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For a first playthrough, use release order: Life is Strange, Before the Storm, optional The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit, Life is Strange 2, True Colors, Double Exposure, then Reunion. This sequence preserves the reveals, character introductions and continuity the series was designed to deliver. Use the remastered editions in the same slots as the originals.
Chronological order starts with Before the Storm, but that is better suited to a replay. The prequel assumes you already understand the first game’s characters and setting, so playing it first can weaken its dramatic context and expose connections earlier than intended.
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| Name | Best for | Key spec | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Life is Strange | Every first-time player | Original Max Caulfield and Arcadia Bay story | Oct 2026 |
| Life is Strange: Before the Storm | Understanding Chloe and Rachel after the original | Three-part prequel set three years earlier | Oct 2026 |
| The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit | Players who want the optional bridge into the second game | Standalone spin-off; play before episode 2 of Life is Strange 2 | Oct 2026 |
| Life is Strange 2 | A new Sean and Daniel story | More independent narrative and setting | Oct 2026 |
| Life is Strange: True Colors | A self-contained Alex Chen story | New protagonist and Haven Springs setting | Oct 2026 |
| Life is Strange: Double Exposure | Returning to Max after the earlier games | Later Max Caulfield entry | Oct 2026 |
| Life is Strange: Reunion | Continuing the later Max-and-Chloe line | Play after Double Exposure | Oct 2026 |
What is the best order for a first playthrough?
Release order is the safest choice because each game builds on the audience’s familiarity with the franchise rather than asking you to reconstruct it backward. Follow this sequence:
- Life is Strange — establish Max Caulfield, Chloe Price, Arcadia Bay and the series’ choice-driven format.
- Life is Strange: Before the Storm — play the three-part prequel after the original, focusing on Chloe and Rachel Amber.
- The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit — optional; if included, finish it before episode 2 of Life is Strange 2.
- Life is Strange 2 — follow Sean and Daniel Diaz in a largely separate story.
- Life is Strange: True Colors — move to Alex Chen and Haven Springs.
- Life is Strange: Double Exposure — return to Max after the original game and the intervening entries.
- Life is Strange: Reunion — place this after Double Exposure, not before it.
This is seven positions, not seven mandatory purchases: Captain Spirit is optional, and each remaster replaces an original in the same slot. The order therefore works whether you own individual digital releases, a physical bundle or a mixture of original and remastered editions.
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1. Life is Strange
The original game is the essential starting point. It introduces Max Caulfield and the town of Arcadia Bay, while establishing the relationships, investigative structure and consequence-focused decisions that define the series. Later Max-related stories have more impact when you already know the personal history and stakes created here.
Do not skip this entry merely because you plan to play a later Max story. It is the foundation for the setting, the central relationship with Chloe Price and the way the series presents choices. The original release or Life is Strange Remastered both occupy this first position.
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Before the Storm is a three-part, standalone adventure set three years before the first game. Square Enix describes it as a prequel centered on the earlier relationship between Chloe Price and Rachel Amber. Although its events occur earlier in the timeline, its emotional and narrative context is clearer after you have completed the original.
The word “standalone” describes its format, not a recommendation to play it first. It can be purchased and launched independently, but a newcomer gets more from its character relationships after seeing how the first game frames Chloe, Rachel and Arcadia Bay. The three-part structure also makes it easy to finish as one contained block before moving on.
If you own Before the Storm Remastered, use it here. It replaces the original release in your play order; it is not an additional story chapter.
3. The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit
Captain Spirit is optional and should not be counted as a numbered mainline game. Its most useful placement is immediately before episode 2 of Life is Strange 2, where it functions as a connective experience. You can omit it and still follow the principal numbered entries, but including it gives the intended transition into the second game’s world.
If you are playing Life is Strange 2 episodically, stop after episode 1, play Captain Spirit, then continue to episode 2. If you are using a complete edition, the same rule applies: place the spin-off before episode 2 rather than saving it until the end of the series.
4. Life is Strange 2
Life is Strange 2 follows Sean and Daniel Diaz rather than Max and Chloe. The protagonists, locations and central journey are sufficiently distinct that the game does not need to be inserted between the first game and its prequel. Playing it after those two entries keeps the release-era progression intact before the series moves to another cast.
The game is more independent than the Max-and-Chloe titles. Earlier entries help you recognize the franchise’s choice-driven style, but they are not prerequisites for understanding Sean and Daniel’s story. That makes it a sensible point to pause if you want to divide the series into arcs.
5. Life is Strange: True Colors
True Colors introduces Alex Chen and Haven Springs. It can be understood on its own, but placing it after Life is Strange 2 preserves the way the franchise broadened its settings and protagonists over time. Its separate story makes it a flexible entry for later replays, not a reason to reorder a first run.
