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Shadowrun Returns

Some of the best computer RPG gameplay I've experienced since Baldur's Gate, Shadowrun returns in style. A must for RPG fans
85%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
stability, grinding
89% User Score Based on 17,846 reviews
Critic Score 77%Based on 5 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchAndroidPlaystation 5Playstation 4XboxWindowsPlayStationiPhoneLinuxXbox Series X|STabletPCMac OSPhoneXbox OneiPadMobile Platform
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About

"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.

Genres & Tags
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Shadowrun Returns screenshot
Shadowrun Returns screenshot
Shadowrun Returns screenshot
Shadowrun Returns screenshot
Shadowrun Returns screenshot
Shadowrun Returns screenshot
Shadowrun Returns screenshot
Shadowrun Returns screenshot
Shadowrun Returns screenshot
Shadowrun Returns screenshot
Shadowrun Returns screenshot
+5
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89%
Audience ScoreBased on 17,846 reviews
story4.9k positive mentions
stability216 negative mentions
  • The game features a robust character customization system and user-generated content through the Steam Workshop, enhancing replayability for players interested in different character builds.
  • The atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive and gritty cyberpunk setting, effectively capturing the essence of the original tabletop game.
  • The humor in the game is clever and witty, with many players enjoying the funny dialogues and character interactions that enhance the overall experience.
  • The game's linear storyline and short campaign lead to limited replay value, with many players finding the narrative predictable and lacking significant player agency.
  • Numerous players report frequent bugs, glitches, and game-breaking issues that hinder progress, making the game feel unstable and in need of further polish.
  • The character development is criticized for being simplistic and lacking emotional engagement, with many players feeling disconnected from the story and characters.
  • story
    12,893 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    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. While the writing is generally well-received, many reviewers note that the plot can feel predictable and lacks significant player agency, with choices often leading to the same outcomes. Despite its brevity and linearity, the engaging storytelling and character interactions keep players invested, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of narrative-driven games.

    • “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, with several surprising twists and good character and background descriptions.”
    • “The one story that comes with the game is pretty barebones, has almost zero replayability, and is incredibly linear.”
    • “The story is very linear, the tactical turn based combat gets a bit repetitive at times, and there are one or two areas where the interface could do with some streamlining.”
    • “The story is mediocre at best, and sometimes ridiculous and lame.”
  • gameplay
    3,701 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of *Shadowrun Returns* is characterized by its turn-based combat and tactical mechanics, drawing comparisons to classic RPGs like *XCOM* and *Baldur's Gate*. While many players appreciate the engaging story and character customization options, the gameplay is often criticized for being linear, simplistic, and lacking depth, with some mechanics feeling underdeveloped or poorly explained. Overall, it offers a solid introduction to the *Shadowrun* universe, but may not satisfy those seeking a more complex or open-ended gameplay experience.

    • “The overall presentation, quality of writing, and core gameplay are all great.”
    • “Gameplay in Shadowrun Returns strikes a perfect balance between strategy and action.”
    • “The gameplay is a solid tactical RPG experience that's fun to play, if a bit on the easy side more often than not.”
    • “Gameplay was up to my expectations but didn't wow me.”
    • “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.”
  • graphics
    2,024 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics in "Shadowrun Returns" are a mixed bag, with many reviewers noting that while the art style is visually appealing and captures the cyberpunk aesthetic well, the overall graphical quality feels dated and lacks the polish of modern titles. The game features a blend of 2D and 3D visuals that some find charming, but others criticize for being simplistic and lacking depth. Overall, while the graphics may not impress everyone, they effectively support the game's narrative and atmosphere, making it enjoyable for fans of the genre.

    • “Beautiful isometric graphics, nicely combining 2D and 3D, interesting story and satisfying game mechanics (although a bit simple).”
    • “The graphics are stylish and immersive, capturing the gritty atmosphere of the Shadowrun universe perfectly.”
    • “The game's art style is a feast for the eyes.”
    • “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 is detailed but the background elements could be larger as I had to squint at times to really appreciate the details.”
  • music
    1,174 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    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 enhances the game's ambiance, its limited selection and repetitive nature detract from the experience for some players.

    • “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 only real complaint I have about the game is that the music gets incredibly repetitive.”
  • atmosphere
    1,012 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    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 that draws players into a dystopian future filled with intrigue and magic. While some critiques mention issues with gameplay mechanics and narrative depth, the overall consensus is that the game's atmosphere is its standout feature, making it a must-play for fans of the genre.

