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Returnal
Critics Consensus (Play It)
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.
Game Info
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.
0%
Recommended
0%
Average Score
Total Reviews: 118
Nom: Best Shooter (2021), Editors' Choice
Gold TIER
38% of scored reviews fell within the range of 86 to 92 / 100
RELEASE DATES:
GENRES:
- Action, Shooter
DEVELOPER(S):
- Housemarque
PUBLISHER(S):
- Sony Interactive Entertainment
SERIES/FRANCHISE:
- n/a
GAME MODES:
- Single player
GAME ENGINE:
- Unreal Engine 4
Where to Play
WHERE TO PLAY
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RATING & REVIEWS
Ratings & Reviews
118
Critic Reviews
86
Average Critic Score
Where to Play
CRITIC REVIEWS
All reviews are from professional critics. Learn more about the critics VSG aggregates.
High Score
100%
Median Score
90%
Low Score
60%
What did you think of Returnal?
Player Reviews0 Votes
0
Mike Epstein (GameSpot)
April 29, 2021
9/10
Returnal blends elements of shooters, roguelikes, action games, and horror to redefine bullet hell and conjure a mysterious, moody masterpiece.
Ari Notis (Kotaku)
April 29, 2021
Recommended
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)
April 29, 2021
4/5 stars
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.
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Score Ranges
Read the Reviews (118 total)
| Outlet | Author | Score | Date | Quote | Read |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33bits | Euyen Esquefa Pons | 90 / 100 | 05-07-2021 | Returnal is a great mix between roguelite and metroidvania. With an exquisite gunplay and some very funny confrontations where mobility will be key, it may penalize you that your levels are excessively high for what games of the genre are used to. Still, a fully recommended title that. In addition, it will be remembered as the first to squeeze the PS5 hardware, specifically speaking of the SSD and the Dual Sense. The new generation is here. | Read review |
| 3DNews | Алексей Лихачев | 9 / 10 | 05-09-2021 | A wonderful and engaging rogue-lite that always has surprises up its sleeve, despite not offering any big innovations or super original ideas. | Read review |
| ACG | Jeremy Penter | Recommended | 04-29-2021 | Returnal is one of the best games I have ever wanted to dropkick out my window. Coming out in the next couple days from Housemarque. | Read review |
| AnaitGames | Víctor Manuel Martínez García | 8 / 10 | 04-29-2021 | Housemarque experiments with genre and narrative without losing its arcade DNA. | Read review |
| Areajugones | Claudio Torres | 9 / 10 | 04-29-2021 | Returnal was not one of the most anticipated games by PS5 users, and it is because of this that it is a big surprise. Housemarque has carried out its most ambitious project and, although it has slight shortcomings, it is one of the games that until now best takes advantage of the features of dualSense, PS5 and that is a great must for any player fan of shooters or roguelikes. | Read review |
| Ars Technica | Sam Machkovech | Recommended | 04-29-2021 | Returnal clearly heralds a new era for Housemarque, in terms of turning the focused arcade-blasting likes of Super Stardust HD into quest-worthy 3D action. Keep it coming, Sony and Housemarque. | Read review |
| Atomix | Alberto Desfassiaux | 95 / 100 | 04-29-2021 | Returnal feels like the first authentic new generation game. A stunning third person shooter and roguelike that every single PS5 owner should buy. | Read review |
| AusGamers | Steve Farrelly | 7 / 10 | 04-30-2021 | Enemies spawn in unpredictable ways, and for what it thinks it’s worth, Returnal tries to keep you guessing, on your toes, and Eveready — like the battery. | Read review |
| BaziCenter | Javad Mohseni | 9 / 10 | 05-08-2021 | Due to it’s Rogue-like structure, Returnal is a hard game to get into as it requires a lot of trial and error to get comfortable with. But thanks to its mysterious setting, fun gameplay, fantastic use of DualSense technology and superb audio and visual design, you will be satisfied when you finally tackle all the challenges. | Read review |
| But Why Tho? | Jake Yoder | 7.5 / 10 | 05-04-2021 | Almost everything about Returnal is working towards making it the premier PS5 exclusive. Stellar graphics, a great story, and amazing gameplay make it a joy to play, but a lack of saving and the constant fear of crashes make it hard to recommend at the present moment. At the end of the day, Returnal is a fantastic game, but whether or not you want to risk wasting hours of your life on potential crashes is really up to you. | Read review |
| Cerealkillerz | Gabriel Bogdan | 8.7 / 10 | 04-29-2021 | Returnal is by far the most interesting game this year and offers everything that we are used to from Housemarque, in a level of quality and scope that I didn’t thought was possible for this studio. A lot of excitement is lost due to random collectibles later in the game and not all of the roguelike elements fully come together in the end as intended. Still, no PS5 owner should miss out on Returnal. | Read review |
| CGMagazine | Zubi Khan | 9 / 10 | 04-29-2021 | Returnal sets a new standard for Housemarque and delivers a must-play game for fans of roguelike titles while offering everyone else a genuinely unique experience. The game masterfully blends arcade-inspired gameplay with AAA quality chops usually reserved for a first-party PlayStation developer. | Read review |
