It’s a pretty good time to be into science fiction games right now.Star Wars Jedi: Survivorjust came out,Starfieldis around the corner, and other big-name titles likeDeath Stranding 2are waiting in the wings. While these titles may offer significantly different experiences, that just means a wide variety of science fiction fans can be pleased.StarfieldandDeath Stranding 2in particular have a lot of eyes on them thanks to the pedigrees of their respective creators.
Past that, there aren’t many obvious similarities between the two. Both will likely share some third-person shooter elements, and will have a strong emphasis on exploring their respective worlds.Starfield’s most direct competition lies inThe Outer Worlds 2andAvowed, both games that also follow the traditions of Bethesda’sFalloutandElder Scrollsfranchises.Death Stranding 2, meanwhile, will likely be another unique and compelling experience from Hideo Kojima and Kojima Productions. Where else these two games meet, and where certain fans may be most invested, is in the area of their hard sci-fi elements.
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Starfield and Death Stranding 2 Approach Sci-Fi In Very Different Ways
As there is only a limited amount of gameplay available right now,Starfielddiscussions inevitably come back to a few particular points. One of those is the noticeably dry nature of its world, especially compared to most other science fiction titles and Bethesda’s own futuristicFalloutfranchise.Starfieldis a story of human coloniesand their existence within a vast, unexplored universe. Entire planets will still be dedicated to alien flora and fauna, but right now the only speaking roles belong to humans and the occasional robot. Hard sci-fi is the name ofStarfield’s game, and while preliminary statements on different planets' gravities support that direction, only time will tell if it can hold that tone.
In comparison,Death Strandingalmost seems like a fantasy tale. The realms of the living and the dead have overlapped, and while an apocalypse was averted inDeath Stranding 1, much of the setting’s weirdness remains in its sequel.Death Stranding 2has even less marketing material than the approachingStarfield, and based on its CG reveal trailer, speculation hasDeath Stranding 2include giant robotsusing the afterlife as hyperspace travel to a story that will involve other dimensions. Even with all of these seemingly disparate high concepts flying around, much like its gameplay,Death Strandingis able to ground itself with several core ideas. One of those is timefall, something that may be of interest to prospectiveStarfieldplayers.
Timefall Is One of Death Stranding’s Strongest Sci-Fi Concepts
On the surface, timefall probably does not have an analog in the world ofStarfield. As a consequence ofDeath Stranding’s broken reality, rain now contains supernatural materials like chiralium, causing everything it touches to rapidly age. This is reflected in the narrative and in gameplay, where all the player’s creations and delivery packages will erode over time as timefall affects them. Despite being a fantasy concept, timefall is remarkably well-integrated intoDeath Stranding’s setting, with it being the explanation for why much of the Earth’s surface is devoid of life besides simple plants. A side quest even involves helping farmers harness timefall to speed up the production of alcohol.
By treating many of its fantastic elements with the considerations of hard science fiction,Death Strandingforms a subtle connection between itself andStarfield.Death Stranding 2will have timefall, quite likely, with the protagonist Sam Porter Bridges having possibly been affected by it at some point. ForStarfieldfans who want more of that game’s sci-fi elements,Death Stranding 2may be a great story to experience next.
