I actually recommend playing the prequel first, as I feel for me personally it would have dovetailed well into how I wanted to experience this game. I actually ended up replaying this after the prequel (Before the Storm) to get that feeling. The gameplay is excellent, innovate, slow and contemplative, but what will really grip you is the characters and story. This game changed my life. I don't think I'll ever forget the characters. I wonder what it was about the story and characters that so severely moved and captured so many people.
This game absolutely wrecked me, emotionally, more than any other game. I played this after Life is Strange (it is a prequel and can really be played in whatever order). The tone is a lot different from Life is Strange (made by a different team), but it's gripping. I actually think the gameplay is a little smoother, and it feels slightly more like a traditional adventure game. But I was so gripped by the story that I couldn't stop til I was done. It was the bonus episode that really got me. In many ways, I'd suggest playing this first. It gives you insight into Life is Strange, and if you're looking for the happiest ending possible in Life is Strange. The main story dovetails nicely into setting the stage for the town, and the bonus chapter sets the stage for the main characters. Life is Strange 2 is also excellent, but it did not grip me in the same way as the first game and this prequel.