| Checkpoint Gaming | Elliot Attard | 9 / 10 | 05-06-2021 | Returnal comes in with some new ideas and finds a way to implement them incredibly well. The game has an attention to detail and a unique sense of style that goes beyond anything I would have expected from this comparatively small development studio. It’s a roguelike with a great deal of substance and scope and feels really good with a DualSense in your hands. Despite one decently sizable detractor in its lack of autosave functionality, Returnal proves to be a remarkably fun and satisfying experience from beginning to end. | Read review |
| Chicas Gamers | Estela Villa | Recommended | 05-03-2021 | Returnal is addictive, frenetic and fun game. You must to play it! | Read review |
| COGconnected | Alexander Thomas | 92 / 100 | 04-29-2021 | Returnal is so much more than a rogue-like bullet-hell game. It tells a captivating, mysterious, and oftentimes haunting narrative with gorgeous, unsettling visuals and compelling voice acting. It offers a wide variety of collectibles, health upgrades, and unique features to give you a fresh and varied experience with each cycle, and gives players shortcuts so they can continue to press on with the story rather than have to complete every single biome time and time again. It’s tough but fair, with RNG playing a minor role in how difficult the next room will be. You’re going to die. A lot. That is the nature of this genre and this game, but it blends that concept so beautifully into the narrative design that you’ll only feel a momentary twinge of frustration before you set out again to help Selene reach the signal. | Read review |
| Critical Hit | Darryn Bonthuys | 9 / 10 | 04-29-2021 | Returnal is an unrelenting and unforgiving challenge for the ages, but it still captures the magic of what makes Housemarque so special. It has a weirdly unique style and substance, every level is an unpredictable white-knuckle ride and it fully commits to its rogue-like influences. The end result isn’t just a showcase title for what the PS5 is capable of, it’s a thrilling mix of arcade bullet-hell gaming with precision thrill power. | Read review |
| Daily Mirror | JC Suttun | 4 / 5 stars | 04-29-2021 | While the PS5 has hinted at its power with the odd excellent remake and some impressive cross-gen titles, Returnal genuinely feels like the first truly fresh title designed for a new generation of hardware. Gorgeous graphics, intelligent controls and an astounding level of immersion combine to create an atmospheric thriller that wouldn’t have been possible on older hardware. The game is tough, but every failed loop is a lesson learned, a push to do better and a pull to uncover more of the game’s plot. | Read review |
| Daily Star | Tom Hutchison | 5 / 5 stars | 04-29-2021 | I have thoroughly enjoyed playing Returnal so far and its unique die-and-start-over mechanic, excellent graphics, gameplay and sound all work brilliantly to deliver yet another fantastic first-party exclusive for the PS5. | Read review |
| DASHGAMER.com | Charlie Kelly | Recommended | 05-11-2021 | Presenting an eerie premise along with tight arcade-y gameplay in a game that serves to essentially be the first AAA rogue-like, Returnal is here, demanding your attention. | Read review |
| Destructoid | Chris Carter | 7.5 / 10 | 04-29-2021 | Returnal is a mostly thrilling sci-fi action romp that suffers from a lack of scale at times. In the moment, I’m completely fixated on my run, upgrading like a fiend, and dashing around for iFrames like I was playing a Capcom game. But after that run ends and I’m looking at the bigger picture, Returnal can feel a little smaller than it actually is. Keep that in mind before you take the pricey plunge. | Read review |
| Digital Chumps | Nathaniel Stevens | 10 / 10 | 12-05-2016 | Housemarque’s Returnal is a brutal roguelike that constantly keeps the fun coming through its well-thought-through item system that is exquisitely balanced and its randomized gameplay design that feels fresh after every death. Definitely a must-have game for the PlayStation 5. | Read review |
| Digital Trends | Giovanni Colantonio | 4 / 5 stars | 04-29-2021 | Returnal takes full advantage of the PS5’s features to give players a fast and furious sci-fi spectacle. | Read review |
| Digitally Downloaded | Matt Sainsbury | 4 / 5 stars | 04-29-2021 | Scratch beneath that surface and the game doesn’t say much to justify its existence, and it is going to be far too challenging for a lot of players, but within its fairly narrow scope, for the audience that it was made for, Returnal is going to be a vividly entertaining ride. | Read review |
| DualShockers | Peter Szpytek | 9 / 10 | 04-29-2021 | A must-play for anyone with a PS5 who isn’t afraid to work through the frustrations of dying over and over again. | Read review |
| Easy Allies | Brad Ellis | 4.25 / 5 stars | 04-29-2021 | Returnal is a great new step for Housemarque on the PS5, thanks to its excellent gameplay, intriguing narrative, and replayability. Review Copy Provided by PlayStation | Read review |
| Echo Boomer | David Fialho | Recommended | 04-29-2021 | By remixing ideas and concepts from other high profile games, the bits of originality stand out. While its refreshing, Returnal is also very intimidating in the long run with risk reward decision starting with time to play confortable. | Read review |
