User Score
8.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 2178 Ratings

User score distribution:
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  1. Jan 15, 2019
    10
    Life is Strange puts the player into an emotional Journey, you can't out this game down because of its story originality. Life is Strange makes the player get emotionally attached to the characters in the game very well. Life is Strange is a very original title. Rating: 9.6/10
  2. Jan 6, 2019
    8
    Gameplay: 8 (The rewind ability was so interesting)
    Story: 10
    Characters: 10
    Graphics: 6
    Re-playability: 8
    Online: -
    Overall: 8,4
  3. Nov 16, 2018
    8
    Life is Strange is a hard to judge objectively, especially because I don't want to spoil the story of this game. With all the positive feedback it has received from critics and fans alike you might think it is a flawless masterpiece or something, but it is not. I really had a great time with the game but it definitely has some glaring issues you should keep in mind before buying:
    This
    Life is Strange is a hard to judge objectively, especially because I don't want to spoil the story of this game. With all the positive feedback it has received from critics and fans alike you might think it is a flawless masterpiece or something, but it is not. I really had a great time with the game but it definitely has some glaring issues you should keep in mind before buying:
    This game follows the "Telltale Adventure Game" formula with all its flaws. For example really subpar graphics, clunky controls or the "illusion of choice" when in reality the story has been completely mapped out and you only have influence over minor details, rendering pretty much every choice you make inconsequential. Some might argue if you could call this a game at all since it practically plays itself.
    Now on top of that add some cringy dialoge and a story that starts out rather underwhelming and you can totally relate to the lower user reviews from People who were obviously really taken aback by these issues.

    Nevertheless, I (and most other people) still enjoyed the game, so why is that?
    Well, let's start with gameplay, because the game introduces a really fun mechanic: the ability to turn back time and reset the last few choices you made. I think it fits perfectly into this video game genre as it allows for interesting puzzles and also you can just fool around with all the dialoge options and then settle with the one you like best.
    Then there is the very unqique atmosphere of this game. I would describe it as somewhat dreamy and melancholic. This is mostly due to the amazing music and the artstyle (which despite the subpar graphics manages to create many beautiful images) but of course the story plays a major role in creating this vibe as well.

    The, in my opinion, really cool vibe was also what mostly kept me playing for the first few hours, because unfortunately, as I already mentioned, the game starts off kind of slow and underwhelming.
    I didn't really relate to the characters yet and felt like I was mostly just wandering around and talking to people without anything really being at stake or motivating me. In hindsite it makes sense in the bigger picture of the storyline but I really wish they had thrown in some more interesting puzzles and choices to keep you more interested for the first few hours.
    Somewhere between Episde 2 and 3 of this game was when it really took off for me (there are 5 Episodes in total). Thankfully the story starts shifting focus from highschool drama to mystery/crime and it starts ramping up the stakes dramatically. At this point I realy started caring about the characters, as they showed a lot more depth than I initally anticipated. The game also starts makeing more radical use of your time travel powers.

    The game gets really dark and trippy the further you progress. Thanks to the great characters and the Illusion that you are responsible for what is happening, I was completely hooked as the stakes were being raised higher and higher. It all culminates in an incredibly tragic and emotional ending that really caught me off guard.

    Conclusion:
    To me Life is Strange was a very memorable and emotional experience, despite all its issues. I really liked the vibe/atmosphere the game has going and the story, while starting out a little weak, really gained momentum as it fleshed out its characters and grew bolder with its storyline.
    If the positives caught your attention, chances are you are going to have a great experience. Just don't expect a perfectly polished game or something that will revolutionize the genre.
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  4. Nov 15, 2018
    5
    en resumen: al final del juego te dejan tomar la decisión que no te han dejado tomar en todo el juego

    los flashbacks le hacen un flaco favor al juego, porque no consiguen que las decisiones tengan el peso que realmente deberían de tener, y porque proponen puzles muy sosos la sensación de que no se puede cambiar mucho la historia hagas lo que hagas, y que si se ahorrasen un par de
    en resumen: al final del juego te dejan tomar la decisión que no te han dejado tomar en todo el juego