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Readers choosing a single accessible entry can begin here, but that is a convenience choice rather than the recommended first-playthrough order. Completing it before its related Wavelengths bonus content keeps the main story and its expansion together.
6. Life is Strange: Double Exposure
Double Exposure returns to Max Caulfield. Save it until after the original game and the other major releases that precede it, especially if you want to avoid arriving at its character and continuity references without the series background they assume. It belongs after True Colors in the recommended release sequence.
It is not a replacement for the first game: the two titles occupy different positions and tell different parts of Max’s journey. Playing the original first is therefore important even if Double Exposure is the game that brought you to the series.
7. Life is Strange: Reunion
Place Reunion after Double Exposure. The current Square Enix franchise listing positions it as part of the later Max-and-Chloe line, so it is a poor introduction and should not be moved ahead of the earlier Max stories.
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Which route fits your goals?
First-time player: Follow the seven-position release order and include Captain Spirit only if you want its bridge into episode 2 of Life is Strange 2.
Chronology-focused replay: Start with Before the Storm, then the original game, and continue through the later entries. This gives you the in-universe timeline but not the original spoiler progression.
Max-and-Chloe route: Play Life is Strange, Before the Storm, Double Exposure and Reunion. The other games remain worthwhile anthology stories, but they are not required to understand that focused line.
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Complete anthology run: Include every numbered game, the optional Captain Spirit bridge, Farewell after the main Before the Storm episodes and Wavelengths after True Colors.
Why is release order better than chronological order?
Release order controls spoilers and preserves the intended buildup. The first game establishes Arcadia Bay and Max before the prequel asks you to look back at Chloe’s earlier relationship with Rachel. Knowing the original’s characters and circumstances gives the prequel’s choices and dramatic turns more context than a chronology-first run can provide.
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It also shows the franchise’s evolution in the order players originally encountered it: the Max and Chloe foundation, the Chloe-focused prequel, the separate Sean and Daniel journey, Alex’s Haven Springs story, and then later returns to Max. That progression helps you recognize which details are direct continuity and which are new settings with their own casts.
Chronological order is still valid for a replay. It begins with Before the Storm, then Life is Strange, followed by the optional Captain Spirit placement where it connects to Life is Strange 2, then Life is Strange 2, True Colors, Double Exposure and Reunion. The only major timeline fact needed to make that change is that Before the Storm occurs three years before the first game.
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What is the strict chronological order?
Use this order when you have already completed the series or deliberately prefer in-universe chronology over spoiler protection:
- Life is Strange: Before the Storm
- Life is Strange
- The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit, at the point relevant to Life is Strange 2
- Life is Strange 2
- Life is Strange: True Colors
- Life is Strange: Double Exposure
- Life is Strange: Reunion
The chronology mainly changes the first two positions. The later games use different protagonists and locations for much of their runtime, so their relative order matters less to the central Max-and-Chloe continuity than the position of Double Exposure and Reunion.
Where do the bonus episodes and DLC fit?
Bonus content should be treated as an extension of the game it belongs to, not as extra mainline entries. The placement below avoids introducing a side story before its parent game has established the relevant cast.
Farewell
Play Farewell after completing the main Before the Storm episodes. It is bonus material connected to that prequel, so placing it after the three principal episodes keeps the prequel’s structure intact.
The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit
Play it before episode 2 of Life is Strange 2 if you want its intended connective role. It is optional, so skipping it does not invalidate the numbered-game order.
Wavelengths
Play Wavelengths after completing True Colors. It expands that game’s cast and setting and is best approached once you have finished the main story it relates to.
Remastered content
Life is Strange Remastered occupies the original game’s first position, and Before the Storm Remastered occupies the prequel’s second position. Do not count either remaster as a separate chapter when planning your sequence.
Farewell and Wavelengths are likewise additions to existing entries, not new chronological games between the numbered releases. The exact inclusion of each bonus item depends on the edition and platform, so inspect the product description before assuming it is included.
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Square Enix’s collection listing confirms that associated DLC is bundled with its PS5 collection, but individual bonus-content availability can vary by edition and platform. Check the contents of the specific edition you are buying rather than assuming every release includes every add-on.
Are the remasters separate games?
No. They are updated editions of the first Life is Strange and Before the Storm, so they use the same story slots as the originals. Owning both versions does not create two separate stories to complete.
For a new player, choose the edition available for your platform and use it in the corresponding position. If you switch from an original release to a remaster, continue following the same order rather than replaying the same entry solely because its label changed.
Do I need to play every game?
No, but the answer depends on which continuity you want. The original Life is Strange, Double Exposure and Reunion form the clearest Max-centered path, while Before the Storm supplies additional context for Chloe and Rachel. Life is Strange 2 and True Colors are comparatively standalone stories with different protagonists, so they can be deferred for a focused Max replay.