| EGM | Josh Harmon | 8 / 10 | 04-29-2021 | Returnal excellently blends third-person shooter gameplay with bullet-hell style enemies and roguelike elements to craft a fun, challenging action game that you’ll have a blast learning to master. The only real shame is that the action is yoked to a story that mistakes being vague for being smart and interesting. | Read review |
| Eurogamer | Chris Tapsell | Recommended | 04-29-2021 | In Returnal, Housemarque builds a game on both euphoric highs and confounding lows. | Read review |
| Everyeye.it | Francesco Fossetti | 8.7 / 10 | 04-29-2021 | It is a powerful act of courage, a “leap into the void” that could usher in a bright future for Housemarque or put his work at risk. Recklessness and ambition are not enough to break through, but in this case they are accompanied by a grandiose creative vision, solid production values and meticulous and calculated design. Returnal does not achieve Hades’ perfection, but is destined to make his mark in the Roguelike landscape. | Read review |
| Explosion Network | Dylan Blight | 9.5 / 10 | 05-07-2021 | Returnal is Housemaruqe’s best game. They succeeded in their greatest achievement by combining their history as a developer onto a higher budget, and it paid off immensely. If you have PlayStation 5 and you’re not playing Returnal, you’re not treating your PS5 right. | Read review |
| Fextralife | Castielle | 9.3 / 10 | 04-29-2021 | A sleeper hit, Returnal is bound to captivate you from start to finish, no pun intended. If you are a fan of good Sci-fi in the vein of The Expanse, Stranger Things, or Mass Effect, you surely won’t want to miss this game. Returnal is the early front runner for Game of the Year 2021, making a compelling case to get a Playstation 5…if you can find one. | Read review |
| Game Informer | Daniel Tack | 9.5 / 10 | 04-29-2021 | Returnal brilliantly meshes roguelike mechanics with precise combat and enigmatic exploration, making for an excellent game | Read review |
| Game Rant | Cameron Corliss | 5 / 5 stars | 04-29-2021 | Housemarque’s Returnal is a shining example of what the studio is capable of, packing tight gameplay together with an interesting world. | Read review |
| Game Revolution | Michael Leri | 4.75 / 5 stars | 04-29-2021 | As it did with the PS3, Vita, and PS4, Housemarque has once again provided Sony with another launch-era hit and in doing so has created a rewarding, replayable, and revolutionary game that’s hopefully the foundation for other future AAA titles that are as clever with the roguelite blueprint. | Read review |
| Gameblog | Jonathan Bushle | 9 / 10 | 04-29-2021 | Returnal is the first big original PS5 exclusive, a fantastic game and a quite intense adventure. It looks great, plays wonderfully, tells a captivating story and is definitely an amazing AAA Rogue-like that PS5 owners will be delighted to play again and again. | Read review |
| Gamefa | Mahdi Maleki | 9 / 10 | 05-05-2021 | If you enjoy hard titles, we have nothing to say to you and we know that the Returnal experience is on your list, but if you are one of the users for whom hard titles are annoying, we should warn that if you refuse to change your taste, you will lose one of the best games on the market and from the first completely ninth generation titles. | Read review |
| GameMAG | Александр Логинов | 8 / 10 | 04-29-2021 | Returnal is a bold sci-fi adventure, where the plot and the setting co-exist in a very natural way, while everything else being brought to life trough unique DualSense features and great sound from Pulse 3D headset. | Read review |
| GamePro | Hannes Rossow | 88 / 100 | 04-29-2021 | Returnal is a high-end rogue-like shooter whose many strengths overwhelm balancing weaknesses. | Read review |
| GamesBeat | Jeff Grubb | 60 / 100 | 04-29-2021 | This lack of variety in the style of play makes every run feel samey, and they begin to blur together. That leads to a roteness that made me want to put down the game when I was struggling with the difficulty. I like challenging games, but roguelites need to walk a fine line between familiarity and routine. Familiarity is the warm embrace of something that feels like home. Routine is boredom, and it is poison for a game like this. | Read review |
| GameSkinny | John Schutt | 8 / 10 | 05-07-2021 | Returnal is a tightly designed roguelike with some of the best gameplay the genre can provide, and it’s the first game since Demon’s Souls to provide a reason to own a PS5. | Read review |
| GameSpew | Richard Seagrave | 10 / 10 | 04-29-2021 | Playing Returnal, it feels like next-gen has truly begun. | Read review |
| GameSpot | Mike Epstein | 9 / 10 | 04-29-2021 | Returnal blends elements of shooters, roguelikes, action games, and horror to redefine bullet hell and conjure a mysterious, moody masterpiece. | Read review |
| GamesRadar+ | Ben Tyrer | 4 / 5 stars | 04-29-2021 | Returnal can be messy, tough, and perhaps a little too uncompromising for a $70 game. And yet, despite the moments of pad-clenching exasperation, it remains a moreish experience even after you’ve plummeted its depths. | Read review |
| GameXplain | GameXplain | Recommended | 04-29-2021 | Video Review | Read review |
