As a Kojima Productions game, Death Stranding 2 is filled with a bunch of bizarre and wacky experiences – little presents waiting for you to unpack them. If you’re sitting at home and are on the fence about picking it, maybe some of these will tip you over the edge.
Obviously, a slight spoiler warning for those waiting to go in totally blind, but this article won’t cover anything from the further reaches of the game. Some of these are returning features from the original Death Stranding, while others are totally new.
Player-generated paths
Here’s a cool returning feature, one many missed in the first game and is catching players off guard yet again in the sequel. You may have heard about people building roads and bridges, but did you know that players traveling over the same ground will form roads over time?
Death Stranding 2 has a completely hidden mechanic where if you and other players keep using the same path, it eventually becomes an actual road and all the rocks/trees in the way get cleared.
This mechanic was also in DS1 but I’d say 99% of players never knew about this pic.twitter.com/9KK2oTkYlT
— Synth Potato🥔 (@SynthPotato) June 25, 2025
To see this content please enable targeting cookies.
You’ll notice this as you play – flora, rocks, and other obstacles gradually part ways as rough ground becomes softened down. This is especially handy for the more treacherous spaces peppered with trippable hazards.
So as you play connected to online servers, you’ll find the process of delivering packages to even the most remote locations becoming easier over time. The power of asynchronous multiplayer!
Happy birthday!
Early on in Death Stranding 2, you’re prompted to enter your date of birth. This is more important than you might think! But, there’s also a nice surprise for those who boot up the game and rest in the DHG Magellan on their birthday. The whole cast comes together to sing you – yes you – a little song. A nice touch.
Otter hood
Another returning favourite, the Otter Hood can be unlocked by delivering packages to The Inventor on his remote island. This cute little hat is for more than just looks – it makes Sam’s swimming abilities significantly better.
What this means is that crossing vast rivers is less daunting, perhaps even a better way to travel! Given the flooding system present in Death Stranding 2, sometimes slapping the hood on, tying your cargo together, and swimming downstream is the best way to make a delivery.
Here’s a new one that’s the perfect example of an easter egg with real purpose. Once you make your way to the Pizza Chef, you’ll be able to make deliveries for him like any other survivor on the Australian continent.