Shadowrun Returns

89%
Game Brain Score Based on 6,523 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
Starting at $0.99Buy now
Get on Steam Get on Epic Games Store

"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.

  • iPad
  • iPhone
  • Mac OS
  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Phone
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Android
  • Linux
  • Mobile Platform
  • Play​Station
  • Tablet
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

89%
Audience ScoreBased on 6,523 reviews
story1,803 positive mentions
stability82 negative mentions
  • Engaging story with interesting characters and a compelling narrative.
  • Solid turn-based combat system that allows for various character builds and strategies.
  • Rich atmosphere and world-building that captures the essence of the Shadowrun universe.
  • Game is relatively short and linear, lacking side quests and exploration.
  • Some bugs and glitches can disrupt gameplay, particularly in later missions.
  • Limited character customization options and some mechanics feel underdeveloped compared to sequels.
  • story4,694 mentions

    The story in "Shadowrun Returns" is generally well-received, characterized as engaging and immersive, with a compelling murder mystery at its core. However, many reviewers note its linearity and brevity, often completing the main campaign in around 10-15 hours, which can limit replayability and player agency. While the writing is praised for its quality and depth, some players feel that the lack of meaningful choices and side quests detracts from the overall experience, making it feel more like an interactive novel than a traditional RPG.

    • “The story is interesting and pretty dark.”
    • “A very good game albeit a short one, with a great atmosphere and a thrilling story in cyberpunk Seattle about the murder of your friend.”
    • “It's a well-written and immersive story that kept me engaged all the way through.”
    • “The story is incredibly short and linear, with most dialogue options circling back to the same outcome anyway.”
    • “The story is linear, but it offers you several different options to complete missions.”
    • “The choices that are allowed to be made seemed to have little to no impact on how the story unfolds, which ruins the immersion of the game.”
  • gameplay1,343 mentions

    The gameplay of *Shadowrun Returns* is characterized by its turn-based combat and straightforward mechanics, drawing comparisons to classic RPGs like *Baldur's Gate* and *XCOM*. While many players appreciate the engaging story and character customization options, the gameplay is often described as linear and simplistic, lacking depth and polish in certain areas. Overall, it offers a nostalgic experience for fans of the genre, but may not satisfy those seeking more complex mechanics or open-world exploration.

    • “The overall presentation, quality of writing, and core gameplay are all great.”
    • “The turn-based combat is great, the additional mechanics like decking are interesting, and the writing is fantastic.”
    • “Its engaging story, challenging gameplay, and immersive world make it a standout title in the genre.”
    • “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 is linear, you have some variations on your dialogue, including.”
    • “The gameplay is a bit simplistic in this first game as I feel it was designed as a proof of concept.”
  • graphics726 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many players noting that while they are not cutting-edge, they effectively capture the cyberpunk aesthetic and atmosphere. The art style is often praised for its charm and detail, particularly in character portraits and environments, though some find the overall graphical quality to be dated and simplistic compared to modern standards. Overall, the visuals are described as serviceable and fitting for the game's narrative focus, appealing to fans of old-school RPGs despite lacking the polish of contemporary titles.

    • “The graphics are stylish and immersive, capturing the gritty atmosphere of the Shadowrun universe perfectly.”
    • “Beautiful isometric graphics, nicely combining 2D and 3D, interesting story, and satisfying game mechanics.”
    • “The artwork of the city streets is nice and colorful and manages to be dark and gritty without being overly grim.”
    • “The game presents flaccid technical competence and production values, without much personality or aesthetic value and deep mechanics, letting almost all of its charms appear through the text and some sporadically used concept art.”
    • “The graphics are serviceable but even for the time seem a bit low-end compared to similar games.”
    • “The graphics are not great, even for the time.”
  • music409 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising its ability to create an immersive cyberpunk atmosphere and complement the gameplay. However, several players criticize the soundtrack for being repetitive and lacking variety, leading some to mute it in favor of their own playlists. Overall, while the music is appreciated for its thematic fit, it often becomes monotonous over extended play sessions.

    • “The music is phenomenal and absolutely tone-setting.”
    • “The soundtrack evokes mystery and a sense of modern wonder.”
    • “I loved the ambiance, soundtrack, classes, and graphics!”
    • “The music is bland, boring, and repetitive (is there only one song or do they all sound alike).”
    • “The soundtrack is so bad and dull I had to switch it off after a short time.”
    • “First and foremost, the music gets grating and tiresome fast.”
  • atmosphere374 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 strong visual style, atmospheric music, and rich lore, which together create a compelling and engaging world. While some critiques mention a lack of depth and linearity in gameplay, the overall consensus is that the atmospheric elements significantly enhance the storytelling and player experience.

    • “The atmosphere, the story, and the characters bring this game to life.”
    • “The oppressive and melancholic atmosphere is very well done.”
    • “Also, the world looks too empty and lacks an atmosphere that would draw me in.”
    • “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 base game is a bit lackluster though; if you're not into cyberpunk, then the looks, music, and overall atmosphere will not carry you through it.”
  • replayability258 mentions

    Replayability in this game varies significantly among players, with many noting that while the main campaign is linear and short, the inclusion of diverse character classes and user-generated content from the Steam Workshop greatly enhances replay value. Some players find replayability limited due to the straightforward narrative and lack of side quests, while others appreciate the potential for varied playthroughs through different character builds and community-created scenarios. Overall, the game's replayability is considered decent, particularly for those who engage with the modding community.

