Death Stranding has not left my thoughts ever since finishing it in early 2020, and oh man, what a perfect game indeed to start off that cursed year. Directorial legend Hideo Kojima once again flexes his eerie powers of prescience in his first post-Konami independent project, creating a fictional world that would, only a few months after release, reach unforeseen levels of resonance with a global audience suddenly thrust into the grim reality of having to deal with a historic pandemic under late stage capitalism. True, Death Stranding's base writing is an undeniably self-indulgent mess, but all the repetitive, on-the-nose dialogue in the world cannot distract from this game's downright therapeutic impact and exceptional effectiveness in communicating its central themes of isolation and connection through its singular world and mechanics. It also helps that the game is on so many levels tailored exactly to my emotional and aesthetic sensibilities—hell, this game even knows my specific interests in politics and science. Traversing gorgeous, lonely, desolate landscapes as a central gameplay mechanic? Post-capitalist economy based on solidarity and mutual aid? Particle physics references and metaphors permeating the entire game? CHVRCHES in the end credits? It's almost ridiculous how much this game panders specifically to me. But regardless of my personal biases, I wouldn't hesitate for a second to call this one of the most bold and forward-thinking gameplay experiences the modern AAA space has to offer.