Not every game has to be fun, but that’s hard to understand until you really play one that shows you why that is. And for me, maybe no game did that better than Death Stranding. You see, when I first played the title when it originally dropped on PC, it took me only a couple of hours before I was begging for it to stop. It was the first time I had ever actually played a Kojima game outside of PT, and well, I wasn’t a fan. So I put the title down and forgot about it, and joined the legions of players online who detest it to this day because of how boring it can truly be. And yet, some months after the initial PC release, something inside of me just wanted to give it another shot. And I’m so glad I did. Because Death Stranding is without a doubt one of the most unique and memorable experiences I’ve ever had playing a game, despite how quote unquote boring it can be at times. And that’s because the journey of Death Stranding isn’t about the fun. It’s about something deeper than that. The beauty. I had a mission to deliver some supplies to a nearby location called Port Knot City, which contained a massive warehouse next to an ocean that connected the United States through its center. And in order to get there, I had to slowly crawl my way up a massive mountain, which was littered with the goop ghost monsters, which I had to hide from before, holding my breath and walking slowly. It was one of the most tense moments in the game up to this point, but it all culminated in one of the best payoffs ever that shows why this game is so amazing. Because as you approach the ridge of this massive hill or mountain you have climbed after your efforts, suddenly you are met with a sprawling vista. And as your eyes cross the skyline, a roaring and moving track of music starts to blare through your speakers. The world seems to stand still as the hums of soft instruments fill the valley and before you is Port Knot City in all its glory, beckoning you to come closer. Without exaggeration, this single moment here roused a deep love within me for this game for the entire remainder of the playthrough. This wasn’t a game like so many others that focused on combat encounters and quests. It was art, transfixed on making you feel things instead. But now that I’ve really given it a shot and figured out what this title was meant to be, I have to admit, I couldn’t have been any more wrong than I was at first. And in many ways, it defies what a game or gameplay loop can be. But despite that, I think it captures what’s most important in the end anyways. Crafting an experience like no other that stays with us long after we finish playing. Death Stranding takes its time and because it does, results in moments that feel so much more earned and worthwhile. The kind that etched themselves into our souls and minds forever. So if you’re like me and gave up on Death Stranding or never gave it a shot because it looked so mundane, trust me, there is something special in this game. And you only can truly realize it by playing it yourself. An experience not about having fun, but rather enjoying the simple things in life.