Skipping a standalone entry changes the breadth of the anthology rather than the basic ability to understand the next Max-focused game. For a first complete run, however, release order remains preferable because it lets you experience every shift in cast and setting without rearranging the series’ presentation.
Which edition or collection should you buy?
Choose based on platform and completeness rather than trying to create a new play order. The official PS5 Life is Strange Collection is the clearest physical bundle for players who want several entries together.
- The PS5 collection has True Colors and Double Exposure on the disc.
- It includes redemption codes for Life is Strange Remastered, Before the Storm Remastered, Life is Strange 2 and associated DLC.
- The code-based items may require redemption on the relevant account, so confirm regional and account requirements before purchase.
- Players on Xbox, Switch or PC may need separate editions because the physical bundle described by Square Enix is specifically for PS5.
- The official Xbox franchise catalog lists separate entries and editions, confirming that the series is also distributed individually on that platform.
This means the box is not seven complete games on one disc. Two titles are on the disc, while the remastered first game, remastered prequel, Life is Strange 2 and associated DLC arrive through codes. That distinction matters if you are buying used, importing the set or sharing a console account.
Use the search phrase Life is Strange Collection PS5 when looking for that physical set. Check the retailer’s current stock, listing identity, region and platform at purchase time; those details can change and are not part of the ordering guidance.
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Use release order, read only the short descriptions above, and avoid searching individual character names before finishing the game where they are introduced. The safest stopping points are the end of each main game and the completion of its directly related bonus content.
- Do not start with Before the Storm simply because it is earlier in the timeline.
- Keep Captain Spirit before episode 2 of Life is Strange 2, not after the entire series, if you want its intended placement.
- Finish True Colors before Wavelengths.
- Reserve Double Exposure and Reunion for the end of a first run because they continue the later Max-related line.
If you are playing episode by episode, avoid reading episode guides that reveal later choices. Complete each main episode, then take its related bonus content at the placement listed here. This keeps optional material from introducing a cast or setting before the main game has done so.
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How we picked this order
The sequence follows the games’ release-era continuity, the protagonists and settings each entry establishes, and the spoiler risk created by moving a prequel ahead of the original. It also keeps optional content beside the episode or game it connects to, treats remasters as replacements rather than extra chapters, and distinguishes the standalone Sean-and-Daniel and Alex Chen stories from the continuing Max-and-Chloe line.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I play only the Max-focused games?
Yes. A focused route is Life is Strange, then Double Exposure, followed by Reunion. Adding Before the Storm between the first game and Double Exposure gives more Chloe and Rachel context, while the other entries broaden the anthology rather than serving as prerequisites for that route.
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It is a prequel, set three years before Life is Strange, and it is structured as a three-part standalone adventure. Its standalone format means it can be purchased separately, but its character relationships land better after the original game for a newcomer.
Where should I put Farewell if I own the remastered collection?
Treat Farewell as bonus content for Before the Storm and play it after that game’s main episodes. The remastered label does not move the bonus episode to a different point in the overall sequence.
Can I start with True Colors if I have never played the series?
You can follow its Alex Chen and Haven Springs story without completing the earlier games. Starting there gives up the release-order introduction to the franchise, so it is better as an accessible standalone entry or a later replay choice than as the recommended first stop.
Does the PS5 collection include every game on the disc?
No. Square Enix’s listing specifies True Colors and Double Exposure on the disc, with redemption codes for the two remastered games, Life is Strange 2 and associated DLC. Confirm the code region and account requirements before buying.
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Not to understand True Colors. The two games have different protagonists and settings, but release order places Life is Strange 2 first so you experience the anthology’s progression as it was released.
Is Captain Spirit required?
No. It is an optional spin-off. Play it before episode 2 of Life is Strange 2 if you want its intended connective placement; skipping it does not prevent you from following the numbered games.
Where does Double Exposure fit?
Play it after True Colors in the recommended release sequence, and always after the original Life is Strange. It is a later Max Caulfield entry, not a replacement for the first game.
Is Reunion a sequel to Double Exposure?
Place Reunion immediately after Double Exposure in a first playthrough. The current Square Enix franchise listing places it in the later Max-and-Chloe line, so it should not be used as an introduction.
What is the chronological order of the games?
Start with Before the Storm, then Life is Strange, the optional Captain Spirit placement, Life is Strange 2, True Colors, Double Exposure and Reunion. Use this mainly for a replay because it moves the prequel ahead of the original.
The Bottom Line
For a first playthrough, start with Life is Strange and follow release order. Put Before the Storm second, use Captain Spirit before episode 2 of Life is Strange 2 if desired, and finish with Double Exposure and Reunion. Remasters replace the originals in the same slots.
Quick Recap
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