Life is Strange Play Order & Timeline
Supernatural powers turn ordinary lives into difficult choices. Follow Max and Chloe in Arcadia Bay and Caledon, Sean and Daniel on the road, and Alex and Steph in Haven Springs, with alternate editions, story DLC, novels, comics and the announced television adaptation.
Timeline guide
Life is Strange Timeline, Play Order & Chronological Order (2026)
Start with Life is Strange (original or Remastered), then Before the Storm and Farewell. Continue with Captain Spirit, Life is Strange 2, True Colors and Wavelengths, then Double Exposure and Reunion.
- Entries
- 21
- Released
- 20
- Upcoming
- 1
- Span
- 2015-2026
Open a section to view the play order, chronological order or FAQs.
Overview & recommendation
Everyday relationships meet extraordinary powers in Arcadia Bay, Haven Springs and Caledon. The recommended route follows the games’ reveals; the story view moves the prequels earlier.
The games support different choices. Tie-in stories identify the outcomes they follow, while the original Titan comic and the television adaptation have separate routes.
Choose one version of each Arcadia Bay game. Before the Storm and Wavelengths are prequels, but work best after their respective original games. The novels, comics and annotated guides are optional extensions.
Timelines & continuities 3 continuities
A player choice does not create a duplicate timeline for every ending. Compatible novels stay with the games and state their selected outcomes. Titan’s comic stories follow their own continuity; Prime Video retells the premise separately.
Games and connected stories (18 entries)
The games share a choice-driven world. Remasters are alternative presentations, not new universes. Licensed novels and Alex/Steph stories follow the choices stated on their entries; they do not impose a single ending on every playthrough.
Titan comic continuities (2 entries)
The 2018 - 2022 Max and Chloe series explores a possible future after saving Chloe. Forget-Me-Not brings Alex and Steph into Titan’s comic timeline after True Colors. These stories are separate from the later Max game continuation.
Television adaptation (1 entry)
The announced Prime Video retelling of Max and Chloe’s story is a separate adaptation. No premiere date is confirmed.
Life is Strange Play Order (Recommended) 21 entries
Choose one edition of each game. Read Welcome to Blackwell after Life is Strange, Before the Storm and Farewell. After True Colors and Wavelengths, read Steph’s Story and then Heatwaves. Continue with Double Exposure and Reunion, then its digital prequel comic, Out of Focus and Welcome to Caledon. These optional reading stops preserve the games’ reveals. Titan’s alternate comic route remains separate.
- 1Life is StrangeGame · 2015
- 2Life is Strange RemasteredGame · 2022
- 3Life is Strange: Before the StormGame · 2017
- 4Life is Strange: Before the Storm RemasteredGame · 2022
- 5Life is Strange: Before the Storm - FarewellGame · 2018
- 6Life is Strange: Welcome to Blackwell AcademyNovel · 2018
- 7The Awesome Adventures of Captain SpiritGame · 2018
- 8Life is Strange 2Game · 2018
- 9Life is Strange: True ColorsGame · 2021
- 10Life is Strange: True Colors - WavelengthsGame · 2021
- 11Life is Strange: Steph’s StoryNovel · 2023
- 12Life is Strange: HeatwavesNovel · 2024
- 13Life is Strange: Double ExposureGame · 2024
- 14Life is Strange: Double Exposure - Exclusive Cat ContentGame · 2024
- 15Life is Strange: ReunionGame · Mar 26, 2026
- 16Life is Strange: Reunion - Digital ComicNovel · Mar 26, 2026
- 17Life is Strange: Out of FocusNovel · Sep 1, 2026
- 18Life is Strange: Welcome to Caledon UniversityNovel · Apr 14, 2026
- 19Life is Strange: The Max and Chloe Comic SeriesNovel · 2018
- 20Life is Strange: Forget-Me-NotNovel · 2023
- 21Life is Strange - Television SeriesSeries · TBAUpcoming
Life is Strange in Chronological Order 21 entries
Farewell precedes Before the Storm, which precedes Life is Strange. Captain Spirit overlaps episode 2 of Life is Strange 2; the whole-game card is placed by its beginning. Steph’s Story leads into Wavelengths before True Colors, while Heatwaves follows one True Colors ending. Double Exposure leads toward Reunion; Out of Focus and the digital prequel comic take place before Reunion without a confirmed order between them. Titan’s comics have their own route, with Forget-Me-Not set after True Colors. Companion positions are reading placements, not exact years. The cards keep story DLC attached to its base game; the detailed chronological list retains each DLC’s own story position. Grouping does not turn a prequel into a sequel.
