Life is Strange: Reunion tries to bridge the gap between the earlier games and give a satisfying conclusion to Max and Chloe’s story, which was a point of contention in the last major release in the series. This entry clearly targets fans who enjoyed the first Life is Strange. The prologue recaps the major events from the earlier games, leading into a set of choices that help shape relationships and key events in the new story.
In this entry, the game shifts between the two protagonists, Max and Chloe, as they deal with the aftermath of past events. It opens with Max returning to Caledon University, where a major fire has killed several students. She ends up traveling back in time to uncover the cause of the fire and figure out how to stop it. While it begins as a mystery, the game also delivers plenty of drama and emotional moments between its characters.
The game uses a dual-protagonist structure, alternating between Max and Chloe while gradually revealing more of the story. This approach works well, especially given how both characters have experienced each other’s deaths multiple times. There is also a strong focus on choice, with decisions that feel meaningful. The biggest issue some fans may have is how the game retcons certain events from Life is Strange: Double Exposure, which feels like a misstep the developers are now trying to correct.
Life is Strange: Reunion gives players plenty of choices with its time travel drama. However, this also creates issues for the wider narrative, leaving some characters underdeveloped. The supporting cast feels weaker compared to earlier games, and this seems like a deliberate design choice. With the continuity changes and retcons, these characters lose their purpose and end up feeling sidelined.
Gameplay follows the usual story-driven structure, with a focus on exploration, branching dialogue, and NPC interactions. The main twist this time is the use of time rewind. Max still has this ability, while Chloe does not, which creates an interesting contrast between the two. The time powers are used well throughout the game. Players can learn key details, rewind time, and use that knowledge to make better choices. Several sequences make clever use of this mechanic, showing just how important the ability is to Max.
Those who have played Into the Storm might remember Chloe’s backtalk ability. Here, it feels like a watered-down version of what it was in the earlier games, but it is still functional and fun to use. It also helps give Chloe a unique identity compared to Max and her time powers. Some elements of the game are unfortunately simplified, such as Max’s camera. It is now limited to a set of collectibles and lacks a proper photo mode.
The visuals are vibrant and fresh, and the game looks great overall. It is arguably the best-looking entry in the series and runs very well on PC. There are a good number of graphics options, and its scalability allows it to run on the Steam Deck. However, the visual downgrade required for stable performance is quite noticeable, making it hard to recommend on that platform. With some tweaking, it may reach a more acceptable balance, but in my experience, while performance is fine, the visuals take a clear hit.
Deck Nine has done a great job with the soundtrack in Life is Strange: Reunion, blending indie tracks with an original score. The music is used effectively to highlight key moments, such as a tense sequence where the player has to defuse a bomb. The game also offers strong replay value thanks to its choice-based dialogue system. Many of the major decisions lead to different outcomes, resulting in multiple endings. There are also collectibles, along with in-game lore through journal entries, text messages, and podcasts, all of which add to the replay value.
Overall, this is one of the stronger entries in the series, bringing back much of the charm of the original Life is Strange while mixing in more modern design elements and character progression. That said, the dual protagonist approach and the focus on time travel mean that several characters feel underdeveloped and underused, and the pacing can be uneven. Still, playing through the main story at least once was enjoyable, and fans of Max and Chloe will likely get even more out of this new entry.
Life is Strange: Reunion Game Information
- Price: $39.99
- Publisher: Square Enix
- Developer: Deck Nine
- Platform: PC (Reviewed)
- Disclaimer: A review code was given by the publisher
