While both are technically "walking simulators," Death Stranding and Fort Solis are fundamentally different. Death Stranding has deep gameplay mechanics around traversal, cargo management, and combat. Fort Solis is much more stripped down:

• No real gameplay mechanics beyond walking and quick-time events (QTEs)
• Very linear progression
• Cannot run or sprint - only walk at a fixed slow pace
• Focus is entirely on story/narrative through exploration
• Much shorter (4-5 hours vs Death Stranding's 40+ hours)
• No combat system

The reviews consistently describe Fort Solis as more of an "interactive movie" or narrative experience, closer to games like Firewatch or Deliver Us The Moon. The core gameplay is exploring environments and uncovering the narrative through audio logs, documents, and environmental storytelling.

Many reviewers note that the extremely limited gameplay mechanics (particularly the inability to run) can make it feel tedious, unlike Death Stranding where traversal itself is an engaging core mechanic. Fort Solis seems focused on being a cinematic story experience rather than a gameplay-driven title like Death Stranding.