Return

About

"Return" is an art-driven adventure game set in a post-apocalyptic version of your home planet. After an unexpected return during cryo-sleep, your ship is damaged and you must explore the unfamiliar landscape to repair it and escape. With ecosystems failing, resources scarce, and chaos reigning, survival is a daunting challenge in this transformed world. Sign up for the closed beta and join the official community to stay updated.

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Play Modes

Single-Player

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91%

Audience ScoreBased on 86 reviews

atmosphere33 positive mentions

grinding7 negative mentions

The game features stunning pixel art and a captivating atmosphere that immerses players in its world.
Combat is engaging and challenging, requiring players to master dodging and timing to succeed against various enemies and bosses.
The soundtrack complements the gameplay beautifully, enhancing the overall experience and mood of the game.

The game is quite short, with many players completing it in around 3 to 4 hours, leading to concerns about its value at full price.
Combat can become repetitive, as the core mechanics often boil down to hit-and-run tactics without much variety in playstyle.
Some players found the narrative and character interactions to be shallow, lacking depth and engagement despite the intriguing setting.

atmosphere
39 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
85%
7%
8%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its impressive depth, haunting beauty, and strong artistic direction, often described as better than many AAA titles. Players appreciate the seamless integration of pixel art, music, and sound design, which collectively create a captivating and immersive experience. While the combat mechanics may be simple, the game's focus on exploration and atmosphere makes it a standout in the genre.
- “The atmosphere is perfect, lots of great bosses, and the story is pretty cool too.”
- “The game is small in scope but makes up for it with its impressive atmosphere and style.”
- “The atmosphere and music are fantastic.”
- “It has atmosphere, but nothing else.”
- “The atmosphere is, however, definitely more of a main feature than the combat, as the combat mechanics are exceedingly simple: wait for an attack, dodge behind enemy, hit a few times, repeat.”
- “This game oozes atmosphere.”
gameplay
35 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
48%
9%
The gameplay is characterized by straightforward mechanics focused on shooting, slashing, and dodging, which some players find enjoyable despite its simplicity. While the combat is solid and the atmosphere is praised, many reviews note a lack of depth and replayability, leading to mixed feelings about its value at full price. Overall, the game offers a fun but brief experience, with potential for improvement in future updates or sequels.
- “The gameplay is solid and mistakes are punished harshly, but that's a part of its charm.”
- “A great short and sweet experience with simple, yet satisfying, mechanics.”
- “The environments and gameplay are beautifully made and fun but don't exactly counter with how short the game is, especially with the price being what it is.”
- “The combination of basic combat, flawed gameplay systems, and high price to length make this a game that's hard to recommend at full price.”
- “My biggest disappointment is that the potential for a great game is there, with great art and good music, but it falls very short when it comes to actual gameplay and world-building.”
- “The atmosphere is, however, definitely more of a main feature than the combat, as the combat mechanics are exceedingly simple: wait for an attack, dodge behind enemy, hit a few times, repeat.”
graphics
33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
24%
9%
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their stunning pixel art style and atmospheric visuals, which effectively complement the gameplay and soundtrack. Reviewers particularly appreciate the vibrant use of color against darker backgrounds, creating a captivating aesthetic that enhances the overall experience. Many consider the art style to be the game's standout feature, making it a visually engaging journey worth exploring.
- “The graphics and the atmosphere are amazing.”
- “The art style is amazing, the gameplay is phenomenal, etc. Return is definitely worth the money.”
- “Beautiful visuals and soundtrack.”
- “The visuals and mood are worth experiencing if you are willing to deal with the shortcomings but not at the asking price.”
- “By far its biggest strength is its atmosphere and art style making it stand out.”
- “The areas have various different backdrops and traits to them while still keeping with that dystopian aesthetic.”
story
29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
59%
10%
The game's story has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the atmosphere and world-building, while others criticize it for being shallow and lacking depth. Many noted that the narrative feels rushed and underdeveloped, often relying on common tropes without significant exploration. Despite its brevity, some players found the storytelling engaging through environmental cues and item descriptions, though overall, the consensus suggests a desire for a more substantial and cohesive narrative.
- “Love the story and the world building.”
- “I just completed the story and I was so enriched in the world and the story arc.”
- “His creativity shines in the atmospheric world he has created, the people and creatures that inhabit it, and the story that is told.”
- “And the story tries to work some [spoiler] my family is probably dead [/spoiler] business at the beginning of the game that feels lazy, cheap, and thrown in 'just because' since nothing is ever done with it; to be fair, so many sci-fi stories do this trope with no weight, point, or substance that the game is not unique in this regard, just unfortunate to have another one thrown on the pile.”
- “The story, background characters, and lore are all super basic and shallow.”
- “There's pretty much no story, or at least it's so barebones I couldn't notice it.”
music
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
30%
13%
The music in the game is widely praised for its ability to create a haunting atmosphere that complements the art style, enhancing the overall experience. While some users find the soundtrack fitting and atmospheric, there are concerns about its pricing and value, with suggestions that it may only appeal to dedicated fans wanting to support the developer. Overall, the combination of music, sound design, and visuals is noted as a strong point, contributing to an engaging and immersive gameplay experience.
- “The music and art flow together to make a haunting world.”
- “I'm hooked... I can't say enough about the amazing pixel art, music, and sound design; it all comes together so seamlessly and builds an incredible atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere and music are fantastic.”
- “The soundtrack is also severely overpriced, and is something you'd only buy if you really want to help this developer out.”
- “Regarding the DLCs, I assume they are also overpriced. If you want to 'support' the developer, go ahead and buy the DLCs, but you could purchase real physical copies of soundtracks and art books for the same price.”
- “And the soundtrack, while not outstanding, always fit the mood super well.”
grinding
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
88%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and often unnecessary, with some achievements requiring excessive farming that detracts from the overall experience. While level grinding and weapon upgrades can be beneficial, the repetitive nature of combat and basic movement mechanics contribute to a sense of monotony, making the short game feel longer than it is. Overall, the grind is seen as a frustrating element rather than an engaging challenge.
- “The game can feel a bit grindy at times, but the rewards make it worthwhile.”
- “Grinding in this game is satisfying, as it allows you to truly develop your character.”
- “While there are moments of grinding, the progression feels rewarding and keeps you engaged.”
- “Even though the game is short, I still cannot help but feel it's tedious to the core loop.”
- “The 'greed', 'knowledge', 'weaponsmith', and 'armory' achievements are just grinding for grinding’s sake.”
- “Sadly, the only thing left was to get all the achievements, which I feel is just grinding aimlessly.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Many users express disappointment in the game's replayability, citing its simplicity and short duration as factors that limit content and overall value, especially at its price point.
- “At the 20 euro (16~ on sale) price mark, I was expecting more content and replayability.”
- “With not very much replay value, which is a shame.”
- “Considering the simplicity of its gameplay, virtually no replayability, and short duration, it may not be exactly worth its full price.”

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3h Median play time

3h Average play time

3-4h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 3 analyzed playthroughs

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