Det neste for Life er Strange-serien

Even after almost a month since the release of Life is Strange: Reunion, the final installment of the story between Max Caulfield and Chloe Price, Deck Nine and Square Enix haven’t addressed the future of the franchise. And the more they stay silent, the more thoughts creep in about Reunion being the last Life is Strange video game ever, as was rumored thanks to the merchandise store. However, there are still ways to develop game series, and there are various options for Deck Nine and Square Enix about the next chapter of Life is Strange.

Life is Strange game series consists of 6 games, excluding The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit, which actually serves as a demo to Life is Strange 2, and the remastered version of the original game and its prequel, Before the Storm—Life is Strange: Remastered Collection. Looking back, Deck Nine and Square Enix might dedicate their new adventure to familiar characters from previous installments, some important figures from Life is Strange: Reunion (more important than you think), or take a completely new direction, something the franchise hasn't seen before.

New Life is Strange Game May Bring Back Wolf Brothers

Life is Strange 2 is not only an underrated game in the series but also as a whole. The game offers a very emotional story about two brothers who are trying to cross the border. Early in the game, the protagonists lose their father, and one of the brothers gains the ability to use telekinesis, which directly influences both the gameplay and the plot. In comparison to the original Life is Strange, the second game is more mature and personal, and the decisions you make playing as Sean, Daniel’s older brother, are making an impact on his character and, as a result, the ending of the game. The game also touches on themes such as family, responsibility, and growing up, and does so in a very direct way.

Depending on the choices you make in Life is Strange 2, Daniel still remains in the world of Life is Strange, living his life with abilities, and it will be interesting to see how his life turned out after the events of his childhood, which most likely left a lasting impression on him and shaped him as a person. Again, it could also bring Seun back, but now in a supportive role, because this should be a story fully dedicated to the adult version of Daniel. And similar to Life is Strange: Reunion, at the very beginning the game may offer key decisions you made in Life is Strange 2 that will help shape the plot of the new installment.

Alex Chan Living the Dream in Haven Springs

Life is Strange: True Colors, released back in 2021, is considered perhaps the weakest game in the franchise due to its lack of a meaningful connection to the wider game series. Perhaps the only strong connection is the presence of Steph Gingrich—the character from Life is Strange: Before the Storm, who is also playing a major role in True Colors, as well as DLC—Wavelengths, which is focused on the character and contains some references to the original games. But the fans do agree that if Deck Nine decided not to mention Steph in the game and replace her with an original character, this game could have been titled not Life is Strange but something different - and it would have bean acceptable and didn't change game's perception.

Otherwise, the game is pretty much Life is Strange, with a charming protagonist with superpowers, a delightful soundtrack, and a plot filled with intrigue, adventure, and unexpected twists. Considering the connection between Alex Chan, Haven Springs, and the local citizens, the next chapter in the history of the character could take her to new places and further develop her ability to empathize and read emotions. This could also work in its favor and strengthen the position of Life is Strange: True Colors as a game that has the least connection to other projects yet possesses its own distinct identity.

Safi and Diamond Really Need Their Own Game after Life is Strange: Reunion

Despite Max and Chloe being the main characters in Life is Strange: Reunion, as the game concludes their story started in Life is Strange (2015), there is another very important character - it's Safi. Introduced in Life is Strange: Double Exposure, Safi was the best friend to Max, and she appears to have superpowers as well - change one's appearance for one's own good. This is also evident in Reunion, where Safi often uses other people’s appearances to manipulate Max, but ultimately, she reverts to her true form. There is another character who appears in the ending of Double Exposure but is missing in Reunion—it's Diamond, and the game’s ending teases she has powers too, before she’s living with Safi. And that’s when the story begins.

Despite Diamond not making an appearance in Life is Strange: Reunion, we can hear her voice at the end of the game when she speaks with Max on the phone. During the dialogue, we can hear more hints that she has superpowers, as she says:

“I’m almost ready to talk about it. And when I am, you’ll be my first call.”

Before this line, Diamond also asked Max if her power feels like a gift or if she’s feeling trapped by it. That could be an obvious teaser that Diamond is trying to find out more about how to handle superpowers, as she’s asking Max about her ability to rewind time.

Not the chemistry with Safi and Diamond’s absence in Life is Strange: Reunion are the reasons why these two characters deserve to receive a new Life is Strange video game—but the recently released book Life is Strange: Welcome to Caledon University, which reveals that Safi and Diamond were trying to find the above-mentioned Daniel from Life is Strange 2 and Alex from Life is Strange: True Colors. This is a perfect opportunity to make more connections between all the characters, explore Diamond’s powers, and reveal what she was doing during the events of Life is Strange: Reunion. It is also another attempt for Safi to recommend herself as an important character in Life is Strange universe, considering the lack of time she received in Reunion.

Life is Strange games usually have two main characters, as you can check out below, and in the latest installment, we even saw that both of them can be playable. In this case, the new Life is Strange video game with Safi and Diamond as protagonists is a great continuation of the story.

• Life is Strange – Max and Chloe;
• Life is Strange: Before the Storm – Chloe and Rachel;
• Life is Strange 2 – Sean and Daniel;
• Life is Strange: True Colors – Alex and Steph;
• Life is Strange: Double Exposure – Max and Safi;
• Life is Strange: Reunion – Max and Chloe;

It is also important to mention that Life is Strange: Welcome to Caledon University is not canon to the game series, but it’s definitely providing some great ideas to explore the lore of the universe.

After All, It Still Could Be a Completely New Story

Even despite Deck Nine and Square Enix returning to the characters they already established and continuing their stories, the new Life is Strange game could be a completely different installment, and if they really dare to take such a step, it has to be not just a new setting and new characters.

After the story of Max Caulfield and Chloe Price concluded in Life is Strange: Reunion, it would make sense to start from scratch, just as the original Life is Strange did back in the day. That means the new Life is Strange game must have no references and connections to everything we’ve seen so far—to Max, Chloe, Rachel, Arcadia Bay, Haven Spring, Caledon University, and more. It could also eliminate the possibility of the main character having superpowers so that he feels like an ordinary person rather than a superhero.

What other ways are there to make a new Life is Strange much more different than other installments? Give a superpower not to the main character but to the main villain? Make it a full-fledged prequel set 20 or even 50 years before the first game? Or establish several main characters who live in different times and places but whose stories intersect? Well, the doors are open for Deck Nine and Square Enix, and the fans will definitely be happy to see another Life is Strange game no matter what they will try to do.

Let’s not forget that Amazon is working on a game series’ TV show. It will adapt the event of 2015’s Life is Strange original video game. Tatum Grace Hopkins is confirmed to play Max Caulfield, while Maisy Stella has been cast as her bestie, Chloe Price. Karyn Kusama is confirmed to direct the first two episodes, and the start of production and release date for the show remain unknown.

What do you think the story of a new Life is Strange video game should be? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

Life is Strange: Reunion is available on PC, Xbox Series X/S, and PlayStation 5.