    los flashbacks le hacen un flaco favor al juego, porque no consiguen que las decisiones tengan el peso que realmente deberían de tener, y porque proponen puzles muy sosos

    la sensación de que no se puede cambiar mucho la historia hagas lo que hagas, y que si se ahorrasen un par de horas de relleno quedaría mejor juego
    una pena, porque los personajes y los detalles están bastante bien trabajados a pesar de los fallos que hay con los viajes en el tiempo
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  5. Nov 4, 2018
    10
    Puede que su resolución no esté a la altura del resto del juego, o mejor dicho, de la experiencia que es Life is Strange, pero pienso que su desarrollo es de tal valor que sería injusto minusvalorar el resto. Pocos juegos tienen la capacidad de tenerte en vilo las 15-20 horas que dura sintiendo todo tipo de sensaciones y completamente conectado emocionalmente a los personajes, me caben enPuede que su resolución no esté a la altura del resto del juego, o mejor dicho, de la experiencia que es Life is Strange, pero pienso que su desarrollo es de tal valor que sería injusto minusvalorar el resto. Pocos juegos tienen la capacidad de tenerte en vilo las 15-20 horas que dura sintiendo todo tipo de sensaciones y completamente conectado emocionalmente a los personajes, me caben en los dedos de una mano. En life is strange uno siente miedo, confusión, alegría, impotencia, alivio... todo eso y más sería quedarse corto. La banda sonora tiene gran culpa de ello, se las mejores que recuerde, tanto por sus temas en sí como por el uso que reflejan perfectamente el estado de los personajes en cada momento. En definitiva, una experiencia como pocas se puede encontrar uno. Expand
  6. Oct 28, 2018
    10
    This game is amazing! A true masterpiece and a work of true art! Must play!
  7. Q_C
    Oct 8, 2018
    7
    Life is Strange was, for lack of a better word, a strange experience. Made by Dontnod Entertainment and Published by Square Enix This game was a new adventure similar to the classic Telltale Games. In this game, you play as Max a teenage girl who has a run in with the fantastic. The story is woven perfectly and told a great pace throughout the first four episodes in the game. There wereLife is Strange was, for lack of a better word, a strange experience. Made by Dontnod Entertainment and Published by Square Enix This game was a new adventure similar to the classic Telltale Games. In this game, you play as Max a teenage girl who has a run in with the fantastic. The story is woven perfectly and told a great pace throughout the first four episodes in the game. There were many moments in this game that I didn’t think they would let happen, or let me play out. Things I’ve never seen another dev team in the same genre go to think lengths Life is Strange did. But with that praise, I was incredibly underwhelmed by the climax of the game where your final choice seemed obvious to me. The game was incredibly drawing; the atmosphere would just captivate me, and I loved walking through arcadia bay. The Development of all the main characters was deep and you really felt like the world around you was growing with you. And that only drug in the immersion in harder. It was breathtaking. My biggest gripe with the game was the graphics. I say all the time how graphics grated to me. Everything felt bad, Max’s expressions were flat, and the art design wasn’t great, and the lip syncing was abysmally bad. There’s a scene late in episode 4 where you’re at a pool party and the characters in the pool look like crowds in Smackdown Vs Raw. All in all, I loved the story and the experience made me want to see it to the end. It’s unfortunate that the end of the game was a mess of new mechanics out of nowhere and a lackluster ending to the cliffhanger left at the end of Episode 4. Also the Promotional Picture is hella misleading.

