Returnal
- February 15, 2023
- Climax Studios
- 13h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on PS Store"Returnal" is a single-player or 2-player co-op Action game, exclusively on Steam, with a great story and stunning gameplay. It features amazing graphics, a masterful soundtrack, and is highly replayable due to its roguelike elements and the Tower of Sisyphus mode. Link your Steam and PlayStation™Network accounts to unlock bonus outfits.
Reviews
- Incredible graphics and sound design that create a haunting atmosphere.
- Fast-paced and fluid gameplay with satisfying gun mechanics.
- Engaging story that unfolds gradually, encouraging exploration and replayability.
- Frequent crashes and performance issues, including texture loading problems.
- Punishing difficulty that can lead to frustration, especially with long runs.
- Limited permanent upgrades and lack of meaningful progression between runs.
- story943 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The story of *Returnal* is widely praised for its depth and complexity, intertwining themes of trauma, existential dread, and psychological horror within a sci-fi framework. Players appreciate the non-linear storytelling approach, which relies on subtle imagery and environmental cues rather than overt exposition, allowing for personal interpretation and engagement. However, some find the narrative convoluted and frustrating, with a lack of clear resolution, leading to mixed feelings about its overall execution.
“The story is also interesting with some horror, Lovecraft elements.”
“The narrative and story, while seeming confused at first, is actually executed brilliantly and makes a lot of sense once you get to the end of the game... this game gave me an experience that I will not forget for a very long time.”
“The story is fantastic, and the way it's presented, the connections to Greek mythology, the creepy vibes around every cutscene, and the emotional impact once the credits roll are truly remarkable.”
“The story is nonsensical and the ending/conclusion is unsatisfying; a good story is one most people understand and can relate to, not abstract themes about the protagonist's mother issues.”
“What could’ve been a compelling story ends up disjointed and incoherent, feeling like a patchwork of ideas that never fully connect.”
“The story is very conducive to a roguelike game, but the upgrades and progression in a run don't feel all that great, which is kind of the opposite of every other roguelike.”
- gameplay775 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Returnal is widely praised for its fast-paced, fluid mechanics and engaging bullet-hell elements, creating a challenging yet rewarding experience. Players appreciate the tight controls and the integration of roguelike mechanics, which encourage mastery and experimentation with different weapons and strategies. However, some critiques highlight issues with enemy variety, repetitive gameplay, and technical problems that can detract from the overall experience.
“The gameplay and visuals are amazing.”
“The big difference here is the phenomenal graphics mixed with the great world building and smooth fluid gameplay.”
“Returnal is an exhilarating and visually stunning experience that masterfully blends roguelike mechanics with intense, fast-paced action.”
“The gameplay is quite shallow and boring in many aspects.”
“The gameplay loop gets old really fast.”
“The gameplay is okay when it works, but has what feels like some significant flaws in how it treats save games, co-op, and recovery from crashes.”
- graphics431 mentions
- 58 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their stunning visuals, intricate details, and immersive atmosphere, often described as top-notch or breathtaking. However, some players report significant performance issues, including stuttering and graphical bugs, regardless of the settings used, indicating potential optimization problems. Overall, while the aesthetic and graphical fidelity are highlights, technical issues may detract from the experience for some users.
“The big difference here is the phenomenal graphics mixed with the great world building and smooth fluid gameplay.”
“The game’s atmospheric world is beautifully crafted, pulling you into its eerie, ever-changing alien landscape with breathtaking graphics and a hauntingly immersive sound design.”
“The graphics are jaw-dropping if you have everything on ultra + the RTX features turned on.”
“There's an issue with the game where the longer you play, the worse the graphics quality becomes.”
“Unfortunately, this game suffers from a rather major graphical bug that seems to occur with extended playtime.”
“No matter what graphics setting I set it to, it stutters in the same locations.”
- optimization395 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant stuttering and performance issues, particularly on mid-range and lower-end PCs. While some users have experienced smooth gameplay with high settings, others have noted that even powerful hardware struggles with frame drops and inconsistent performance, especially in demanding scenarios. Overall, the game appears to require further optimization to address these widespread issues, although recent patches have improved performance for some players.
“The optimization is so good I can run everything at max with ray tracing and still average 100fps on my 13900k/3080ti build.”
“Performance overall was pretty good, although I loaded in falling under the map on too many occasions for my liking.”
“The amount of settings you can adjust and test out to make sure your rig can run the game at the highest level is insane.”
