated me. Story was well paced, both main and side characters felt down to earth that you could see and understand their struggles. If there is one major criticism to be made about the story side of things, then its about the ending, it very much resembles Mass Effect 3's struggles, but to be fair towards Dontnod, they did not market the pretence that all of your choices would matter in the ending, they just affected the smaller things around you as you progressed through the story, episode to episode. Still, ending could've been handled better, as it comes down to a rudimentary choice, but really, it didnt negatively impact the overall experience either.

    It's really one of a kind experience and dont let yourself to be fooled by the haters who call this a teen girl drama or right wing reactionaries calling it SJW propaganda, despite some of the peoples political opinions behind the game, it really isnt. If you love a fine adventure game then go in open minded into this one and you'll find a unique experience that will stick with you after finishing it.    … Expand
  17. KYOTO
    Feb 14, 2017
    10
    cool soundcool soundcool soundcool soundcool soundcool soundcool soundcool soundcool soundcool soundcool soundcool soundcool soundcool soundcool sound
  18. LorelaiG
    Jan 11, 2017
    10
    AMAZING GAME. 10/10 MUSIC, HISTORY, CHARACTERS.. A game made with much affection and dedication.
    Thanks to DONTNOD for making a wonderful experience. The game I most connected to by far. Beautiful and Devastating is what it is Life is Strange.
    FOR ME WITH THE WITCHER 3 THE GOTY 2015
  19. natanfk
    Feb 7, 2017
    9
    + Great characters
    + Great storyline
    + Nice time travel mechanic
    + Choices impact the fate of individual characters
    + Outstanding voice acting

    - Many choices won't matter because you will change the timeline where they happened
    - Choices won't impact the ending
    - Graphics and facial expression are really bad
  20. mashedtatter
    Nov 18, 2019
    8
    (Originally posted on Steam in November of 2015)

    Imagine, you're a fairly typical high school girl obsessed with taking photographs. You moved from a rather hip and happening city to go to a school back in your boring little hometown just because your favorite photographer is now a teacher there. Your life is more or less a day to day repeat of Degrassi High without Drake. Until one day    (Originally posted on Steam in November of 2015)

    Imagine, you're a fairly typical high school girl obsessed with taking photographs. You moved from a rather hip and happening city to go to a school back in your boring little hometown just because your favorite photographer is now a teacher there. Your life is more or less a day to day repeat of Degrassi High without Drake. Until one day you happen to be in the right place at the right time and discover you're a living time machine.

    Welcome to Life is Strange, an episodic "interactive movie" as I've started to call them. It's pretty similar to TellTale's recent adventure games where you control a character to explore your environment, interact with other characters, and make major story affecting decisions such as whether you want to eat waffles or eggs and bacon for breakfast.

    Okay, it does sound rather silly. And the first episode DOES give off a pretty bad impression. As previously mentioned, it starts off almost like a 2015 High School simulator. But by the end of episode one, you gather enough hints to figure out some major ♥♥♥♥ is going down. Each episode since has only traveled further down that rabbit hole. Decisions get much more important, and you may find yourself using the token 'rewind' system to change your decisions in case your consciousness gets the better of you.

    Of course, no game is without it's flaws, and Life is Strange has a few I'd rather forget about. The dialogue itself is very "older men trying to emulate teenage girls they've seen talking on Twitter/Tumblr/Instagram" and can lead to HELLA cringe worthy moments. The controls can be a bit twitchy at times, and you'll find yourself trying to readjust your positioning just to get an option to light up for you. But the overall story is pretty damn interesting and fun. There are plenty of references to classic cult tv shows and movies like Twin Peaks, Donnie Darko, Butterfly Effect, Twilight Zone, even Planet of the Apes! And the plot itself seems to borrow elements from these sources as well.

    Edit: Now that the final episode is out, I can say that I still feel the game was worth my time and money. The ending has left fans very divided, but I myself enjoyed it. Without spoiling too much, just keep in mind that this IS a Time Travel story, and they don't tend to get "happy endings". My only REAL complaint about the game is that, like TellTale's recent games, your choices... don't make too much actual impact. That's the one downfall of this whole "Interactive Movie" genre, and I wish it could be properly solved. Maybe one day.