    • “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.”
    • “Shadowrun returns captures the atmosphere of the shadowrun universe in a way that appeals to people already familiar with it, as well as newcomers to it, or even cyberpunk in general.”
    • “Also, 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.”
  • replayability
    664 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with many players noting its linear storyline and short campaign as significant drawbacks, leading to limited replay value in the main game. However, the inclusion of a robust character customization system and the ability to create and download user-generated content through the Steam Workshop greatly enhance replayability for those interested in exploring different character builds and scenarios. Overall, while the base game may not offer much in terms of replayability, the community-driven content provides a substantial boost for players seeking extended gameplay.

    • “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.”
    • “Tons of replayability and many hours put into this gem of a game.”
    • “The one story that comes with the game is pretty barebones, has almost zero replayability, and is incredibly linear.”
    • “It is too short; the campaign is like 8 hours long and has little replay value unless you want to make a new character for a different playstyle.”
    • “Regretfully, the story is linear and there is not much replayability.”
  • stability
    226 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability is a significant concern, with numerous players reporting frequent bugs, glitches, and game-breaking issues that hinder progress. While some users experienced minimal problems, many noted that the game often freezes, requires restarts, and features unresponsive mechanics, leading to frustration. Overall, the game is described as "buggy" and in need of further polish, with some players unable to complete missions due to these technical issues.

    • “First of all, it runs great on the Steam Deck, no issues at all.”
    • “The game runs great on older machines.”
    • “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 development
    216 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its depth and variety, particularly in the Dragonfall expansion, while others criticize it for being simplistic and lacking emotional engagement. Many highlight the strong narrative and character designs, which enhance the role-playing experience, but note that the fixed crew and limited interactions with hired runners detract from a more immersive character development experience. Overall, while there are solid mechanics and customization options, the depth of character development varies significantly across different aspects of the game.

    • “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 RPG elements are quite satisfactory.”
    • “There's no real character development, so it's hard to care about why you're doing things in the game.”
    • “Character development is very limited and bland in my opinion; you gain karma to improve your character skillset over time, like any other RPG, but you are pretty limited in your options.”
    • “A shallow character development system, dated gameplay, dated graphics, and limited replayability mar this remake of a SNES favorite.”
  • grinding
    192 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The reviews indicate 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 a sense of frustration. Overall, while the game offers engaging narrative elements, many players feel that certain mechanics and pacing issues contribute to a tedious experience.

    • “The missions are really well designed (with multiple stages, not too rushed, not tedious, with fun little twists).”
    • “Granted there was absolutely no grinding involved, and you couldn't really over-level your character but that was mainly through the fact there were no opportunities to grind XP or go off and explore.”
    • “(ie, no random encounters, no grinding, no endless walking, no backtracking, it's just a story, a story long enough that gives out 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 final run was tedious and required no thought, and none of my final decisions or demeanor in-game really seemed to matter.”
  • humor
    138 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is widely praised for its clever and witty writing, with many players enjoying the funny dialogues, character interactions, and subtle comedic elements that enhance the overall experience. While some found the humor to be hit-or-miss, particularly in its darker contexts, the blend of lighthearted moments with serious themes resonated well with players, making it a standout feature. Overall, the game's humor is seen as a significant contributor to its charm, often evoking genuine laughter and engagement throughout the narrative.

    • “Shadowrun Returns is the first game in a long time that actually made me laugh out loud; the story and script are amazingly good.”
    • “The game's sense of humor is just enough to make you chuckle, but subtle enough to maintain the dark film noir setting.”
    • “Some of the responses that you have as an option can open up some hilarious dialogue, and whilst you usually have a goal in these discussions, some responses just cannot be ignored.”
  • emotional
    62 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    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 feel that the story has potential but is undermined by underdeveloped characters and limited player choices, leading to an emotionally flat experience. Overall, while some players find moments of emotional resonance, others express disappointment in the game's ability to create lasting emotional connections.

    • “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.”
  • optimization
    50 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while it runs smoothly on low-end PCs and offers decent performance, many users report bugs and a lack of polish, particularly in the UI and visual effects. Some players recommend newer entries in the series for a better-optimized experience, as this version shows its age and could benefit from further optimization. Despite these issues, the game remains enjoyable for its engaging story and gameplay mechanics.

    • “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.”
    • “A brilliant turn-based tactics game based around an optimized mechanics system based on the Shadowrun tabletop games.”
    • “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.”
  • monetization
    16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    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, resembling typical uninspired indie projects. While nostalgia plays a significant role in its appeal, many believe that the game fails to deliver a truly engaging RPG experience, often feeling railroaded and shallow. Overall, there is a sentiment that the game capitalizes on past successes rather than offering innovative gameplay.

    • “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.”
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77%Critics’ scoreBased on 5 critic reviews
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13h Median play time
18h Average play time
12h Main story
18h Completionist
10-20h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 188 analyzed playthroughs
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