“This game is very poorly optimized for PC.”
“The worst optimization I've seen since 2008.”
“The game is clearly not optimized for PC -- just read all the other reviews about various bugs.”
- atmosphere164 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its captivating and immersive qualities, combining stunning visuals, haunting sound design, and a unique sci-fi aesthetic that draws players into its eerie, alien landscapes. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to evoke feelings of tension and mystery, likening it to a blend of various influential sci-fi and horror narratives. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a standout feature, enhancing both the gameplay experience and the storytelling.
“The game’s atmospheric world is beautifully crafted, pulling you into its eerie, ever-changing alien landscape with breathtaking graphics and a hauntingly immersive sound design.”
“The atmosphere is incredible, the music excellent, the gameplay is divine, the loop is masterfully done.”
“I often just stand around and soak in the atmosphere, listening to the amazing music and thinking about this strange world, almost getting a warm shiver because of the thoughtful loneliness it exposes me to.”
“The atmosphere is alright, but the levels are very repetitive visually.”
“When I sank into the abyss I really thought: 'how the hell could the atmosphere become even more uneasy than before?'”
“The sound design is particularly impressive, immersing the player in an otherworldly and alienesque environment, creating an eerie and mysterious atmosphere.”
- music124 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric and haunting qualities, effectively enhancing the immersive experience of the gameplay. Many reviewers highlight the soundtrack's ability to complement the intense action and emotional moments, creating a captivating soundscape that draws players into the game's eerie world. While some note that the ambient music can fade into the background, the overall consensus is that the sound design and music are top-notch, contributing significantly to the game's success.
“The music is powerful and haunting, the perfect soundtrack to frantically blast your way through waves of aliens while maneuvering deftly past streams of radiant projectiles.”
“The soundtrack is incredible, and if you can make it to the fourth boss you are in for something that is unlike any other boss fight I have played in a video game in a long time.”
“The music and ambient soundtrack are very very good; frankly, all of the audio in the game is amazing.”
“The repetition of the combat music fading in every few seconds becomes grating on the player.”
“There is no music in this game.”
“The music is more of an ambient layer, but not very memorable.”
- stability80 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 1 % neutral mentions
- 56 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant bugs, crashes, and performance issues, particularly on the PC version. While some users have experienced smooth gameplay and minimal glitches, others have faced frustrating freezes, stuttering, and game-breaking errors, especially in co-op mode. Overall, the game appears to be enjoyable when it runs well, but its current state is deemed too unstable for a reliable experience.
“I have not experienced any problems with it, no glitches or crashes, but that is me personally; we all know how PC ports can be.”
“The game runs great without stuttering even after going through multiple biomes.”
“Game looks great, runs great, and more importantly, has amazing gameplay and a great storyline.”
“All this, and at the time I'm writing this, has happened at what it says is 69 minutes of playtime, but is actually maybe 15 minutes, since I have been troubleshooting or having game crashes spread over 2 days.”
“Game-breaking fatal errors that have no fix, and having to start all over because they released a buggy game.”
“The port is buggy as hell; I'm having a lot of UE crashes with the 'fatal error' message, a lot of stuttering even with ray tracing off, and I noticed missing in-game assets.”
- replayability75 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability, driven by engaging mechanics, beautiful graphics, and a compelling story. Many players appreciate the procedurally generated levels and various gameplay modes that keep the experience fresh, although some express concerns about limited content and memorization affecting long-term replay value. While it excels in replayability compared to some titles, others note that it may not reach the heights of other roguelikes in the genre.
“Top notch game design and controls, intriguing story, gorgeous graphics, and a bunch of content that makes it endlessly replayable.”
“The replay value is incredible, thanks to procedurally generated levels that keep things fresh and exciting every time you play.”
“Returnal is extremely engaging and you can tell as soon as you start playing it that this is one of those games with infinite replayability.”
“The problem is that these sections are very, very limited and you'll quickly memorize everything, thus hampering replayability.”
“Decent game with polish and really cool execution of 3rd person bullet hell in some boss fights, but the story is too short and the replayability is minimal compared to other rogue-lites; it's not worth the price tag.”
“There isn't much content to justify a $60 price tag. If you play other roguelikes, then you'll beat this game in 10-15 hours. The problem is, unlike other roguelikes, there isn't much replay value since Returnal is pretty story-driven and has metroidvania mechanics. You'll beat the game and will have seen almost everything.”
