Shadowrun Returns

89%
Game Brain Score Based on 8,923 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Shadowrun Returns Game Cover
Some of the best computer RPG gameplay I've experienced since Baldur's Gate, Shadowrun returns in style. A must for RPG fans
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"Shadowrun Returns" is a tactical RPG set in a cyberpunk world where magic has returned. As a shadowrunner, a mercenary in the shadows of massive corporations, you must navigate the streets of Seattle to find a mysterious killer. With a blend of technology and magic, and a cast of diverse characters, you must use skill and instinct to complete your mission. This game brings the unique world of Shadowrun to life with its rich storytelling and intense combat.

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  • PC
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  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Android
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Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

89%
Audience ScoreBased on 8,923 reviews
story2,455 positive mentions
stability108 negative mentions
  • Engaging story with well-written dialogue that immerses players in the Shadowrun universe.
  • Solid turn-based combat system that allows for various character builds and strategies.
  • Beautiful art style and atmosphere that captures the essence of a cyberpunk fantasy world.
  • The game is very linear with limited choices and minimal side quests, which may disappoint players looking for exploration.
  • Some gameplay mechanics, such as the accuracy of attacks, can feel frustrating and inconsistent.
  • The lack of voice acting and reliance on text can be tedious for players who prefer more dynamic storytelling.
  • story6,446 mentions

    The story in "Shadowrun Returns" is a linear narrative centered around a murder mystery, where players investigate the death of a friend while navigating a gritty cyberpunk world filled with magic and technology. While the writing is generally praised for its quality and engaging twists, many reviewers note that the story lacks depth and player agency, with choices often leading to the same outcomes. Despite its brevity and predictability, the game is recommended for its immersive atmosphere and strong character interactions, making it a solid introduction to the Shadowrun universe.

    • “The storytelling, the interface... it's compelling, dark, and fun, and exquisitely entertaining.”
    • “The story is interesting and pretty dark.”
    • “The story is well written and engaging, the characters are memorable and the gameplay is smooth.”
    • “The one story that comes with the game is pretty barebones, has almost zero replayability, and is incredibly linear.”
    • “The story is very linear, and the only choices you do get are pretty much determined by your stat picks during certain dialogues.”
    • “The main story feels a little flat and short.”
  • gameplay1,849 mentions

    The gameplay of "Shadowrun Returns" is characterized by its turn-based combat system, reminiscent of classic RPGs like XCOM and Fallout, offering a straightforward yet engaging experience. While the mechanics are generally solid and accessible, many players find the gameplay to be linear and simplistic, lacking depth and variety, particularly in character interactions and mission design. Despite these criticisms, the game's rich storytelling and immersive world-building often compensate for its gameplay shortcomings, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of narrative-driven RPGs.

    • “The overall presentation, quality of writing, and core gameplay are all great.”
    • “The gameplay is a very typical CRPG top-down perspective kind of thing with tactical turn-based combat with basic point and click controls for when you're out of combat.”
    • “The gameplay opens up in the second half of the game after you acquire more skills/items etc. The cover system feels worse than in games like XCOM and I think character positioning is unsatisfying.”
    • “Gameplay-wise, it's isometric XCOM with the exploration of Shining Force, mixed with D&D character races and a point-based character progression system.”
    • “The gameplay is linear, but my god is it clean.”
  • graphics1,012 mentions

    The graphics of "Shadowrun Returns" are a mixed bag, with many reviewers noting that while the art style is appealing and captures the cyberpunk aesthetic well, the overall graphical quality feels dated compared to modern standards. The game features a blend of 2D and 3D visuals that some find charming, but others criticize for lacking depth and polish. Overall, the visuals are considered functional and atmospheric, serving the narrative effectively despite not being cutting-edge.

    • “Beautiful isometric graphics, nicely combining 2D and 3D, interesting story and satisfying game mechanics.”
    • “The graphics are stylish and immersive, capturing the gritty atmosphere of the Shadowrun universe perfectly.”
    • “The artwork of the city streets is nice and colorful and manages to be dark and gritty without being overly grim.”
    • “The graphics are not great, even for the time.”
    • “The game's graphics are also outdated and lackluster, with poorly designed character models and uninspired environments that feel lifeless and uninteresting.”
    • “The graphics are dated; there is no voice over (everything is text that must be read) and the interface lacks a lot of data that we've come to expect in modern games.”
  • music587 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its atmospheric qualities and how it complements the cyberpunk setting. However, a significant number of users noted that the soundtrack can be repetitive and lacks variety, leading to some frustration over time. Overall, while the music is often described as fitting and enjoyable, it may not hold up well over extended play sessions.