    I'd still say if you're a fan of recent TellTale games, or time travel stories, or melodramatic entertainment? Give it a shot. If you don't like it, you can always just rewind time to before you bought it. Right?

    tl;dr: Memes and bisexual girls 11/10 goty every year ayyyyyy lmao

    side note: this is probably my first and only long review jesus that was exhausting    … Expand
  21. marcelus
    Mar 17, 2017
    9
    Pros:
    - Another great episodic graphic adventure but this one provides some little fresh elements. The main one, time travel. Is not as deep as the manipulation of memory Dontnod made on "Remember Me" (2013) but is well implemented for a larger audience.
    - Life is Strange is focused on its story. Is not the classic high school story it has a warmer and different perspective. Sometimes    Pros:
    - Another great episodic graphic adventure but this one provides some little fresh elements. The main one, time travel. Is not as deep as the manipulation of memory Dontnod made on "Remember Me" (2013) but is well implemented for a larger audience.

    - Life is Strange is focused on its story. Is not the classic high school story it has a warmer and different perspective. Sometimes is really sad, sometimes melancholic and sometimes implements humor in little cute doses even joking about hipsters, modern art, films etc...

    - Characters are very interesting and every chapter Max writes in her diary about her relationship with them at the moment. They put a great effort in this aspect.

    - The episodes ending are great! Always right in the feels ;)

    - Technically speaking is not ground breaking but Unreal Engine 3 fit nicely. Is good to see that they approached artistically mixing shaders and not only cel-shaded models like in other franchises. The art, care of details and color palettes are great. The work done with vintage filters, postprocess, chromatic aberration, DOF, bloom is really good! ;)

    - The game is on 7th and 8th gen including PC. Shamefully is not yet confirmed any portable or tablet version (like TWD did with iOS and Android) maybe if the go for UE4 would be able to do that.

    - Gameplay wise mmm is exactly the same as The Walking Dead but you don't use many items. You interact with the environment and mostly you alter the time with your powers to change situations around the characters.

    - It has a bit of replayability because of the collectibles (the pictures to complete your diary) and a few interesting choices during the five episodes. Is not like in the Telltale Games that all roads go to the same place, is not Until Dawn which can give you a few very different results but your choices makes you feel responsible...You'll see.

    - The music and the OST in general is great and very relaxing. Is a game to take your time and be played on late night ;) I saw people rushing through it. Is a shame. that's why it took my almost 30hs to complete. Because even if is a bit linear you it deserves your attention on the work they put on some dialogs and choices (even those choices that doesn't matter at all).

    Cons:
    Not many cons....FOR REALS?
    Yes, it worth his price and the time you spend with it 100% ;)

    - I would be great to have a game like this with more difficult puzzles in the future. Nowadays the experience of this kind of games underestimates some kind of gamers to reach wide audiences.

    - I will not enter in spoilers but there're a few gaps that maybe in a next game or a DLC they can "solve".

    - You'll missed to play it like the first time. Is not the same to play the episodes and have to wait than playing it all on a few sits now that is out. So, if you can avoid spoilers on the internet (mostly on our hipster friend Tumblr and deviantART) try to take your time.

    - A few audio glitches on the late episodes. They can be solved easily.    … Expand
  22. jaw1986baby
    Mar 20, 2017
    4
    So that last time the game has you climbing the path nearly to the Lighthouse, if the PC gets a Blue Screen you think this has been a very good game. Then you get the last choice and the ending. Worse than ME 3 for an ending so bad it ruined the WHOLE game for me. I am not going to give spoilers so I will not detail my reasons. But I was so, so disappointed.
  23. benigames
    Feb 4, 2018
    8
    Excellent: story (+very deep & interesting; accent is on choices rather than riddles)

    Very good: graphic (+visuals & landscapes) Good: characters (+deep bond between them; making emotional connection between gamer/player and characters as story goes on -in some situations they can behave more like children than teenagers) Bad: riddles (-only a few of them in all episodes except it    Excellent: story (+very deep & interesting; accent is on choices rather than riddles)

    Very good: graphic (+visuals & landscapes)

    Good: characters (+deep bond between them; making emotional connection between gamer/player and characters as story goes on -in some situations they can behave more like children than teenagers)

    Bad: riddles (-only a few of them in all episodes except it should be "adventure" game, not movie (cartoon) with choices; or maybe I'm wrong)

    Terrible: side quest "take a photo of something irrelevant" & get an achievement for that (+good for relaxing -but has nothing to do with the story or something else important).

