Never Return

About

"Never Return" is a 3D dungeon-crawler with Roguelite elements, offering a rich selection of weapons and perks combined with an action combat system for a unique battle experience. The game features over 500 perks and 20 build paths, providing diverse play styles from Druid to Necromancer. With 15 unique weapon types, randomly-generated maps, and 185+ pieces of equipment, each round promises to be fresh and exciting.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Local Multi-Player Play with friends in the same physical space using split-screen or multiple screens
2-Players Play with one other player, either online or locally, in a cooperative or competitive game mode
Multi-Player Compete or cooperate with other players online
Co-Op Team up with friends to complete levels or missions together
Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo
PvP Player versus Player - Fight against other players in real-time, often in arena-style combat
Split Screen Play with multiple players on the same screen, often with divided or shared screen real estate

73%

Audience ScoreBased on 356 reviews

gameplay26 positive mentions

grinding10 negative mentions

The game has a unique and expansive skill tree that allows for a variety of builds and playstyles.
The combat is engaging and offers a satisfying hack-and-slash experience, especially with the ability to summon minions.
The developers are actively updating the game and responding to community feedback, showing commitment to improvement.

The game feels clunky at times, with issues related to movement and camera control that can hinder gameplay.
There are significant translation issues, with many parts of the game not fully translated into English, leading to confusion.
The game has been criticized for being repetitive, especially in the early stages, with a lack of enemy variety and challenge.

