Life is Strange: Reunion Review – A Butterfly with Very Big Wings

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The announcement of Life is Strange: Reunion surprised many fans, especially since the previous game, Double Exposure, was reportedly a financial disappointment for Square Enix. Adding to this, some fans were unhappy with how Double Exposure portrayed the relationship between Max and Chloe. Many expected Deck Nine and Square Enix to quickly abandon plans for Max’s return. However, the story was always designed to continue, and it appears Deck Nine learned from the challenges and created a stronger sequel.

I’ve been a huge fan of story-driven games where you make choices for as long as I can remember. I’ve played all the Life is Strange games, every major title from Telltale Games, the complete Dark Pictures Anthology, and other popular horror games from Supermassive. I’ve even replayed Dispatch several times and plan to buy it again when it’s available on Xbox. I’ve seen what this genre can do best, and also its worst. While Life is Strange: Double Exposure disappointed me, Life is Strange: Reunion is a fantastic return to form.

When Life is Strange: Double Exposure was announced, I was initially hopeful. I was curious to see how the developers would explore Max and Chloe’s relationship, deal with the fallout from the first game, and give Max a fresh start. The idea of time-bending gameplay also appealed to me. However, I ended up being quite disappointed. Beyond questionable choices regarding Max and Chloe’s story, the game felt overly influenced by big-budget superhero franchises – even the title card felt like a setup for a sequel rather than a meaningful continuation of Life is Strange. This left me wondering what purpose this story served. Without a clear answer, Double Exposure felt like it prioritized nostalgia and profit over a genuine return to form. Now, with Life is Strange: Reunion, I finally understand the reason for telling this story.

Life is Strange: Reunion’s Story is an Absolute Highlight, if Not Perfect

While the story in Life is Strange: Reunion isn’t flawless, its strengths significantly overshadow its weaknesses. It occasionally feels uneven or rushed, and it sometimes overemphasizes Max’s struggles with her abilities – a familiar theme for the series. The narrative also relies on a few unlikely plot points that range from cheesy to jarring. However, at its core, it’s a classic Life is Strange story that feels true to the franchise.

The game weaves together several storylines: a fire at Caledon University, the aftermath of a storm, the mysteries of a college secret society, the return of Chloe Price, and how the past affects the future. These elements are all connected, and the game encourages players to notice small details. It seems players have missed a few key things, as highlighted by popular choices in the ending of Life is Strange: Reunion, which isn’t unexpected given the game’s complexity.

However, Life is Strange: Reunion truly shines when it centers on the connection between Max and Chloe. Just as Life is Strange: Double Exposure successfully captured the essence of Max after years apart, Reunion does the same for both characters. Seeing them reunited creates sweet, touching, and deeply emotional moments.

The way the characters relate to each other, and how they’re both still working through past issues, is where I found the heart of the story. Without giving anything away, Life is Strange: Reunion really understands and explores guilt and trauma – and how those things continue to affect people, whether in Arcadia Bay or at Caledon University. This makes for a powerful and meaningful story that absolutely earns Max and Chloe’s return, and it’s a story only this game could tell. It’s not flawless, but it perfectly captures the messy, unpredictable nature of life that’s so central to the Life is Strange series.

Choices Are Essentially A/B Tests

The story is definitely a standout feature, but the game does limit how much impact your choices have. Fans, myself included, enjoy these games because of the freedom to shape the story with our decisions. While there’s still some of that here, and small choices can add up, most of the time you’re simply picking between the clearly right and clearly wrong option. When the game is at its best, it makes you focus on the little details. Occasionally, the choices are more complex, asking you to connect different parts of the story, but generally, they aren’t particularly innovative.

Overall, Life is Strange: Reunion focuses more on telling a story than letting players make impactful choices. Unlike games like The Walking Dead where your decisions drastically change things, this game is closer to Dispatch, where choices are less about altering the plot and more about experiencing it. While this might be a downside for some, the strength of the story itself largely compensates for the limited player agency.

Gameplay is Straightforward

As a big fan of the series, I was really intrigued by Life is Strange: Double Exposure and how it played with time. Life is Strange: Reunion takes a different approach, though. The gameplay is pretty simple – you walk around, look at things, and click on whatever moves the story forward. There are definitely funny moments and little details to find if you’re paying attention, but it’s not the main point of the game. Honestly, the gameplay isn’t super innovative or groundbreaking, but it gets the job done – it’s a good way to uncover all the little clues and details that really make the story come alive.

I finished Life is Strange: Reunion in about 10 hours, and I only missed a few of the hidden clues and collectibles while playing as both characters.

Life is Strange: Reunion is a Heartfelt Story That Deserves to be Told

After being let down by Life is Strange: Double Exposure, I wasn’t hopeful about Reunion. I figured the game wouldn’t explain why this story mattered. However, as the interwoven storylines unfolded and I connected with the tender moments between Chloe and Max, the game consistently exceeded my expectations. Ultimately, Life is Strange: Reunion proved why it was a story worth telling.

Throughout Life is Strange: Reunion, from beginning to end, a central question subtly shapes every dialogue, quiet reflection, and connection between characters. The answer isn’t directly stated, but revealed through how Max and Chloe grapple with their past, present, and future. By the game’s conclusion, it becomes clear that the answer wasn’t meant to be logically solved, but rather experienced, comprehended, and ultimately embraced, regardless of the outcome.

Life is Strange: Reunion is now released on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. We reviewed the game using a PlayStation 5 code provided by TopMob.

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2026-03-27 20:07