    Summary: I would recommend it to anyone who loves good & weird stories and bonding with characters. It is a too much animated movie with choices than a game, for me.    … Expand
  24. Genie44
    Dec 25, 2017
    6
    yeah i had very much fun actually i got kinda addicted to it,but in the end the it is just a black or white ending,which is ridiculous for an interactive movie game ,it just as prince of Persia franchise(which were great) except that they fool you and make you think you can make a choice.
  25. scepticpurple
    Dec 27, 2017
    8
    Life is Strange is a bit of a mess. But with flaws that would otherwise cripple a game, here they merely slow it down. Sure, the dialogue is puzzlingly inconsistent, the ending is nothing short of awful and the whole game can often feel extremely through-composed. But amongst these issues, however abundant they may be, you'll find beauty, character and intelligence in volumes that fewLife is Strange is a bit of a mess. But with flaws that would otherwise cripple a game, here they merely slow it down. Sure, the dialogue is puzzlingly inconsistent, the ending is nothing short of awful and the whole game can often feel extremely through-composed. But amongst these issues, however abundant they may be, you'll find beauty, character and intelligence in volumes that few games can even come close to. Life Is Strange tirelessly tussles with itself, sometimes in confidence, sometimes not. In this sense, it is defined as much by it's weaknesses as it is by it's strengths, and though this can be frustrating, it ultimately only gives way to the game's greatest victory of all: Life Is Strange is a remarkably human game… Expand
  26. Fx_32
    Jul 21, 2020
    10
    Супер игра!! Всем мужикам советую поиграть в данный хит
  27. chup123
    Nov 24, 2017
    9
    What was this game an experience, really. The only thing I did not like in this entire game was the ending, but you know what I mean when you will play this beautiful game. Square and Dontnod have done an amazing job by creating this game and his awesome storyline. Where are you waiting for, go to steam and buy it!
  28. ShineDelaNoire
    Jul 5, 2017
    10
    Beyond a shadow of a doubt this is one of the greatest achievements in the history of storytelling. This game broke my heart and I love it even more because of that. Easily 10 out of 10 and a badass seal of approval.
  29. Werniks
    Aug 1, 2017
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Great game, one of the best i've ever played but last episode sucks a bit because your previous choices basically doesn't matter at all. I wonder if you could choose third ending which would be based on all previous decisions you did. For example: if you fulfill exact number of specific choices you will get the best ending.… Expand
  30. Lyvione
    Sep 26, 2021
    10
    This game will change your life. Its in my top 3 best games of ALL time. like ever. If you are into deep story, with well developed characters..f**k it man - if u are into brilliant games (rhetorical question lol)..just play this game. That its..play the game, its brilliant and it will hit u hard, and u will remember this game - forever. That's how good Life is Strange is. A true masterpiece.
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Awards & Rankings

32
#32 Best PC Game of 2015
8
#8 Most Discussed PC Game of 2015
19
#19 Most Shared PC Game of 2015

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
83

Generally favorable reviews - based on 15 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 15
  3. Negative: 0 out of 15
  1. Softpedia
    Jan 28, 2016
    85
    Life Is Strange is an imperfect video game and the actual mechanics of playing it, including the time rewind, can become annoying of frustrating, especially when the development team tries to borrow from another genre. But the game makes it easy to create a connection with Max and to care about her choices and trials, a rare feat, and that means any fan of narrative-driven experiences should try it out to see how he deals with the feelings of the protagonist and the impact they have on Arcadia Bay.
    Read full review
  2. PCWorld
    Jan 19, 2016
    80
    Life is Strange is flawed, but this paranormal coming-of-age story is nevertheless refreshing proof that small stakes can still feel important, given strong characters.
    Read full review
  3. IGN Spain
    Jan 18, 2016
    86
    Life is Strange is a brilliant concept that you will love if you forget prejudices.
    Read full review
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