This game will kick you in the face if you don't concentrate, but when you do actually make progress through it, no other game feel like this. One star off for how rage-inducing this game is when you die during a long run.

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.

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

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

It'll all make (dual) sense in the end

Truly awesome 60fps presentation, Immersive surround sound mix, Clever life cycle premise, The gameplay is simple to get into, but complex, Best use...

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;

Returnal is an amazing game, tough in so many ways but if I can do it, someone who has never beaten a Souls game, then anyone can if they just push through. Housemarque have knocked it out of the park and while it still has a few teething problems, at least the majority of them are now fixed and now...

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 ($59.99) had a lot to prove. Debuting just six months after the PlayStation 5's launch, it was the brainchild of Finnish developer Housemarque, a studio best known for small-scale shooters such as Matterfall and Resogun. In fact, the third-person shooter was the developer’s first AAA effort, and an incredibly polarizing one with its extremely difficult, 3D roguelike gameplay. Now, almost two years later, Returnal jumps to PCs with the console DLC and numerous new features. Overall, Returnal is a great game that's made even better with this PC port, earning it our Editors' Choice award. Just be prepared to get humbled by the game’s challenge and system requirements. Returnal's Gameplay You control Selene Vassos, an astronaut who ventures off course in pursuit of a signal called “White Shadow.” This leaves her marooned on a mysterious planet called Atropos, and trapped in a time loop. Returning to life after every death, Selene must battle extraterrestrial threats as she...

Returnal arrives on PC two years after making a splash on PS5, packing many exclusive features that make this version the one to beat—if you've got the rig to handle it.

Excellent audio and video; Fast-paced, rewarding gameplay; Tight controls; Supports AMD FSR and Nvidia DLSS; Includes console DLC and PC-exclusive features

Hefty system requirements; Difficulty may steer away some gamers

The core gameplay loop is definitely not for everyone but the rewards for persisting are well worth pursuing here. The gunplay and movement feels absolutely divine and the “one more run” approach to the gameplay is certainly addictive and unique amongst larger budgeted titles.