| Gaming Nexus | Eric Hauter | 8.5 / 10 | 04-29-2021 | Returnal is a shining technical achievement, possibly the best looking game on PlayStation 5. With addictive gunplay, a brutal learning curve, and a focus on exploration and temporary buffs, roguelike fans will be in heaven. Be warned though, the difficulty level is not for everyone. Though I learned to love Returnal with time, many players may walk away frustrated. | Read review |
| GamingBolt | Shubhankar Parijat | 9 / 10 | 04-29-2021 | Returnal is an astounding game, one that easily and instantly claims the proud title of being Housemarque’s best game to date, and is an unmissable killer app very early in the PS5’s life. | Read review |
| GamingTrend | David Burdette | 90 / 100 | 04-29-2021 | Firsts don’t come around very often, but this is one of PlayStation’s first PS5 exclusives and Housemarque’s first triple A releases, and the combination is a triumphant success. I’m not sure how they’ve managed everything in play, taking the bullet-hell stylings of old and meshing them with the trappings of a third-person roguelike, but it works to a fantastic degree. On top of that, the action-packed gameplay is some of the best around, additionally being one of the most immersive and next-gen experiences available thanks to an incredible understanding of the DualSense controller. Yes, the story may take a backseat, but that’s the nature of the roguelike genre, and doesn’t hinder Returnal in the slightest. I may not be much for roguelikes, but I can see myself “returning” to play this one again and again. | Read review |
| Geek Culture | Jake Su | 9.5 / 10 | 04-29-2021 | A truly AAA sci-fi roguelike masterpiece full of intense moments and inviting mysteries, Returnal continually reminds us of why we love Housemarque so much in the first place. | Read review |
| God is a Geek | Mick Fraser | 9.5 / 10 | 04-29-2021 | Returnal’s fluid, graceful movement and satisfying, punchy gunplay combine with a sense of exploration at once both wondrous and morbid, and a drip-fed progression system that makes you feel like you’re always discovering or unlocking something new. | Read review |
| GotGame | David Poole | 9 / 10 | 05-13-2021 | Overall, Returnal is a tour de force of the roguelike genre. Housemarque has created an interesting world that engages your senses and entrances you. Jumping into Selene’s world and discovering more about her and the planet is intense, but fulfilling. With beautiful visuals, gratifying combat, and surprises at every turn, this is what a AAA roguelike experience should feel like. | Read review |
| GRYOnline.pl | Paweł Musiolik | 9 / 10 | 04-29-2021 | Returnal is supposed to be the beginning of a new road for Housemarque. Known until now for its niche arcade games, the Finnish development team enters the AAA segment without any complexes. | Read review |
| Guardian | Keza MacDonald | 5 / 5 stars | 05-12-2021 | Exceptionally hostile creatures are round every corner on a glorious, punishing quest through the perilous landscapes of another planet | Read review |
| Hardcore Gamer | Kevin Dunsmore | 4 / 5 stars | 04-29-2021 | Returnal stands as Housemarque’s most ambitious title yet, taking the studio away from the arcade genre and into uncharted territory. | Read review |
| Hey Poor Player | Andrew Thornton | 3.5 / 5 stars | 05-27-2021 | I just wish they had taken a bit more time to think about how all the elements fit together. The actual design of Returnal is problematic. While I was willing to push through that most of the time, I wish I didn’t have to. This game is going to be a home run for many players. The core gameplay is stunning, and if you can sit back and enjoy the ride, you may love it. Just prepare yourself for what you’re getting into. The quality of Returnal makes me enormously excited for what Housemarque can do with higher budgets and modern games. I just hope they learn some lessons here to make their next title even better. Arcade is dead. Long live arcade. | Read review |
| Hobby Consolas | Álvaro Alonso | 87 / 100 | 04-29-2021 | We can say many things about Returnal, but in the end it is best to understand that behind the shootouts with next-gen graphics and the roguelike mechanics at half gas hides a Housemarque game: a high-speed arcade game that is happy to play. They may not have caught up with him, but they’ve come very close to touching the sun. | Read review |
| IGN | Mitchell Saltzman | 8 / 10 | 04-29-2021 | Its roguelike runs are too long and it needs a way to save in the middle of them, but Returnal’s third-person shooter action, clever story, and atmosphere are excellent. | Read review |
| IGN Italy | Mattia Ravanelli | 9.3 / 10 | 04-29-2021 | Housemarque delivers an unforgettable experience: Returnal is an intoxicating action game that thrives on its design and aestethic. | Read review |
| IGN Middle East | Mufaddal Fakhruddin | 8.9 / 10 | 04-29-2021 | Returnal is both a stark departure from Housemarque’s previous stable of games, and also a familiar experience that the studio is well known for. It at least proves that they are capable of producing AAA-games that are able to take strides with the best of PlayStation exclusives, even when they are tackling an entirely new genre. It’s an expert blend of third-person exploration and bullet-hell shooting with many layers of customization that makes every playthrough exciting | Read review |
