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Returnal

What to Know

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Critics Recommend
0%

Average Score

Total Reviews: 118
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Critics Consensus

Returnal is messy and uncompromising, and its roguelike runs can stretch a bit too long, but make no mistake, this is one of the most cleverly designed games of recent memory. With Returnal, Housemarque brilliantly meshes roguelike mechanics with precise combat, a clever story, and mysterious atmosphere.
Returnal
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Critics Recommend
Critic Reviews: 118
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WHAT TO KNOW

Critics Consensus

# Reviews: 118

Returnal is messy and uncompromising, and its roguelike runs can stretch a bit too long, but make no mistake, this is one of the most cleverly designed games of recent memory. With Returnal, Housemarque brilliantly meshes roguelike mechanics with precise combat, a clever story, and mysterious atmosphere.

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Awards & Recognition

RECOGNITION
Best Shooter

Critic Reviews for Returnal

HIGHLIGHTED CRITICS

Critic Reviews

Score Distribution

118

Reviews

Gold

38% of scored reviews fell within the range of 86 to 92 / 100

Average Score
0%
100

Ranges

9/10
Mike Epstein (GameSpot)

Returnal blends elements of shooters, roguelikes, action games, and horror to redefine bullet hell and conjure a mysterious, moody masterpiece.

April 29, 2021 |

I’ve found sticking to routine to be a personal salve—an imperative necessity, even, in terms of sanity—for the past 15 months. The routine is a comfort; it’s always there, because it’s the only thing still there. You fall into it. Some days, the overwhelmingly upsetting state of the world is a slight hum in the back of your head you can shut out. Some days it’s a lot. And on those days you can’t help but feel the urge to throw in the towel. And then you wake up. You dust yourself off. You give it another go—or you don’t. There’s always tomorrow.

April 29, 2021 |
Recommended
Ari Notis (Kotaku)
4/5 stars
James Billcliffe (VG247)

While Returnal’s marriage of rogue-like loops and serpentine story isn’t perfect, it’s a dark, engaging, and innovative experience which provides plenty of gameplay grunt to match its brain-teasing plot.

April 29, 2021 |

Mike Epstein (GameSpot)

9/10 - (Read Review)

Returnal blends elements of shooters, roguelikes, action games, and horror to redefine bullet hell and conjure a mysterious, moody masterpiece.

Ari Notis (Kotaku)

Recommended - (Read Review)

I’ve found sticking to routine to be a personal salve—an imperative necessity, even, in terms of sanity—for the past 15 months. The routine is a comfort; it’s always there, because it’s the only thing still there. You fall into it. Some days, the overwhelmingly upsetting state of the world is a slight hum in the back of your head you can shut out. Some days it’s a lot. And on those days you can’t help but feel the urge to throw in the towel. And then you wake up. You dust yourself off. You give it another go—or you don’t. There’s always tomorrow.

James Billcliffe (VG247)

4/5 stars - (Read Review)

While Returnal’s marriage of rogue-like loops and serpentine story isn’t perfect, it’s a dark, engaging, and innovative experience which provides plenty of gameplay grunt to match its brain-teasing plot.

**Read all 118 critic reviews on the desktop version of VSG.
Read the Reviews (118 total)

About Returnal

GAME INFO
Game Description / Storyline:

Returnal combines action with roguelike gameplay into a third-person shooter where players fight to survive a hostile planet that changes with every death. Players can switch instinctively between firing modes by using a single adaptive trigger and can get right back into the action after dying. PS5’s immersive 3D audio brings the alien world to life around the player, helping players navigate the intense positional combat.

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