    • “The choice-driven narrative allows for multiple outcomes and encourages replayability, ensuring that each playthrough feels fresh and exciting.”
    • “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 game features an editor for custom campaign creation (there's a steam workshop for it), which adds theoretically infinite replayability to it.”
    • “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.”
    • “The main story is very linear with little replayability.”
  • stability86 mentions

    The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting frequent bugs, glitches, and crashes that can hinder gameplay. While some users noted that the game is still playable despite these issues, others experienced game-breaking problems that forced them to restart or abandon their progress. Overall, the game is described as "buggy" and "unstable," with a significant number of players expressing frustration over its technical shortcomings.

    • “No game is entirely bug-free, but I didn't notice any in my playthrough.”
    • “I noticed no glitches or problems from doing this, whatsoever.”
    • “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 game crashes and freezes very often.”
    • “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 development83 mentions

    Character development in the game is a mixed bag, with some players praising its depth and variety, particularly in the "Dragonfall" DLC, while others criticize it for being simplistic and lacking emotional engagement. Many reviews highlight the strong narrative and unique character designs, but also note that the character development can feel limited due to a fixed crew system and linear gameplay. Overall, while there are commendable aspects of character customization and storytelling, the execution varies significantly across different parts of the game.

    • “Deep character development and amazing storyline!”
    • “The character development and RPG elements are quite satisfactory.”
    • “The turn-based combat is really fun, character development is deep and interesting, the characters are fun and memorable, the dialog is well-written, and the graphics are a nice modern take on the original game.”
    • “There's no real character development, so it's hard to care about why you're doing things in the game.”
    • “Character development lacks depth.”
    • “A shallow character development system, dated gameplay, dated graphics, and limited replayability mar this remake of a SNES favorite.”
  • grinding75 mentions

    Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be minimal, with no traditional experience or money grinding available. However, many reviews highlight that certain gameplay elements, particularly combat and exploration, can become tedious and repetitive, especially in the later stages of the game. While the narrative and character interactions are generally well-received, the pacing and mechanics can lead to a frustrating experience for some players.

    • “It's interesting at first, but gets tedious real quick.”
    • “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.”
    • “The final run was tedious and required no thought, and none of my final decisions or demeanor in-game really seemed to matter.”
  • humor52 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by witty writing, engaging dialogue, and a blend of dark and absurd comedic elements that resonate well within its dystopian setting. While many players appreciate the funny interactions and memorable characters, some critique the dialogue's length and occasional tonal inconsistencies. Overall, the game successfully combines humor with a compelling narrative, making it enjoyable for fans of the genre.

    • “Funny and witty writing, cool characters.”
    • “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 story is fun and pulpy, and the dialogue was often funny and engaging.”
  • emotional24 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game receives mixed reviews, with some players finding the story engaging yet emotionally flat due to underdeveloped characters and relationships. While certain elements, like the writing and character interactions, can evoke feelings, many reviewers express disappointment in the lack of emotional depth and attachment to side characters. Conversely, others appreciate the immersive storyline and character development, particularly in the DLC, which enhances emotional engagement and investment in the narrative.

    • “This trilogy will not let you down on the emotionality, depth of story, darkness of world, and ultimately - the forbidden fun of being a cool shadowrunner yourself you will be expecting from the games.”
    • “I still miss good old Sam; the characters were very developed in this story, making the things that happened to them even more emotional.”
    • “They have a past, they have feelings, and the story is given increased emotional weight through conversations with these characters.”
    • “The story feels generic and boring, serving as a lame excuse to send the character on a quest to save the world.”
    • “I didn't feel any emotional connection to the characters; their struggles seemed forced and unrelatable.”
    • “The attempts at emotional depth fell flat, leaving me feeling indifferent to the outcomes of the characters' journeys.”
  • optimization14 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization is generally well-received, with many players reporting smooth performance even on low-end machines, though some note that the graphics and certain systems could benefit from further refinement. While the game runs adequately on older hardware, there are mentions of bugs and a desire for improved optimization, particularly in the editor engine. Players appreciate the lack of greed from the developers, allowing access to enhanced content through newer entries without additional costs.

    • “I experienced no performance issues.”
    • “It maintains good graphics and performance on garbage machines.”
    • “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.”
    • “The editor engine is not optimized; you have to buy the sequels to have access to better options.”
    • “This is not such a big deal to me, but maybe this game could have been saved by really decent performance.”
  • monetization4 mentions

    The monetization of the game has been criticized for feeling exploitative, with some players suggesting that it relies heavily on nostalgia to justify its high price tag. While it markets itself as an RPG, many feel it limits player freedom and is best purchased during sales or promotions rather than at full price.

    • “Best to see you get it on advertisement though, the usual price tag is too high for this game (personal opinion)”
    • “This game feels like a cash grab that succeeds solely because of nostalgia.”
    • “I feel like despite it advertising itself as an RPG, it railroads you pretty hard.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

77% average critic score

Buy Shadowrun Returns

Play time

14hMedian play time
18hAverage play time
12hMain story
18hCompletionist
11-20hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 71 analyzed playthroughs

Videos

Similar Games