| IGN Spain | Álex Pareja | 8 / 10 | 04-29-2021 | Returnal mixes the peculiarities of roguelike with continuous progress that rewards the efforts and dedication of the player, with an enigmatic story that will keep us prisoners of that house that we will visit (or not) in each new attempt. Perhaps it fails in trying to offer an experience like infinite roguelike. | Read review |
| Impulsegamer | Sean Warhurst | 4.6 / 5 stars | 05-25-2021 | The core gameplay loop is definitely not for everyone but the rewards for persisting are well worth pursuing here. The gunplay and movement feels absolutely divine and the “one more run” approach to the gameplay is certainly addictive and unique amongst larger budgeted titles. | Read review |
| INDIANTVCZ | Petr Duppal | 9 / 10 | 04-29-2021 | For many, Returnal may be a dark horse of this year. It is definitely a great combination of two game genres, and as the icing on the cake, we have a psychological and mysterious story that attracted me more than I could have ever expected. Returnal gets 9 points out of 10. And if you’re easily scared, then give it an extra point, because we have a candidate for the game of the year. | Read review |
| JVL | L_sK | 8.5 / 10 | 04-29-2021 | Demanding, devilishly exhilarating with its dynamic gameplay, of unquestionable artistic beauty, Returnal is a beautiful showcase for the PS5 which needs more than ever to maintain a diverse catalog | Read review |
| KeenGamer | Jessica Orr | 8 / 10 | 05-08-2021 | Housemarque’s hotly anticipated roguelite is finally here, with the promise of horror and intrigue, but does it live up to the hype? This Returnal review will explore the high-highs and low-lows of PlayStation’s latest hyped exclusive. | Read review |
| Kinda Funny Games | PS I Love You XOXO | Recommended | 04-29-2021 | Video Review. | Read review |
| Kotaku | Ari Notis | Recommended | 04-29-2021 | Returnal feels like a next-gen game. | Read review |
| LevelUp | Luis Sánchez | 8 / 10 | 05-02-2021 | Returnal is a fairly forgiving roguelike that quickly shows its true size and scale. It offers an excellent atmosphere and combat systems, with an intelligently woven plot. A solid recommendation for PlayStation 5 owners. | Read review |
| Luis Alamilla | Luis Alamilla | 8 / 10 | 05-04-2021 | Returnal is a strong contender for one of the better releases on PlayStation 5. I’ve been adamant about how little I use my PS5 since I got it because my 3rd party game tend to play better on PC or Series X and outside of the dual sense, there isn’t much of a reason for me to use my PS5 when knowing the games I get on my Xbox will always work on my Xbox now and any future Xbox. Nevertheless, Returnal proves me wrong in the best ways, finally giving me a reason to keep coming back to my PS5 even after I finished the game and that’s the biggest praise I can give Returnal. Outside of its major flaw with saves and the performance dips, it’s one of my favorite games of 2021 thus far. | Read review |
| M3 | P-A Knutsson | 8 / 10 | 04-29-2021 | It is frustrating and empty; and yet we’ll start over right away. We need to find out what happened, we want to discover more of the unparalleled world, we want to fight even harder against all the vile monsters that stand in our way. The unforgiving arrangement will be a watershed, but for anyone with the slightest interest in sci-fi, Returnal is worth having on the radar. | Read review |
| Merlin’in Kazanı | Ersin Kılıç | 80 / 100 | 04-29-2021 | Returnal the game that combines roguelike and metroidvania genres, using horror elements as spice. Combining so many different types in them, it has managed to keep the aspects that all of them are successful in, despite some of their shortcomings. | Read review |
| Metro GameCentral | GameCentral | 9 / 10 | 04-29-2021 | What should have been a hotchpotch of other people’s ideas, made worse by frustratingly high difficulty, is in reality one of the most cleverly designed video games of recent years, with superb action and endless replayability. | Read review |
| New Game Network | Dylan Blereau | 83 / 100 | 05-05-2021 | Returnal is a brutally tough but satisfying roguelike journey that is buoyed by its addictive combat and myriad of weapons, items and upgrades that ensure the journey doesn’t get stale. Its narrative is gripping and unsettling, its visual aesthetic is arresting and despite a high level of difficulty, it’s a damn joy to play. | Read review |
| Next Gen Base | Ben Ward | 8.5 / 10 | 04-29-2021 | Returnal is a really strange beast. It’s a game from a studio that have very clearly been given the funding to make a big budget version of the type of game they want to, and it really shows. There’s a very thin line between accepting that you made a mistake and ranting that the game screwed you over, and Housemarque have got it right with their mechanics. If you die, you learn from it and go again. Thankfully, the PS5 makes this incredibly quick, and it’ll have its hooks in you for “just one more run”. If I had to pick holes in it, I just wish there were a little bit more permanence to some of the upgrades you pick up, but I know this will diminish some of the ‘purity’ of the game. While I know some of this will be met with derision at openly admitting to not quite finishing it, I can only hope that the impressions I’ve had of Returnal give you an idea of what to expect if you pick up this absolute gem of a title. Now, Housemarque, here’s the Yellow Pages. Make a game based on that. | Read review |