    • “The music is fantastic, building a great ambience both in story moments and in combat.”
    • “The soundtrack evokes mystery and a sense of modern wonder.”
    • “The music provides all of the atmosphere, all the cyberpunk feels, the heightened excitement in combat... it's memorable, it's what you'd expect for the genre and it almost single-handedly makes the game.”
    • “Stylistically though, I wish the soundtrack didn't all sound the same, because it gets boring and repetitive.”
    • “The music sounds incredibly generic, thus gets repetitive very early in the game.”
    • “The music gets really annoying after a few hours.”
  • atmosphere506 mentions

    The atmosphere of "Shadowrun Returns" is widely praised for its immersive and gritty cyberpunk setting, effectively capturing the essence of the original tabletop game. Reviewers highlight the game's rich world-building, atmospheric art direction, and evocative soundtrack, which together create a compelling experience reminiscent of classic noir and dystopian narratives. However, some critiques mention that the game can feel empty or linear at times, detracting from the overall immersion.

    • “The graphics are stylish and immersive, capturing the gritty atmosphere of the Shadowrun universe perfectly.”
    • “The cyberpunk cityscapes, dark alleys, and futuristic interiors are beautifully rendered, creating an atmosphere that oozes with a distinct blend of technology and magic.”
    • “The atmosphere constantly gives the player the feeling of living in a near-future world where technology and society have gone wrong; with magic added to the mix, it truly gives the game an ambient sense of oppression, like society is truly teetering on the edge of total collapse.”
    • “The world looks too empty and lacks an atmosphere that would draw me in.”
    • “The game's sound design is also subpar, with repetitive sound effects and forgettable music that fails to add to the game's atmosphere.”
    • “But this game did not pick up the atmosphere.”
  • replayability332 mentions

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with many players noting its linear storyline and short campaign length as significant drawbacks. While some find replay value in experimenting with different character classes and builds, others feel that the lack of meaningful choices and side quests limits the incentive to replay. However, the inclusion of user-generated content and modding capabilities through the Steam Workshop offers a substantial boost to replayability, allowing for a variety of new experiences beyond the main campaign.

    • “The choice-driven narrative allows for multiple outcomes and encourages replayability, ensuring that each playthrough feels fresh and exciting.”
    • “The game comes with an accessible editor that allows players to create their own campaigns, adding to the already robust replay value.”
    • “Combine that with a huge array of options and some pretty impressive community stories and you've got a recipe for a lot of replayability.”
    • “The campaign is very linear, very short, and has no replayability at all.”
    • “Regretfully, the story is linear and there is not much replayability.”
    • “The linear progression, lack of choice or sidequests, and similarity between classes means there is little to no replay value.”
  • stability113 mentions

    The game's stability is a significant concern among users, with many reporting frequent bugs, glitches, and game-breaking issues that hinder gameplay. While some players have experienced smooth performance, particularly on specific platforms like the Steam Deck, the overall consensus indicates that the game is riddled with stability problems, including freezes, mission failures, and inconsistent AI behavior. Despite these issues, some players still find enjoyment in the story and combat, suggesting that the game may appeal to those willing to overlook its technical shortcomings.

    • “No game is entirely bug-free, but I didn't notice any in my playthrough.”
    • “First of all, it runs great on the Steam Deck, no issues at all.”
    • “Shadowrun Returns is as bug-free as you could ask for and runs incredibly smooth with a gorgeous tileset.”
    • “Game freezes up randomly every single time I play; devs need to fix it or make it free-to-play.”
    • “The fact that these issues exist (with no reliable, easily implemented workaround or troubleshooting available either on the game's Steam forums or anywhere else on the web) in a 'finished' game is unacceptable.”
    • “Couldn't even finish it because of bugs; I don't know why I paid for this game, full of glitches, soft locks, and bugs.”
  • character development108 mentions

    Character development in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising its depth and variety, particularly in the Dragonfall expansion, while others criticize it as simplistic and lacking emotional engagement. Many players appreciate the unique character designs and the ability to customize skills, but feel that the overall development is limited, especially regarding the fixed crew and NPC interactions. Overall, while the game offers some satisfying character progression, it often falls short of delivering a deeply immersive RPG experience.

    • “The choices you make in character development add depth to your role-playing experience, making every playthrough feel fresh and exciting.”
    • “Deep character development and amazing storyline!”
    • “The character development and combat systems are great.”
    • “There's no real character development, so it's hard to care about why you're doing things in the game.”
    • “Character development is minimalistic and also does not really matter that much.”
    • “The shortness also affects your character development since, unless you dump all your points into one area, there is no way you can explore all the options available to you.”
  • grinding96 mentions

    The reviews highlight a general consensus that the game lacks grinding opportunities, which some players appreciate as it keeps the focus on the story, while others find the linearity and lack of exploration tedious. Combat and mission design are often described as repetitive and slow, particularly in the later stages, leading to frustration during encounters. Overall, while the absence of grinding is seen as a positive by some, it contributes to a sense of tedium in gameplay and mission progression for many players.