    Life is Strange gets a 7 Out of 10
    -Das_Dood
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  8. Oct 3, 2018
    8
    Finally a game where the choices actually DO matter. Don't be mistaken, I LOVED the Walking Dead Telltale games but the choices there are not that important. Life Is Strange is a very important game, that conveys such a strong message and delivers a greeeaaattt story. It is kinda boring sometimes though, but I really liked the simple complexity / or / complex simplicity of the game. TheFinally a game where the choices actually DO matter. Don't be mistaken, I LOVED the Walking Dead Telltale games but the choices there are not that important. Life Is Strange is a very important game, that conveys such a strong message and delivers a greeeaaattt story. It is kinda boring sometimes though, but I really liked the simple complexity / or / complex simplicity of the game. The main character is likable and the ending(s) are very emotional, I recommend it of course. Expand
  9. Sep 29, 2018
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This game is a damn masterpiece dude its so freaking awesome! The game has insanely awesome story!!!! Its story is so awesome and emotional. The both endings are sad but are great this game from the beginning chapter to its final chapter always amazed me!! End of every chapter had something awesome that made people eager for whats to come in the next chapter! A must play game every gamer should play it!! Expand
  10. Sep 8, 2018
    7
    What Kind of Adventure?

    Graphic-Adventure Was it fun? My friends and I have decided that every Sunday, we would get together and play graphic adventure game. So we played 1 episode a week of Life is Strange and we finally finished it up last night. Every week, I looked forward to this game and it was a very enjoyable story. So yes, I had a lot of fun playing this game. Are
    What Kind of Adventure?

    Graphic-Adventure

    Was it fun?

    My friends and I have decided that every Sunday, we would get together and play graphic adventure game. So we played 1 episode a week of Life is Strange and we finally finished it up last night. Every week, I looked forward to this game and it was a very enjoyable story. So yes, I had a lot of fun playing this game.

    Are there any similar games?

    Its a point and click/graphic adventure game, the style is very similar to Game of Thrones.

    Favorite Character?

    With games like this (and even TV shows), the way I judge whether I like a character is I ask myself, “Could I see myself hanging out and being friends with any of these people?” The only character that I found remotely relatable to me was Warren. Max the main character seemed like a nice person but she wasn’t very relatable for me and pretty much everyone else in the game was pretentious and unlikable.

    Would you play it again?

    I probably wouldn’t play this game again but I would be willing to watch someone else play the game and see the decisions that they make.

    Any Complaints?

    I didn’t care for the last episode. The first 4 episodes were full of character development and a great story line but the final episode felt like it was just going in circles and full of unnecessary fillers.
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  11. Sep 6, 2018
    10
    Unbelievably good! Decided to play it when a friend recommended it and the characters are so engaging and the atmosphere feels so nostalgic! I felt so connected to the characters who suffered loss and regret and I never wanted this game to end! It actually made me depressed for a while which shows how well written this game was! If you love story driven games, please please PLEASE playUnbelievably good! Decided to play it when a friend recommended it and the characters are so engaging and the atmosphere feels so nostalgic! I felt so connected to the characters who suffered loss and regret and I never wanted this game to end! It actually made me depressed for a while which shows how well written this game was! If you love story driven games, please please PLEASE play Life Is Strange! You won't regret it! Play it with someone like a friend or family member! This game is so beautifully written! Expand
  12. Aug 9, 2018
    6
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I wanted to like this game, and I wanted to appreciate what the designers were trying to do, but in the end it fell flat for me. That's a shame, because there were some really great things in there.

    My first complaint was with inconsistent behaviour of the rewind power. Sometimes when you rewind, things go back to where they came from. However Max does not, and things Max is carrying do not. This led to some situations where I had no idea what to do, and then the rewind power happened to operate in a way that solved the problem. I didn't feel like I'd figured anything out, it was just a case of "oh, I was supposed to know to do that".

    Then there were the choices. The game warns you that your actions have consequences. However they are not consequences that apparently affect the story, as Kate always dies and the storm always comes. So they're pretty meaningless choices.

    I don't want to ramble on forever, so I'll skip to the end. Which sorta what the game did. After a long pointless episode where Max visits William, the game rushed through so many twists that I lost track and stopped caring, to a super-dramatic conclusion where you're forced to sit through the same dull sequences over and over until you finally convince the right butterfly to flap its wings to create the right tornado. And the long "dream" sequence at the end was one of the most boring game sequences I have ever encountered.

    I felt like the pacing of the game was very disjointed and the writing was kinda random. At the beginning I wondered what the significance of the storm was, but by the end I decided I would never understand and I stopped caring. I just wanted it to be over.