| Niche Gamer | Fingal Belmont | 8 / 10 | 08-05-2021 | It’s easy to misjudge Returnal as some kind of pretentious Sony story-driven drivel. The truth is that it’s a hardcore 3D action game that has more in common with Doom Eternal and Metroid Prime than anything Sony has ever made before. It does suck to lose almost everything and starting from the beginning, but sometimes that’s just the way it goes. | Read review |
| NoesPaisparaFrikis | Alejandro Soto | 8 / 10 | 05-19-2021 | Un misil teledirigido a la parte de nuestro cerebro que indica adicción y diversión. | Read review |
| Oyungezer Online | Unknown | 9 / 10 | 05-20-2021 | There’s been a succession of great roguelike games coming up this year and I’m not complaining. | Read review |
| Paste Magazine | Dia Lacina | 6 / 10 | 04-29-2021 | I’m cynical because the assumption that Housemarque has made here is that AAA games are a genre unto themselves, one whose form is based on cinematic regurgitation, excess, and the speed of disposability. And what sucks is they’re slowly being proven right. Prestige television came early to this console generation, and I’m sure for many it will happily pass the time and then it will pass away into memory because memories are short, and there’s always a next big thing, and then a bigger next big thing. | Read review |
| PlayStation LifeStyle | Chandler Wood | 10 / 10 | 04-29-2021 | Returnal is an essential PS5 title, now and throughout the console’s life. Housemarque took the rogue-like bullet-hell formula and applied it to a AAA experience in a way that creates something exceptionally unique yet wholly familiar. Returnal is an engaging experience in narrative, gameplay, and player discovery, consistently surprising on every level. Utilizing the PS5 technology in a way that most other developers are barely tapping into, Returnal feels like one of the first truly next-gen experiences, letting Housemarque set the stage for the new console. And like Housemarque games before it, it’s the kind of game that will withstand the test of time, begging for additional cycles well into the future. | Read review |
| PlayStation Universe | Joe Apsey | 9 / 10 | 04-29-2021 | Returnal is a masterclass in how to create gripping, exhilarating arcade action and feels like the first game to truly realise the PS5’s potential. It uses everything the system offers to craft an experience completely unlike anything else available today at this budget. Apart from narrative missteps, Housemarque’s latest is flawless and a game that everyone who owns a PS5 and every gamer should experience at some point. I hope this is the start of a new, prosperous franchise for PlayStation and Housemaque. | Read review |
| Polygon | Diego Arguello | Recommended | 04-29-2021 | Housemarque’s PS5 exclusive elevates the time loop genre | Read review |
| Post Arcade (National Post) | Chad Sapieha | 7.5 / 10 | 04-29-2021 | Housemarque’s PlayStation 5 exclusive is a punishingly tough roguelike shooter with great action – assuming you don’t mind diving into bullet hell. | Read review |
| PowerUp! | Adam Mathew | 8.5 / 10 | 04-29-2021 | Returnal makes an important, evolutionary (house)marque on the arcade shooter landscape. | Read review |
| Press Start | Brodie Gibbons | 9 / 10 | 04-29-2021 | With some doubt at the front of people’s minds, Returnal is a shushing finger across the lips of detractors as well as a tremendous example that PlayStation’s middle line titles can still offer as much value and entertainment as its tentpole exclusives. Housemarque achieves an atmosphere like few can and set up a universe ripe for expansion while marrying it to a grind | Read review |
| PSX Brasil | Rui Celso | 98 / 100 | 04-29-2021 | Returnal is beautiful, extremely addictive and has an intriguing story. Even if you’re not a fan of the genre, give it a try, I’m sure your experience here will be worth every minute of your time. | Read review |
| Push Square | Stephen Tailby | 9 / 10 | 04-29-2021 | Housemarque has delivered the PS5 promise with Returnal. All the console’s bells and whistles enhance the experience, making this a real showpiece for the hardware. But more than that, the game is a force to be reckoned with; the breathless combat, super slick gameplay, and the subtle but unsettling story combine for an experience of surprising scale. Rogue-lite aspects mean it won’t gel with everyone, but for those looking for a challenging, addictive arcade shooter, this comes highly recommended. | Read review |
| Rocket Chainsaw | Adam Ghiggino | 4 / 5 stars | 05-07-2021 | Returnal is definitely one of the best PlayStation 5 games you can buy right now, and will undoubtedly impress anybody who picks it up with the speed of its gameplay, quality of its detailed presentation and the fun haptics. | Read review |
| Saudi Gamer | عصام الشهوان | 8 / 10 | 04-29-2021 | A fast paced and intense shooter true to the developer’s pedigree, with an intriguing and mysterious world, marred only slightly by some control issues and its brevity | Read review |
| Screen Rant | Scott Baird | 4 / 5 stars | 04-29-2021 | Returnal is a brutally difficult roguelite shooter. | Read review |
| SECTOR.sk | Matúš Štrba | 7 / 10 | 04-29-2021 | Returnal is a game unlike any other. But with flaws and bugs like many other games. | Read review |