    • “The missions are really well designed, with multiple stages that are not too rushed or tedious, and include fun little twists.”
    • “Granted, there was absolutely no grinding involved, and you couldn't really over-level your character, but that was mainly due to the lack of opportunities to grind XP or explore.”
    • “There are no random encounters, no grinding, no endless walking, and no backtracking; it's just a story long enough to provide 10 hours of content.”
    • “It's interesting at first, but gets tedious real quick.”
    • “Some of the encounter design, especially towards the end/in the final crawl, is indescribably tedious.”
    • “The combat is very much in the mold of X-Com, but for reasons unexplained, even when all the enemies in a level have been defeated, you're often seemingly forced to continue to use the point system to get around, which can get rather tedious at times.”
  • humor69 mentions

    The humor in the game is widely praised for its clever and witty writing, with many players enjoying the funny dialogues, character interactions, and humorous twists throughout the story. While some found the humor to be subtle and fitting for the dark, dystopian setting, others noted that it occasionally veered into overly lengthy or forced territory. Overall, the game successfully balances humor with serious themes, making it an engaging experience that resonates with fans of the genre.

    • “Funny and witty writing, cool characters.”
    • “The game's sense of humor is just enough to make you chuckle, but subtle enough to maintain the dark film noir setting.”
    • “Shadowrun Returns is the first game in a long time that actually made me laugh out loud; the story and script are amazingly good.”
  • emotional31 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its heart-touching quests and character development, while others criticize it for lacking depth and emotional engagement. Many found the story compelling but felt that the characters were underdeveloped, leading to an emotionally flat experience. Overall, while some players appreciated the emotional weight of certain narratives, others were left wanting more from the character interactions and overall emotional investment.

    • “There are some really heart-touching quests and dialogues.”
    • “I still miss good old Sam; the characters were very developed in this story, making the things that happened to them even more emotional.”
    • “With a deep and emotional storyline, this game sucks you in and makes you want to keep playing mission after mission.”
    • “The story feels generic and boring, serving as a lame excuse to send the character on a quest to save the world.”
    • “The emotional depth is lacking, making it hard to connect with the characters or their struggles.”
    • “I found the narrative to be uninspired, which diminished any potential emotional impact.”
  • optimization25 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while it runs smoothly on low-end PCs and maintains decent performance, many players report a lack of polish in the UI and visual effects. Some users recommend newer entries for better optimization, citing bugs and performance issues in this version. Despite its age, the game offers a compelling experience, but players may encounter frustrations that detract from the overall enjoyment.

    • “I experienced no performance issues.”
    • “The game runs smoothly, the story is well written (especially Dragonfall, man, that campaign is awesome), it's totally moddable, it has an active community... I'm waiting for the next expansion from the authors, but there are a lot of mods to pick that are equally good.”
    • “Most surprising to me is that Shadowrun runs smoothly at 1366x768 resolution on my old 2009 Dell Inspiron 1545 laptop running Ubuntu 12.04, with only a mere integrated Intel GMA 4500MHD; Intel Core 2 Duo (2.0 GHz x 2), 2 GB RAM DDR2 800MHz.”
    • “Do not purchase this version because Shadowrun Dragonfall has an optimized remake of it.”
    • “There's nothing bad I can say about Shadowrun Returns except for the fact that it does lack polish in the UI department (which is most likely a result of it being optimized to allow usage on mobile and tablet systems) and regarding visual effects as well as character animations.”
    • “Best to play this on a decent graphics/horsepower very recent PC, as a lot of the combat calculations don't seem to be optimized.”
  • monetization8 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has drawn criticism for its high price tag and perceived cash grab nature, with some reviewers feeling it lacks originality and depth despite its nostalgic appeal. Many express disappointment that the game does not live up to the standards of classic RPGs, suggesting it prioritizes profit over innovative gameplay. Overall, the sentiment leans towards frustration with the game's financial model and its failure to deliver a compelling experience.

    • “It is pointless to be a kickstarted indie dev if you're going to use the opportunity to make the same uninspired, conservative, shallow narrative and mechanical setup as any run-of-the-mill cash grab.”
    • “Stay away from the failed greedy cash grab MMO as well...”
    • “This game feels like a cash grab that succeeds solely because of nostalgia.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

77% average critic score

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Play time

13hMedian play time
18hAverage play time
12hMain story
18hCompletionist
10-20hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 94 analyzed playthroughs

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