- 1Max and Chloe’s childhoodLife is Strange: Before the Storm - FarewellGame · 2018
- 2Three years before Life is StrangeLife is Strange: Before the StormGame · 2017
- 3Prequel · remastered editionLife is Strange: Before the Storm RemasteredGame · 2022
- 4Arcadia Bay · original storyLife is StrangeGame · 2015
- 5Arcadia Bay · remastered editionLife is Strange RemasteredGame · 2022
- 6Arcadia Bay companionLife is Strange: Welcome to Blackwell AcademyNovel · 2018
- 7The Diaz brothers’ journeyLife is Strange 2Game · 2018
- 8During Life is Strange 2 · episode 2The Awesome Adventures of Captain SpiritGame · 2018
- 9Before Wavelengths · Chloe survivesLife is Strange: Steph’s StoryNovel · 2023
- 10The year before True ColorsLife is Strange: True Colors - WavelengthsGame · 2021
- 11Alex arrives in Haven SpringsLife is Strange: True ColorsGame · 2021
- 12After True Colors · Alex and Steph leaveLife is Strange: HeatwavesNovel · 2024
- 13Max at Caledon · after the earlier gamesLife is Strange: Double ExposureGame · 2024
- 14During Double ExposureLife is Strange: Double Exposure - Exclusive Cat ContentGame · 2024
- 15Chloe and Drugstore Makeup · before ReunionLife is Strange: Out of FocusNovel · Sep 1, 2026
- 16Before Reunion · digital prequel comicLife is Strange: Reunion - Digital ComicNovel · Mar 26, 2026
- 17After Double ExposureLife is Strange: ReunionGame · Mar 26, 2026
- 18Caledon companion · read after ReunionLife is Strange: Welcome to Caledon UniversityNovel · Apr 14, 2026
- 19Alternate future after saving ChloeLife is Strange: The Max and Chloe Comic SeriesNovel · 2018
- 20After True Colors · Alex and Steph leaveLife is Strange: Forget-Me-NotNovel · 2023
- 21Separate television retelling · TBALife is Strange - Television SeriesSeries · TBAUpcoming
Life is Strange in Release Order 21 entries
Dates follow the first verified worldwide publication, including the first episode of a serial game and genuine early access. Double Exposure begins on 15 October 2024, even though its full launch was 29 October. Ports and translations do not create additional events. Alternative versions and DLC remain grouped with their base game in the cards, while retaining their individual release dates; the detailed release list shows each dated entry separately.
- 1Life is StrangeGame · 2015
- 2Life is Strange: Before the StormGame · 2017
- 3Life is Strange: Before the Storm - FarewellGame · 2018
- 4The Awesome Adventures of Captain SpiritGame · 2018
- 5Life is Strange 2Game · 2018
- 6Life is Strange: Welcome to Blackwell AcademyNovel · 2018
- 7Life is Strange: The Max and Chloe Comic SeriesNovel · 2018
- 8Life is Strange: True ColorsGame · 2021
- 9Life is Strange: True Colors - WavelengthsGame · 2021
- 10Life is Strange: Before the Storm RemasteredGame · 2022
- 11Life is Strange RemasteredGame · 2022
- 12Life is Strange: Steph’s StoryNovel · 2023
- 13Life is Strange: Forget-Me-NotNovel · 2023
- 14Life is Strange: HeatwavesNovel · 2024
- 15Life is Strange: Double ExposureGame · 2024
- 16Life is Strange: Double Exposure - Exclusive Cat ContentGame · 2024
- 17Life is Strange: Reunion - Digital ComicNovel · Mar 26, 2026
- 18Life is Strange: ReunionGame · Mar 26, 2026
- 19Life is Strange: Welcome to Caledon UniversityNovel · Apr 14, 2026
- 20Life is Strange: Out of FocusNovel · Sep 1, 2026
- 21Life is Strange - Television SeriesSeries · TBAUpcoming
Frequently asked questions 9 answers
Do I need both originals and remasters?