| Shacknews | Donovan Erskine | 9 / 10 | 05-04-2021 | Housemarque reminds audiences that it’s got the chops to be one of the premier-tier game developers with Returnal. The game is wholly difficult with a roster of powerful enemies and bosses to overcome, but also gives the player everything they need in order to succeed. The game just gets better and better as you go on, as recognizing patterns and learning to adapt is endlessly rewarding. Despite some issues with RNG, it’s hard to knock this creepy sci-fi adventure. Returnal is a must-play PS5 exclusive for any roguelike fan itching for their latest challenge. | Read review |
| Sirus Gaming | Lexuzze Tablante | 9.5 / 10 | 05-18-2021 | I am not a fan of roguelite and any roguelike games, but after spending time on the planet Atropos with Selene, I began to love Returnal and its peculiar mix of gameplay elements. I may not like its narrative, but Housmarque did a wonderful job of creating such a beautiful game that gives you tons of challenges and replayability. There’s one thing to remember: git-gud. | Read review |
| Skill Up | Ralph Panebianco | Recommended | 04-29-2021 | Video Review | Read review |
| Slant Magazine | Aaron Riccio | 4.5 / 5 stars | 05-07-2021 | The more you learn about Selene across the game’s gripping campaign, the easier it is to relate to or, at least, agree with her observation that “I deserve to be here.” That line is also more than a little apt, as it perfectly sums up just how simultaneously rewarding and punishing it is to live in the world of Returnal. Each time you make a perfect jump and air-dash to avoid a cluster of bullets, you earn your way forward, and each time you awkwardly fall off a cliff or gawk as an explosive squid flies at you, you earn the right to try it all over again. The terse thrill of all that fragility makes this a timeless adventure well worth returning to. | Read review |
| Softpedia | Cosmin Vasile | 8 / 10 | 05-17-2021 | Review based on a copy of the game purchased by Softpedia. | Read review |
| SomHráč.sk | Martin Kubeš | 90 / 100 | 04-29-2021 | Even though I was excited for Returnal, I wasn’t expecting Housemarque’s first foray out of the arcade genre in a long time to be this well made. Returnal is an excellent game that will rank among the best PlayStation 5 games even in years to come. | Read review |
| SpazioGames | Unknown | 8 / 10 | 04-22-2021 | Returnal is the most important game for Housemarque, with a stellar gameplay and a ever changing structure of levels. However, procedural algorithms create some problem with casual enemy spawn and luck managment. | Read review |
| TechRaptor | Tyler Chancey | 9 / 10 | 05-06-2021 | While there are a few difficulty issues and some iffy story beats, Returnal is a fantastically brutal, rewarding, and deeply atmospheric sci-fi action game. | Read review |
| Telegraph | Dan Silver | 4 / 5 stars | 04-29-2021 | Dazzling next-gen graphics belie a hardcore rogue-like which could test your patience as much as your reflexes | Read review |
| The Games Machine | Stefano Calzati | 9 / 10 | 04-29-2021 | Returnal is an amazing game. Metroidvania, roguelite and bullet hell mixed perfectly, and the result is fluid, rich and incredibly addictive action. The loop becomes the cornerstone of a mysterious, allegorical, at times terrifying narrative, capable of keeping you glued to DualSense from start to finish. | Read review |
| TheSixthAxis | Jim Hargreaves | 9 / 10 | 04-29-2021 | It feels immensely satisfying to be sat here in 2021, eons after playing Super Stardust HD on PS3, and see just how far Housemarque has come. Offering a visual bullet hell spectacle, a showcase for the DualSense controller and a rewarding sci-fi narrative woven around the roguelike loop, we can say with unflinching confidence that Returnal is the PS5’s best game to date. | Read review |
| ThisGenGaming | Justin Oneil | 9 / 10 | 05-11-2021 | Returnal was Housemarque’s first crack at a AAA game and they’ve pretty much nailed the execution on all fronts. The game looks and runs like a dream on the PlayStation 5 and is one of the best reasons to own one yet. The game is tough and because of that it won’t be for everyone but for those who do enjoy these kinds of games you’ll quickly get addicted to the fast-paced and super smooth gameplay. | Read review |
| Thumbsticks | Aaron Bayne | 4.5 / 5 stars | 05-13-2021 | The £70 price tag may sting, but with close to 30 hours on a single playthrough and some of the most compelling gameplay I’ve experienced in a while, Returnal feels like a premium product worth every penny. | Read review |
| Too Much Gaming | Carlos Hernandez | 9 / 10 | 05-10-2021 | Returnal isn’t for everyone, as this is a game that asks you to take a similar leap; it’s asking a lot from you with its never-ending gameplay, deep sci-fi narrative, and difficulty that could lead to frustration on long-winded runs. It’s all so well-done, however, that even though one aspect of this game might be enough to turn you off completely, another could make this a game worth playing from start to finish. | Read review |
| TrueGaming | نواف النغموش | 9 / 10 | 04-29-2021 | Returnal is an engaging and intriguing game from the start till the very last second | Read review |
| TrustedReviews | Thomas Deehan | 4.5 / 5 stars | 04-29-2021 | If you have a PS5 then you need Returnal. The game will absolutely trounce you with everything it’s got, but once the mechanics start to resonate and the overarching narrative gradually falls into place then it becomes near-impossible to put down. Returnal sets a new standard in the roguelike genre. | Read review |