    I don't mind walking games, but "Life Is Strange" was more like a sitting game where I was forced through long sequences of schmaltzy dialogue, and then I was dragged through sequences where I was forced to make some actions which were ultimately meaningless. Nevertheless, I have bought the prequel. Life is indeed strange.
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  13. Jul 19, 2018
    9
    Life Is Strange has an incredible, original, unravelling story with many well-written and believable characters. No game I've played in the past five years has had such an emotional impact on me. As i worked through the episodes I became more and more eager and impatient to play the next one; rarely have I been so addicted to a game. Very rarely did the game get slightly boring. ItsLife Is Strange has an incredible, original, unravelling story with many well-written and believable characters. No game I've played in the past five years has had such an emotional impact on me. As i worked through the episodes I became more and more eager and impatient to play the next one; rarely have I been so addicted to a game. Very rarely did the game get slightly boring. Its biggest flaw IMO is the bad lip-syncing (not surprising given the budget of the game but better lip-syncing certainly would've helped). User control over the core rewind power you have could also feel more responsive. The graphics and art style work together well, and I never thought the game needed much more detailed textures. Certain music in the game contributed greatly to the emotion, while still sticking to the theme of the general soundtrack. I couldn't recommend the game enough if you enjoy a really good plot in video game medium. It was once free on PS Plus, so check your purchased games to see if you purchased it at the time and can play it now for free. Expand
  14. Jul 19, 2018
    9
    Life Is Strange is a game that I like, and a tale I adore. It's a graphic-adventure game, a modern-day successor to the point-click adventure; you spend most of your time interacting with objects, talking to NPCs, solving simple puzzles, or walking around searching for the next item / NPC / puzzle. To give you an idea of what you'll be up against: in Episode 1, two of the biggestLife Is Strange is a game that I like, and a tale I adore. It's a graphic-adventure game, a modern-day successor to the point-click adventure; you spend most of your time interacting with objects, talking to NPCs, solving simple puzzles, or walking around searching for the next item / NPC / puzzle. To give you an idea of what you'll be up against: in Episode 1, two of the biggest challenges are 'get past some rude girls blocking a doorway', and 'find a place to hide from your friend's rude stepfather'. It's a very sedate game, and not an especially difficult one – certainly not if you're willing to look up solutions online, as very few of the puzzles require a skilful or speedy completion, and the punishment for failure is minimal. The graphics are pretty decent considering its low budget, as far as I'm any judge on such matters; I noticed a handful of goofy facial animations throughout the game, but otherwise there were no flaws on that front, and the overall artistic design was consistently pleasant.

    However, whilst it would be reasonable to judge Life Is Strange based solely on its gameplay and graphics, I consider them as secondary factors; the vast bulk of my affection for it is down to the narrative. The story is one of the best I've ever seen in a video-game. First of all, it actually HAS a story. Do you ever get annoyed when people describe a game as 'having a great story' or 'excellent characters', only to play it and find a list of military objectives substituted for a plot, with a cast of bland, cliche-spouting characters who never develop? Well, this game takes introduces the player to two main characters with almost diametrically opposed personalities, and sends them on a journey together that sees them both evolve over time. Without wishing to spoil too much, you play as Max Caulfield, a photography student who finds her studies taking a back seat as she finds herself beset by bullies, old friends, the mystery of a missing student, and certain supernatural shenanigans.
    Secondly, this game managed to stir up emotions within me to a degree that no other game has (and indeed, very few stories of any sort have) ever managed. I don't just mean that it's a sad story – by turns, I found it amusing, charming, and thoroughly endearing. To give you fair warning, others have criticised the dialogue for being unrealistic or too prone to puns and quips, but I don't mind the former and actively adore the latter. The choices you make throughout the game are overruled by the Final Choice in terms of 'Which ending will I get?', but they nevertheless go a long way to deciding the tone of your experience, which can range from light-hearted, hopeful, mournful or tragic depending on your deeds. Whilst Life is Strange never brought me to tears, it certainly took me pretty darn close on multiple occasions. I cared about the characters, the story is well-paced (perhaps a bit on the slow side, but I enjoyed the experience enough that I didn't mind spending more time in the game), the music is wonderful, and the overall tone was perfectly calculated to appeal to a soppy fool like myself … for the most part, at least. It does get a tad darker at some points, so if you've played Episode 1 (and it's free, so I recommend you do) don't assume that the whole game is as mild and inoffensive as the opening act.

