Showcases every unique feature of PS5 to its fullest; Brilliant combination of bullet-hell shooting, exploration and roguelike; Epic memorable (and tough) bosses; Constantly surprising with its story and structure;

Frighteningly difficult at first; Some runs can be down to luck;

Returnal puts its own stamp on the roguelike genre, blending ever-changing levels and permadeath with an intense third-person shooter experience. While players are often at the mercy of Returnal’s unpredictability – for better or worse – the immersive storytelling and the utilization of Sony’s latest hardware makes it feel like a true PS5 exclusive.

DualSense support is subtle but effective; Sounds amazing with headphones; Seamless loading times; Immersive storytelling; Environment changes keep gameplay fresh;

Few persistent upgrades; Runs can feel needlessly long; Combat can feel repetitive

Returnal transforms roguelike gameplay into a third-person shooter where players fight to survive a hostile planet that changes with every death.

Developer Housemarque is not known for its expansive 3D action-adventures, but it will be now. Returnal is a hugely accomplished game elevated by a clever, discoverable story and memorable set-pieces. Hopefully this is the start of something big for PlayStation.

Deep and involving storyline; Great life cycle premise; Superb shooter action; One of the first PS5 games to truly make use of haptics; Stunning visuals;

Rock hard - maybe too much so for some;

Developer Housemarque is not known for its expansive 3D action-adventures, but it will be now. Returnal is a hugely accomplished game elevated by a clever, discoverable story and memorable set-pieces. Hopefully this is the start of something big for PlayStation.

Deep and involving storyline; Great life cycle premise; Superb shooter action; One of the first PS5 games to truly make use of haptics; Stunning visuals;

Rock hard - maybe too much so for some;

Returnal is an arthouse blockbuster, both a technical marvel that fully showcases every aspect of the PS5 that makes it features absolutely sing while providing a bold choice of structure, narrative twists and other leftfield moments that embrace the new weird. It’s also uncompromisingly tough as nails, which might scare off a more mainstream audience. But this is a game that doesn’t do half-measures on either its gameplay or as a truly next-gen exclusive that you won’t find anywhere else. Let its tentacles embrace you and by the time you come out the other side bruised and battered from your infinite battles, you won’t want to let go of it either.

Showcases every unique feature of PS5 to its fullest; Brilliant combination of bullet-hell shooting, exploration and roguelike; Epic memorable (and tough) bosses; Constantly surprising with its story and structure;

Frighteningly difficult at first; Some runs can be down to luck;

Returnal is a shining technical achievement, possibly the best looking game on PlayStation 5. With addictive gunplay, a brutal learning curve, and a focus on exploration and temporary buffs, roguelike fans will be in heaven. Be warned though, the difficulty level is not for everyone.

Addictive, fast-paced gameplay; Makes great use of the DualSense controller; Intertwining narrative elevates the roguelike genre; Challenging, but never unfair;

A few technical issues;

A deadly alien planet is a playground for your senses and curiosity.

Returnal blends elements of shooters, roguelikes, action games, and horror to redefine bullet hell and conjure a mysterious, moody masterpiece.

Mysterious story teases you with progress and spurs your journey forward, Scary cutscenes and spooky ambiance grab your attention and never let go, Tight platforming and shooting meets challenging randomized encounters that always feel fresh, even when they aren't, Innovative use of PS5 tech,...

Overabundance of projectiles from you and your opponents can make it hard to keep track of what's coming and going, Success on any given run depends, in part, on what upgrades the game randomly puts in front of you