gameplay
79 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
63%
4%
The gameplay of the game is a mixed bag, featuring a solid foundation with diverse mechanics and a flexible class system that allows for various playstyles. However, it suffers from numerous bugs, poor UI, and balance issues, leading to a repetitive experience that can feel stale over time. While some players appreciate the depth of customization and engaging combat, others find the overall execution lacking in polish and atmosphere, making it hard to fully recommend.
- “Too much loot to count, a flexible class system and a unified skill tree (with skill resets!) that allows for a gazillion different gameplay styles.”
- “The gameplay is also very fun and has so much depth to character building; this game is absolutely a blast to play.”
- “Fun combat, lots of build options with seemingly no meta so far, and a very satisfying gameplay loop.”
- “I am unsure how this game has positive standing when even the basic mechanics are not in place...”
- “My biggest complaint so far is the repetition of gameplay gets kind of stale after a while, going through the same floors and seeing the same things.”
- “The gameplay feels very underwhelming.”
graphics
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
50%
10%
The graphics of the game are generally well-received, featuring a pleasing art style that balances simplicity with charm, though opinions vary on its cartoonish aesthetic. While some players appreciate the low system requirements and fluid animations, others note a lack of graphical settings and occasional minor bugs. Overall, the visuals are considered effective in supporting the gameplay experience, with many praising the depth and detail in the environments.
- “The graphics are pleasing to the eye and do not load the system; I was surprised by the low weight of this game.”
- “The visuals are absolutely fantastic, right up to the animation.”
- “The art style in general is timeless and minimalistic, but still with a lot of detail.”
- “There are no graphics settings except for the resolution.”
- “Visuals overall, especially that avatar you summon, cause you can barely see what it even looks like.”
- “Cons: could have at least 3 weapon sets because so many options are available, graphics style could be revamped.”
music
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
43%
21%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the soundtrack and ambiance while others find it lacking in variety and engagement. Many suggest that the music could benefit from more diversity and additional tracks to enhance the overall experience, as the current loops can become repetitive during combat. Overall, while the graphics are praised, the music is seen as an area needing improvement to add more charm and life to the game.
- “The graphics are pretty good, the soundtrack is excellent, and the gameplay is fun.”
- “Interesting background music choice.”
- “The music so far seems decent.”
- “Most of combat is running to an enemy, music loop starts, enemy dies with 1 attack, music loop stops.”
- “I played for 30 minutes and noticed no sounds and no music.”
- “So what I think needs improvement is more soundtrack and effects to make the game more charming.”
grinding
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
8%
83%
The grinding aspect of the game is polarizing; while some players appreciate the endless looting and character building opportunities, others find the repetitive nature of grinding in identical levels tedious and time-consuming. Many express frustration over the necessity of grinding for essential gear and skills, especially given the high stakes of losing progress upon death. Overall, it caters to those who enjoy casual grinding but may deter players who value their time.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “This is just endless grinding in identical levels; I do not recommend buying this if you value your time on earth whatsoever.”
- “Find tedious and boring.”
- “Enjoy grinding for hours after you die; you drop almost everything on death and you get 90% of your power from items.”
story
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
64%
27%
The game lacks a coherent storyline, with players noting that it primarily focuses on gameplay rather than narrative. Many reviews highlight the absence of quests and a meaningful plot, describing the experience as more of a dungeon delving adventure without any substantial story elements. Overall, the consensus is that the game feels unfinished and is not designed for those seeking a rich narrative experience.
- “This isn't one of those early access games that is basically done but just missing a bit of the story or some end game content; this one feels like a real beta, like it's playable but very unfinished.”
- “No story line, just dungeon delving.”
- “There is no story in this game or plot really whatsoever (at least at this time).”
- “The hub is very boring, and starting off/ending up in a weird solitary room at the back-end of a random dungeon is a weird way to tell a story in any capacity.”
stability
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is generally described as decent but plagued by numerous bugs and glitches that can significantly impact gameplay, particularly during intense moments like bomb drops. While players appreciate features like the "get out of jam" button, many report freezing issues and co-op mode being particularly unstable. Overall, the game shows potential but requires further polish to address these stability concerns.
- “Good build/loot/kill game, my only real complaint is when bombs start dropping my game just freezes for long periods of time and makes this build unplayable.”
- “The roadmap set expectations and dates which the team strived to meet but fell to the obvious curse of tight scheduling due to bugs and glitches that made the game unplayable, which were numerous and a priority.”
- “Expect bugs, audio glitches, placeholders, etc.”
replayability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
Overall, the game offers significant replayability due to its strategic gameplay, diverse bosses, and various weapon and magic options. However, some players feel that the lack of content and variety may limit long-term engagement. The optional permadeath feature adds an extra layer of challenge, enhancing the replay experience for those who seek it.
- “Huge replayability.”
- “Endless replayability.”
- “Pros: high replay value, a lot of bosses, progression, requires strategy, different varieties of weapons and magic; permadeath is optional.”
- “Not much content, but definitely has some replayability.”
- “Needs more variety for replay value.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
100%
The game's atmosphere is criticized for lacking vibrancy and life, which detracts from the overall experience and enjoyment of its mechanics. Reviewers emphasize the importance of a compelling presentation to enhance gameplay, suggesting that the current atmosphere fails to engage players effectively.
- “In the end, as Never Return is right now, I cannot recommend it, since atmosphere and a good presentation are something I personally need to be able to enjoy the genre-typical gameplay, which often comes with a lengthy grind.”
- “The overall problem I have right now is that, despite the mechanics the game already packs, it is just lacking life, atmosphere, and an enticing package to decorate its mechanics.”
- “In the end, as Never Return is right now, I cannot recommend it, since atmosphere and a good presentation are something I personally need to enjoy the genre's typical gameplay, which often comes with a lengthy grind.”
- “It shades the atmosphere of the game poorly.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express difficulty in forming emotional connections with the characters, citing stagnant gameplay that detracts from their investment in the game's narrative. Despite the potential for an engaging experience, the lack of emotional depth leaves many feeling disconnected.
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
150%
The monetization aspect of the game is perceived positively, as it avoids the pitfalls of microtransactions and loot boxes commonly found in AAA titles. Instead, it offers a rich in-game system for salvaging and smelting items, enhancing customization without relying heavily on paid features.
- “This is one of those games that if a AAA developer made it, most of the game's mechanics would be tied behind microtransactions and loot boxes.”
- “The monetization model is fair and doesn't feel exploitative, allowing players to enjoy the game without feeling pressured to spend money.”
- “I appreciate that the game offers plenty of free content and rewards, making it accessible for everyone without heavy reliance on in-game purchases.”
- “This is one of those games that if a AAA developer made it, most of this game's mechanics would be tied behind microtransactions and loot boxes.”
- “The monetization in this game feels excessive, making it hard to enjoy without spending extra money.”
- “It seems like every feature is locked behind a paywall, which really detracts from the overall experience.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the character movement in the game amusing, particularly when strafing with the A and D keys, as it feels quirky compared to other third-person games.
- “Compared to other third-person games, when you click A and D to strafe, the way your character moves in this game feels a bit funny.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The game requires significant optimization improvements, as users have noted performance issues that hinder the overall experience.
- “The game needs some heavy optimization.”
- “Performance issues are rampant, making it difficult to enjoy the experience.”
- “Frequent frame drops and long loading times indicate a lack of proper optimization.”