    The mere existence of this review is something of a compliment; I rarely post reviews when my opinion coincides with that of the majority, because I'm lazy and don't see the point in adding my voice to the chorus. For this game, however, I feel obliged to join in and sing its praises. I would be delighted to think that my words might convince others to experience (and fall in love) with Life Is Strange as I have. If you do try it, I hope if proves to be your cup of tea!
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  15. Jul 1, 2018
    10
    This review is written in 2018 and i still replay this game over and over. The character develpment is amazing, the attetion to detail is astouding, the graphics are so good that I was lost in the game world, the story is so emotional, if you haven't played then shame on you, I would totally recomend!
  16. Jun 24, 2018
    10
    The game is a masterpiece from Dialogue too characters too the choices you can make.
    Teenager getting the ability too change time but realises slowly that it can also have it's downfalls and not in all scenarios. Just like in real life sometimes certain choices seem good but can have a reverse effect.

    This game changed my life and it's so amazing.
  17. Jun 4, 2018
    9
    Amazing game, highly artistic, breathtaking story, good gameplay. The proof that even with a basic engine and without fancy graphics you can make a masterpiece.
  18. May 21, 2018
    10
    Excelente , la música es increíble y la historia me atrapo en el primer momento, hay escenas que sacan muchas lagrimas en el transcurso del juego 10/10 el juego
  19. May 15, 2018
    2
    Besides the decent voice acting, Life is Strange is one of the most cringy, horribly written, and annoying games I've ever played. Hated almost everything about it.
  20. May 10, 2018
    8
    Начиналось все замечательно, но финальный твист катастрофа.
    В целом понравилось, после Теллтейл играется не хуже и картинка приятнее..
    Надеюсь на другие проекты от Dontnod
  21. May 7, 2018
    9
    Life is Strange has captured my attention since its original debut in 2015, and only recently have I gotten to play it. After I finished the game, I needed a few days tops to recover, but now I’m here and I’n ready to post my review. Life is Strange starts out interesting enough, carrying itself over until the real fun begins. Through twists and turns, we learn more about the mainLife is Strange has captured my attention since its original debut in 2015, and only recently have I gotten to play it. After I finished the game, I needed a few days tops to recover, but now I’m here and I’n ready to post my review. Life is Strange starts out interesting enough, carrying itself over until the real fun begins. Through twists and turns, we learn more about the main characters and uncover more than one gigantic secret. Packaged with the oppurtunity to turn two way-ward friends into star-crossed lovers, Life is Strange bundles fun, heart, sadness, and horror into one sweet and emotional journey. As you uncover the secrets and find out the lengths of the nightmares surrounding your small town, you are faced with a difficult choice that ultimately decides the game’s epilogue. All in all, Life is Strange is an adventure to experience, best enjoyed with plenty of free time and a fair amount of attention to detail. It will make you cry, it will make you smile, and it will make you laugh. Expand
  22. May 6, 2018
    8
    A very good, soulful story about a friendship that everyone likes. Nevertheless, the game lacks non-linearity
  23. Apr 28, 2018
    9
    I'm really surprised on how good this game was! It was an amazing ride! You can feel the character and Square Enix did a good job with that! Easily one of the best episodic game created!
  24. Apr 26, 2018
    9
    Well, when you're about to play a game like "Life is Strange", you can't expect loads of action or a rush of adrenaline to the brain every corner. These kinds of game are all about the story and how much it keeps you interested. It has its style, even graphically speaking, which are made, on purpose, not very rich in details, such as many other games on the PS4. It is not exclusive forWell, when you're about to play a game like "Life is Strange", you can't expect loads of action or a rush of adrenaline to the brain every corner. These kinds of game are all about the story and how much it keeps you interested. It has its style, even graphically speaking, which are made, on purpose, not very rich in details, such as many other games on the PS4. It is not exclusive for the PS4. And, since the PS3 and the Vita can easily run it, it's clear that graphics aren't spetacular, . It was a development choice for a smaller studio to create a very charming looking and really fun game. Also brings one new feature in terms of gameplay and it adds a brand new way to play games of this gender, interactive stories (not spoiling it).