- grinding49 mentions
- 2 % positive mentions
- 4 % neutral mentions
- 94 % negative mentions
Reviews highlight that the grinding aspect of the game is often perceived as tedious and frustrating, with players expressing dissatisfaction over the randomness and scarcity of resources that prolong the experience unnecessarily. Many feel that the grind detracts from enjoyment, making exploration and progression feel like a chore rather than a rewarding challenge, especially when aiming for 100% completion or the true ending. While some players appreciate the potential for improvement through grinding, the overall sentiment leans towards it being overly repetitive and detracting from the game's fun factor.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“The gameplay is okay until the moment you realize that certain actions impede your movement... in a rogue-like where enemies surround you, for example you have a melee attack, you use it and you're paralyzed for like half a second, you get pushed by an enemy you get paralyzed... on a rogue-like with several enemies shooting you from multiple directions at the same time... and the grind... oh the grind, there is no chance of beating this without grinding entire sections of the map again and again and again, no issue if it was fun, but it is not, it becomes a chore fast.”
“It's tedious, annoying, and full of 'gotchas' that most games packaged as 'get good' hard games that lure you in with a cool experience at the start... yet then again you find yourself in another grind unable to have fun at the end of a gaming session with this 'slough' of a game.”
“Game would be much better if it didn’t waste your time on meaningless grinding, and just had a checkpoint at the beginning of the biome.”
- emotional16 mentions
- 94 % positive mentions
- -12 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
Players express a profound emotional connection to the game, highlighting its ability to evoke intense feelings through challenging gameplay, haunting narratives, and impactful music. The blend of brutal difficulty and a deeply human story creates a unique emotional experience, often leaving players feeling heartbroken and reflective on themes of trauma and resilience. Despite some critiques of the storytelling's clarity, the overall emotional weight and resonance of the game are widely praised.
“The intentional nature of the design influences you to become just as intentional, and follow along a harrowing, heart-wrenching, truly masterful style of narrative that I truly believe could only be possible in the medium of video games.”
“Despite the brutality, the coldness of the world, the sheer difficulty of the moment-to-moment gameplay, this game is ultimately and deeply human and emotional in an utterly unique way.”
“9/10, by far the best story I've ever experienced in a roguelike let alone any video game in regards to properly showcasing trauma and tragedy, it's absolutely heartbreaking once the entire story comes to an end and you realize what has happened.”
“The emotional depth of the story is lacking, making it feel very boring.”
“I found the character development to be shallow, which diminished any emotional impact.”
“The attempts at emotional moments fell flat and felt forced.”
- humor14 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is frequently highlighted as a standout feature, with players enjoying the comedic elements of co-op play and the absurdity of dying and resurrecting in a changing world. Many reviews mention the laughter shared among friends during gameplay, particularly when facing challenges and misfortunes, contributing to a lighthearted atmosphere. Overall, the game is described as a funny and engaging rogue-like experience that keeps players entertained despite its difficulty.
“Funny thing is every time you die in the game you start from scratch and the world changes.”
“Last time I played this, my buddies and I were all passing the controller around like the days before Xbox Live became a thing, laughing at each other's misfortune and cheering successes.”
“Really good game, funny AAA rogue-like.”
- monetization4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that while Sony Interactive Entertainment views its PC releases primarily as a means to promote PS5 hardware and services, the monetization strategy is not perceived as predatory. Players appreciate the game as a masterpiece, with only minor complaints regarding control options rather than monetization issues.
“A true masterpiece not marred by predatory monetization.”
“Since Sony Interactive Entertainment sees its PC releases as an advertisement for people buying PS5 consoles, PS5 controllers, and signing up for their PlayStation Network.”
“YMMV, but in my mind, the amount of moving, aiming, and ads that I do really requires that I flick the mouse a lot.”
“The only complaint I have is while there's an option to change sprint to toggle, there is no option to change ads to toggle as well.”
- character development3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is highly praised, with players noting that each death contributes to unlocking deeper story elements and character arcs. The combination of engaging character design and a compelling narrative keeps players invested, transforming the initial rogue-like experience into a rich exploration of madness and growth.
“Amazing game! I came for the rogue-like experience and short fun runs, but stayed for the intriguing story and character development on the edge of madness.”
“Amazing character design, enemies, and gear.”
“You will die a lot in the beginning, and that's okay because with each death, more story and character development is unlocked.”
“The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with anyone in the game.”
“I was disappointed by the lack of meaningful choices that affect character development; it feels like a missed opportunity.”
