This is a spoiler-free review for Life is Strange: Reunion, but there are spoilers for previous entries in the Life is Strange franchise.
The direct follow up to 2024’s Double Exposure brings the curtain down on the emotional journey of Max and Chloe that has attracted a huge fanbase in the last eleven years. The ‘Arcadia Baes’ have deservedly left a real imprint on the narrative gaming space and people’s hearts.
Life is Strange is a lesson in the fragility of friendship, love and society. Subtly reflecting topical issues that exist in our real world, players make tangible choices for Max, Chloe and many other great members of the diverse cast. What people have always loved about the series is being able to see themselves in the characters, either directly through their personality, or in the scenarios they face.
Reunion is a game that is only for those fortunate enough to know the full prior story of Max and Chloe. Players will need to have played: Life is Strange, Life is Strange: Before the Storm and Life is Strange: Double Exposure (ideally in said order) to understand any of the story here. Life is Strange 2 and True Colours remain entirely standalone titles.
As the lights go out on Pricefield, was it a call too bold to bring Chloe back? Our review.
Story
Life is Strange: Reunion’s announcement was a shock to fans of the series. The return of Chloe Price from the original Life is Strange and it’s prequel, Before the Storm wasn’t expected. As for many returning players, she was dead by the choice to save Arcadia Bay over her in the original.
Understandably many – including myself, a huge fan of the series but someone who twice chose Chloe’s death – questioned whether the choices they made in older titles now mattered. It’s not a spoiler to share how she is alive as that was revealed to the community long before Reunion’s launch.
However, I comfortably feel that based on my time with one playthrough of the game (and more to come), my choices from previous entries and those made during Reunion, mattered. At the start of Reunion, you will select 5 core choices from previous games that will shape it for you. Having played the game with Chloe assumed dead, I can’t wait to play through again to see the story from a different perspective.
By the time the credits rolled, I felt that almost everything I have ever done in this saga led me to my ending. Romancing Vinh in Double Exposure, choosing Chloe as a friend not a lover, and how I treated shape-shifting Safi, the (blue) butterfly effect fluttered its wings and landed on my emotions.
Though much of the pre-launch discourse has (understandably) been surrounding the end of Max and Chloe’s story, Reunion’s own tale of the fire of Caledon University is a solid one that successfully intertwines itself with the reunification of our protagonists. The ever-intrigued Caulfield is drawn to unravel the dark secrets of campus society, Abraxis and their involvement in the darker side of Caledon’s past and less Liberal Arts focused future.
Many of the cast from Double Exposure return including the excellent physicist, Moses; sleuth, Loretta; and my firm favourite of any Life is Strange NPCs, Safi. Safi shines as a mysterious, sassy and dangerous individual who levitates the maturer-side of both Double Exposure and it’s successor. Reunion cites back to the actions as Caledon / Lakefield citizens and successfully develops their story deeper. As both Safi and Moses knew of Chloe via Max in Double Exposure, they’re well-engaged in her and Max’s relationship throughout Reunion. But, they also develop their own bonds with her that were forged or shattered based on the choices I made.
There are new additions to this chapter including the new antagonistic Caledon President, Owen and a likeable new student to Max’s photography class, Jeanette. Their stories aren’t exactly deep, though I was quite happy that was the case given the numerous plate plots Reunion is already spinning.
The game does keep a deep lore connection with side characters from the series’ past too, though I did wish that there would have been a cameo appearance or two from friends we have met on this 11 year roller coaster. Was a tragic, flirtatious text from Warren too much to ask, Deck Nine!?
Gameplay
Mechanically, Reunion is very much another entry to the franchise. Though, there are new (and old) additions to the formula to make it feel more than Double Exposure 1.5. This is the first time where the series has featured dual-protagonists and it works very well. Time as Chloe and Max is split broadly evenly in the approximately 10-hour campaign and alternates at a nice cadence, enabling the story to benefit from their individual traits.
Though missing in Double Exposure, Max’s ability to rewind time at almost any opportunity returns from the original. Meanwhile, Chloe’s sassy Backtalk from Before the Storm returns. Regrettably there are only three Backtalk scenarios which was disappointing given, 1) it’s in the DNA of Chloe; 2) there are some real a**holes at Caledon that deserve to be spoken to belligerently; and 3) the developer made a point of its inclusion pre-launch.
Positively, the gameplay feels tighter than it ever has in the franchise. As common in Life is Strange, there are many items for you to engage with as Max or Chloe and add their own commentary for. Despite being an adult, Max is still the dork that she has always been loved for being; meanwhile Chloe is still that thrashy rebel that smashed up a junkyard all those years ago.
A minor gripe with the gameplay is the number of locations in which the game takes place. I was very happy to revisit Caledon and the Snapping Turtle bar from the previous entry, though it would have been nice to have seen another new area or two.
Visuals, Sound and Performance
The visual design of Double Exposure is somewhat contentious among the community, leaning a little more into the realistic than older titles. Reunion uses that exact same visual style. Locations and core characters look very well-designed. Caledon is a beautiful campus university and the Life is Strange ‘feel’ is very much apparent.
However, I did notice a few character related technical problems during my time. Early in the game you’ll meet the ‘Artsy Student’ who’s eyes seem very off. Additionally, Safi and Vinh’s mouths seemed to move inaccurately during select conversations. By modern standards for a new release, these issues are very minor.
It wouldn’t be a Life is Strange game without a deep, purposeful soundtrack – see here for the full list. Music is integral to the experience, setting the mood from the moment you launch the game. Holly Humberstone’s heartbreaking Embers in the Sky – an original track for Reunion – creates one of the most suitably tone-setting main menus I’ve ever witnessed. Also featured is moody music from Foals, Etta Marcus and series returner, Tessa Rose Jackson.
On performance, playing on an Xbox Series X in performance mode, the game ran at a mostly flawless 60fps.
Conclusion
As Max and Chloe have grown to young adulthood in Reunion, the series has matured in equal measure. Reunion ends Max and Chloe’s love story in the right way. More than simply fan service, this is a finale that delivers love to the Arcadia Baes, the series and its fans.
Whether Deck Nine will continue with the franchise is unclear, but I’ll regularly be checking the window ledge for the next blue butterfly.
Life is Strange: Reunion was reviewed on Xbox Series X|S. Thank you to the developer and publisher for the code provided for this review. Reunion is available on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 and PC (via Steam and Windows), and released on March 26, 2026
Life is Strange: Reunion Guides
Please see our below selection of guides for Life is Strange: Reunion
- Life is Strange: Reunion – All Chloe Collectibles; Drugstore Makeup Achievement / Trophy
- Life is Strange: Reunion – All Backtalk Dialogue Options; Sass Queen Achievement / Trophy
- Life Is Strange: Reunion – Bucket Challenge Achievement Guide
- Life Is Strange: Reunion – Going Once…Going Twice Achievement Guide
- Life is Strange: Reunion – How to Solve Moses’ Tests In Life Is Strange: Reunion
- Life is Strange: Reunion – Soul of a Poet Achievement Guide
- Life is Strange: Reunion – All Max Collectibles; Photo Wall Achievement