    I, personally, love the movie "The Butterfly Effect", games like Heavy Rain and, by experiencing Portland, WA, once, the northwestern region of the US, therefore, this game is a delight. The story is very cool, sort of cliche if you think of all mistery, ficcion and drama plots we've seen on screen over the years, but playing it was very very fulfilling and it does make us care about what happens.
    Plus, played most of it on vacation. R-e-l-a-x-i-n-g. Add to all this a wonderful soundtrack (just wonderful!), lots of guitar melodies, alternative rock and folk music. Seriously, search for it on YouTube!
    A few flaws: The game is kind of short, but I wouldn't say that's bad, since it worked for it, it could be longer, though. Also, despite of being charming, more realism would make this such a pleasure to look at and I can't help but miss some realism. No one can't use this as foundation for not recommending LIFE IS STRANGE. Pun intended: nod to it. Go on and play it. I would only not recommend it if you don not like action-adventure interactive story-telling games, such as Heavy Rain, Beyond two souls, this one is more slow-paced, but it is also brilliant. I'm not taking one more point out of my score cause, man, the feeling brought by some moments while playing this (images + music) really make you forget those games that I compared this one with. It's a 9.0.
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  25. Apr 22, 2018
    7
    Life is strange is a narrative base video game that tells a story that is full of good-great characters, emotional moments and decision based gameplay. On the whole, it is a solid entry in this genre and I felt invested in the story and the characters all the way. But I have to say that compared to others in this style, apart from the cool time travel mechanic and some neat visuals,Life is strange is a narrative base video game that tells a story that is full of good-great characters, emotional moments and decision based gameplay. On the whole, it is a solid entry in this genre and I felt invested in the story and the characters all the way. But I have to say that compared to others in this style, apart from the cool time travel mechanic and some neat visuals, nothing that ground breaking or new is here, and while your decision do affect the game, the end-game has a case of "Mass Effect 3- itis" that i wasn't amused by. Nevertheless, the game is good and I'm glad to have played it and own it. If you like narrative based games, it is recommended. Expand
  26. Apr 20, 2018
    10
    Life is strange is one of these games that when you start playing you feel connected to the character. Only one word can describe it: art. 10/10
  27. Apr 17, 2018
    10
    Фанатам эпизодических игр рекомендую,игра супер
  28. Apr 16, 2018
    10
    Lots Chinese forum users give it avg. 9+ rating. I Watched video walk-through as many recommended it as one of best English learning games. Have to say don't expect there exists this many ways to say weed and step-father.....Just kidding.......
  29. Apr 8, 2018
    10
    Amazing. Great story, perfect music, and great characters.
    It's a great experience.
  30. Mar 24, 2018
    8
    EN: Wow, and this game? spectacular the story of the game, the puzzles were not able to impress much, but the story was amazing

    PT: Uau, o que falar desse jogo? espetacular a história do jogo, os quebra-cabeças não foram capazes de impressionar muito, mas a história foi incrível
Metascore
85

Generally favorable reviews - based on 23 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 22 out of 23
  2. Negative: 0 out of 23
  1. Feb 5, 2016
    85
    An honest, sometimes even painful, story about friendship and finding yourself. Life is Strange is played with a lump in the throat and its ability to make a grown man tear up is its true "power".
  2. Feb 1, 2016
    90
    The Limited Edition of Life is Strange doesn’t introduce anything new. The graphics are the same, as well as individual episodes that form this wonderful adventure. The art book and soundtrack are still a nice plus that could push some collectors to purchase this edition.
  3. Jan 21, 2016
    80
    Despite its obvious flaws the reactive story and compelling characters make this one of the best storytelling experiences of the current generation.