Stray Gods Orpheus DLC Is Quite Catchy

I’ve had the speed dating song from the Stray Gods Orpheus DLC stuck in my head since I played it. Unexpectedly, I’ll be doing something else, and “I’ll find a new love, and we’ll go down in history” will worm its way into my brain again. The premise of the add-on, paired with Anthony Rapp and Erika Ishii getting so much screen-time and its great pacing, means it sometimes feels stronger than the original story.

Stray Gods Orpheus can pull from the main games’ save, so your choices influence the DLC, or you can go from a default file. In either case, Orpheus finds himself in the same sort of position as Grace in the original tale, minus the whole murder thing. After the events of the game, he’s left with an unfinished story and no real sense of purpose. Hermes hears him singing about the situation, and brings him to the mortal realm again. With that, we get a chance to go through a more brief opportunity to guide him toward a new purpose and ending.

For me, a big part of what made Stray Gods Orpheus feel so much better and even stronger than the main game is the tighter focus of the DLC. Things are, in part, largely focused on Orpheus and Hermes. Both are really fun characters who stood out in the main game, but didn’t always get as much attention. They’re also played by two excellent performers, in Rapp and Ishii. So it’s fantastic to see the two of them get more time to flex and steal scenes. This is most evident with Rapp, who nails every song he performs. His performances are incredible, and he definitely steals the show in any duet that comes up. (Though I am also very fond of Anjali Bhimani’s performance as Medusa here too!)

I also liked the songs a lot better. “A New Love,” which became the biggest earworm, was fantastic. It’s hilarious and incredibly catchy. Every part is fantastic. “Back from the Dead” is also another one that’s so good, I’d listen to outside of the game. “Back from the Dead” also sees things come to a close on a strong note. While I did enjoy the original Stray Gods and a number of tracks off the soundtrack, it just feels like the combination of there being fewer songs and a general stronger execution of what is here makes the overall result better. 

Stray Gods Orpheus is also incredibly well-paced. So much so that the add-on flew by. I finished it in a single sitting without intending to do so. Plus, the way it is laid out and progression of Orpheus’ story is handled in such a way that it doesn’t feel like it took as much time as it did. It’s like one of those popcorn films you can get really absorbed in, so that the hours you spent are like nothing. It’s only when you check a clock after that you realize the execution, interactions between characters, and themes were so good that it all flew by. It’s a testament to how solid it is and the world Summerfall created.

The world of Stray Gods was a fun one, and the Orpheus DLC gives us a chance to revisit it in a satisfying way. By making the focus a strong supporting cast member like Orpheus and adding in Hermes, who was one of the best parts of the original game, we get more time with people who deserved extra attention. The songs this time around also feel stronger, with “A New Love” especially having a great hook and premise. It’s a great extra story and make it well worth returning to the title.

Stray Gods and its Orpheus DLC are available on the PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and PC.