Returnal expertly weaves shoot 'em up and Metroidvania mechanics into its base, roguelike gameplay. Though its tight controls, visual fidelity, and intriguing story may entice you to play, the game's almost insurmountable difficulty will certainly alienate a portion of its intended audience.

Stunning, next-gen graphics, Unpredictable, ever-shifting environments, Tight controls

Unforgiving difficulty

Sony markets Housemarque’s Returnal as the next must-own, AAA, PlayStation 5 exclusive. Although the game certainly looks like a big-budget extravaganza, the underlying gameplay is decidedly indie. Returnal is an uber-challenging roguelike in the vein of The Binding of Isaac, Dead Cells, or Hades; God of War, Ghost of Tsushima, or Marvel's Spider-Man, it is not. There’s an audience for the genre, and Returnal appeals to that fanbase with its life-death cycles and satisfying gunplay. That said, the average person may balk at the Returnal's brutal difficulty, especially when the game costs a hefty $69.99. A Vicious Cycle In Returnal, you play as an astronaut named Selene. She voyages to the planet Atropos to discover the source of a mysterious alien signal transmitting from the world. Selene crash lands, and soon discovers the body of another female astronaut. Listening to the deceased’s audio logs, she hears her own voice saying things she had never recorded. After an alien mons...

Returnal expertly weaves shoot 'em up and Metroidvania mechanics into its base, roguelike gameplay. Though its tight controls, visual fidelity, and intriguing story may entice you to play, the game's almost insurmountable difficulty will certainly alienate a portion of its intended audience.

Stunning, next-gen graphics; Unpredictable, ever-shifting environments; Tight controls

Unforgiving difficulty

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

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