No. Each pair tells the same core story. They have independent tracking, and the recommended view groups the alternatives.
Are the Titan comics a required bridge to Double Exposure?
No. The 2018–2022 Max and Chloe comic follows its own possible future and is separate from the later game continuation.
How are the novels and Alex/Steph comics connected?
Steph’s Story selects the outcome where Chloe survives. Heatwaves follows Alex and Steph leaving Haven Springs together. Forget-Me-Not starts from that True Colors outcome but belongs to Titan’s separate comic timeline. The novels do not overwrite different choices in your games.
Where are collections, outfits and ports?
Arcadia Bay Collection, Remastered Collection and the 2025 Collection package works already listed. Ordinary platform ports, cosmetic outfits, soundtrack releases and making-of material do not add new story events.
Is Farewell available under both Before the Storm editions?
Yes. The same bonus story is linked under both the original and Remastered cards, with one independent progress entry. It is included in the remastered release; you do not need to complete it twice.
How many Life is Strange shows, games and books are there?
Life is Strange has 21 entries: 12 games, 8 books and 1 TV show, released between 2015 and 2026. 20 are already released and 1 is upcoming.
What is the chronological order of Life is Strange?
In chronological (in-universe) order, Life is Strange begins with Life is Strange: Before the Storm - Farewell (Max and Chloe’s childhood) and ends with Life is Strange - Television Series. The full chronological list of 21 entries is above.
What is the release order of Life is Strange?
By release date, Life is Strange starts with Life is Strange (2015). The most recent release is Life is Strange: Out of Focus (2026).
What is the next Life is Strange release and what should I play before it?
The next Life is Strange release is Life is Strange — Television Series. To catch up first, choose the relevant continuity and play its released entries. Include alternative editions only if you want them in your personal goal.
Sources & methodology Reviewed November 11, 2026
Complete episodic games and continuous comic runs each use one event. Narrative DLC and standalone novels are tracked separately.
Exact release dates were checked against publishers. IGDB provides matched game images and community ratings; no ratings are invented for books or unreleased works.
The Reunion digital comic is a confirmed prequel in the publisher FAQ. Out of Focus is also an official prequel. Neither is assigned an invented exact in-universe date.
- Square Enix: first episode release
- Square Enix: Life is Strange 2
- Square Enix: Before the Storm and Farewell
- Square Enix: Remastered Collection
- Square Enix: Wavelengths release
- Square Enix: Double Exposure and its optional cat story
- Square Enix: Double Exposure early access, 15 October 2024
- Square Enix: Reunion
- Square Enix: Reunion digital comic
- Titan Books: Steph's Story
- Author's note: Steph's Story continuity
- Titan Books: Heatwaves
- Titan Books: Out of Focus
- Titan / Penguin Random House: Welcome to Blackwell Academy
- Titan Books: Welcome to Caledon University
- Titan Comics: original comic begins
- Titan Comics: Settling Dust conclusion
- Titan Comics: Forget-Me-Not begins
- Titan Comics: Forget-Me-Not conclusion
- TheWrap: Prime Video series announcement and showrunner statement
- Square Enix: Reunion FAQ confirms the prequel comic
- Titan / Penguin Random House: Out of Focus is a Reunion prequel
- Titan announcement: Forget-Me-Not joins the comic timeline
Compiled and maintained by the ChronoCanon editorial team. Last reviewed: .
