Death Stranding guide: from weapons, preppers and cameos, to birthdays and more

Death Stranding guide
(Image credit: Sony)

This Death Stranding guide will help ease you into Hideo Kojima's weighty and occasional overblown oeuvre. Especially if you're trying the Director's Cut for the first time, There's a lot to like, but also a lot to work out, in a game that requires a lot of your time to progress. There's preppers to find, gear to unlock and master, maps to uncover, and just a whole lot of Death Stranding to deal with - you even have to worry about picking a birthday. A Death Stranding guide just makes all that easier and coming up we'll cover all the basics info, and more detailed stuff you'll need to learn and work out to get through it all.

How to transfer a Death Stranding PS4 save to PS5

Norman Reedus in Death Stranding

(Image credit: Kojima Productions)

If you want to know how to transfer a Death Stranding PS4 save to PS5 you're probably not alone as there isn't an immediately obvious option when first fire up the game. To find it you'll have to get into the game, look in a particular menu and be standing in a specific place. Then there's the matter of what will and won't carry over, with some PS4 to PS5 changes meaning a few things will be lost or changed in someway. 

Death Stranding tips

death Stranding tips

(Image credit: Sony)

Not sure where to start? These Death Stranding tips will get you off on a good footing with the game. From the basics of getting around and dealing with BTs to what gear you really need and how best to use it.

Death Stranding birthday

death stranding birthday dooms

(Image credit: Sony)

Right at the start of the game you'll be asked about your Death Stranding birthday which the game says will affect your DOOMs ability. Quite how, or the results, are never really explained but check this run down of what it all means so you 're not guessing blind. 

Death Stranding ending

death stranding ending

(Image credit: Sony)

if you don't understand the Death Stranding ending or just want to know what was going on then this will explain it all. What it meant, things you might have missed and everything else laid out and easy to make sense of. 

Death Stranding aphenphosmphobia explained 

Death Stranding aphenphosmphobia

(Image credit: Sony)

In Death Stranding aphenphosmphobia is never really explained, although the idea is obvious - Sam Porter doesn't' like to be touched. Why, or what that means is all explained here. 

Death Stranding fast travel

Death Stranding fast travel

(Image credit: Sony)

While this is mostly a game about going places slowly, Death Stranding fast travel does exist. It doesn't unlock immediately though so if you want to know how it works and when it kicks in read this.  

Death Stranding weapons 

death stranding weapons

(Image credit: Sony)

It'll take some time but you will eventually get some Death Stranding weapons to play with. Guns aren't unlocked until later in the game so this explains where and  when you get them. There are also some options and upgrades off the critical path you might want to seek out. 

Death Stranding cameos

death stranding cameos

(Image credit: Sony)

As well as the famous faces in the main cast there are Death Stranding cameos everywhere in the world. Many of the different Preppers you'll meet as you make deliveries are scanned from real life celebs and we've got them all here if you want to track them down. 

How to get more likes in Death Stranding 

Get more likes in Death Stranding

(Image credit: Sony)

Knowing how to get more likes in Death Stranding is vital to progress, as it counts towards leveling up you character and abilities. It's a woolly system though so we've cleared up the basics to help you be more loved. 

Death Stranding holograms

Death Stranding holograms

(Image credit: Sony)

As you play you'll unlock Death Stranding holograms, as well as see them out and about in the world. The game never really tells you what to do with them though and you can't even use them until a certain point, so we've explained all that here. 

Death Stranding EX grenades 

Death Stranding EX grenades

(Image credit: Sony)

Death Stranding EX grenades are the first (sort of) weapon you unlock in the game. These throwables are meant to be used against BTS but are never really explained. You're just told to try them out, which we've done here if you're not sure what the deal is.

Death Stranding preppers, gear and upgrades  

Death Standing preppers, gear and upgrades

(Image credit: Sony)

There are a lot of Death Stranding preppers, gear and upgrades to track down if you want to unlock all the gear in the game. Most of these people will be discovered as you play the story but a few are left out and you don't know what rewards they have until you unlock them. So we've got all the details for you here.

Leon Hurley
Managing editor for guides

I'm GamesRadar's Managing Editor for guides, which means I run GamesRadar's guides and tips content. I also write reviews, previews and features, largely about horror, action adventure, FPS and open world games. I previously worked on Kotaku, and the Official PlayStation Magazine and website. 

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