| Unboxholics | Σάκης Καρπάς | Recommended | 05-02-2021 | Returnal is an inhospitable, hardcore and highly addictive rogue like shooter that is a contender for game of the year early on. Unfortunately, it is not a title that everyone can enjoy, since it belongs to a very “difficult” category that requires a lot of dedication from the players. In addition, I consider it a bad move by Sony to price this release at €80, not because it is not worth it, but because this amount is not consistent with the indie heart that beats inside… | Read review |
| VG247 | James Billcliffe | Recommended | 04-29-2021 | 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 review |
| VGChartz | Paul Broussard | 6.5 / 10 | 05-31-2021 | There’s certainly a lot that Returnal does right and, if nothing else, it is genuinely interesting to see an AAA take on roguelites. | Read review |
| Video Chums | A.J. Maciejewski | 9.2 / 10 | 04-29-2021 | Returnal absolutely blew me away with its challenging combat, atmospheric exploration, amazing sound design, and rewarding campaign setup. Housemarque crammed a ton of elements into this experience and everything comes together brilliantly. | Read review |
| Video Games Chronicle | Chris Scullion | 4 / 5 stars | 04-29-2021 | Returnal’s constant action and clever semi-procedural structure make it an engaging adventure, not to mention a visually stunning one. The lack of any difficulty levels may unfortunately exclude less experienced gamers, but anyone who doesn’t mind dying a bunch of times will thoroughly enjoy themselves. | Read review |
| VideoGamer | Josh Wise | 9 / 10 | 04-29-2021 | Complex systems are made simple, by committing their clutter to muscle memory, and play-good play, at any rate-requires that you, like Selene, ride its enigmatic loop. | Read review |
| Washington Post | Christopher Byrd | Not Recommended | 04-30-2021 | But as someone who went out and got a PlayStation 3 just to play “Demon’s Souls” (2009), and, moreover, loved Housemarque’s last two games, Returnal makes me rue the influence that Souls games have exerted on the industry. In my view, Returnal’s severe difficulty level does a disservice to its entertainment value. | Read review |
| WayTooManyGames | Jordan Hawes | 9.5 / 10 | 07-17-2021 | Returnal for me is as close to a masterpiece as I think I’ve gotten. Despite a few small visual glitches, nothing that I encountered was game breaking. There were no crashes or any bugs that would force me to start a new run. Once I started playing, I didn’t want to put the game down. I was fully hooked into this world, into Selene’s story, and I wanted to fight my way out of there. | Read review |
| Wccftech | Kai Powell | 9.3 / 10 | 04-29-2021 | Barring a sci-fi horror tale that doesn’t quite nail the slow building reveal, Housemarque has absolutely succeeded with their fusion of third-person shooting and roguelike elements in Returnal, one of my personal favorite PlayStation 5 titles so far. | Read review |
| We Got This Covered | David Morgan | 4.5 / 5 stars | 04-29-2021 | Returnal cast a spell on me — awing with explosive combat, immersing with haptics, and captivating with a monumental atmosphere. Not only is it an easy game of the year contender, but it might also be one of the best action rogue-lites ever made. | Read review |
| WellPlayed | Adam Ryan | 9.5 / 10 | 04-29-2021 | Returnal is a challenging, atmospheric and creative experience that boasts amazingly smooth and satisfying gameplay. Add in an intriguing narrative, graphical excellence and some impressive utilisation of the DualSense controller and Returnal might just be an instant PlayStation classic. | Read review |
| Worth Playing | Redmond Carolipio | 8.8 / 10 | 04-29-2021 | If there’s a sticking point to Returnal, it’s that it’s a big PS5 exclusive that is most definitely not for everyone. It’s next-gen beautiful all the way, but if you’ve never played a game like this before, even all that beauty and amazing design might not be worth the sense of dejection you might feel as the body count starts mounting. Returnal and other games like it will force newer players to ask questions about what kind of games they want to experience. It takes a little bit of weird thinking to relish the prospect of repeated punishment. I recommend it, just for the experience of it. If you’re part of that wider audience who wants to give a next-gen roguelike a shot, then be prepared for an awakening. And another one. And … another one. | Read review |
| Zoomg | Mohammad Hossein Jafari | 8.5 / 10 | 05-08-2021 | Returnal is not a product for everyone. But its clever exploitation of PlayStation 5 capabilities, heavy atmosphere, high detail sounding, and narrative of a thoughtful and profound story does not make us regret giving it a chance even if we fear its considerable difficulty. | Read review |
| ZTGD | Ken McKown | 7.5 / 10 | 05-11-2021 | I loved playing Returnal and I would definitely love a linear-progression version of it, but am perfectly satisfied jumping back in just to play because it feels so good. I hope they make some quality of life changes over time and really bring this game home. As it stands this is a great roguelike experience that can deliver many hours of entertainment if you don’t mind recycling that fun over and over. | Read review |
Awards & Recognition
RECOGNITION
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