Returnal Reviews
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.
Returnal is extremely difficult, and that might drive some casual players away, but there’s very little reason to say no to a game with such an intriguing story, beautiful visuals and engaging core gameplay in the first place. Returnal is a blast and, to be quite honest, I can’t wait to get back to it.
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.
Returnal intends to present itself as the first big new original PlayStation 5 exclusive, and it certainly does not disappoint. With its enveloping narrative, well thought out mechanics and great implementation of the PS5’s distinctive features, we won’t be surprised if many players end up getting dozens (or hundreds) of hours of enjoyment out of Returnal. Despite one or two bizarre design choices, lacklustre boss encounters and some persisting technical issues, this is a very recommendable experience, and the first big affirmation of arrival from this new generation.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
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.
Returnal is an amazing game from Housemarque that translates the arcade gameplay the studio is known for to an intriguing 3D world. Gameplay doesn't get better than this, making Returnal a must-play for anyone who wants to experience what next-gen is truly about.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
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...
Review in Greek | Read full review
A certain level of skill is simply required to progress in Returnal. In fact, for this reason alone, I can't write everyone to go to the store for their copy. However, I can safely write that people who do not have problems with demanding games should already hold Returnal in their hands.
Review in Polish | Read full review
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.
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.
Returnal is an amazing game. It has the most satisfying gameplay Housemarque has created to date.
RETURNAL provided a special experience for me, as defeat meant going back to the beginning which motivated me to go back and discover the world and defeat enemies, with a very beautiful technical performance and a unique experience that was characterized by using the features of the PlayStation 5, despite the presence of technical problems, it provided me with a great experience
Review in Arabic | Read full review
Returnal is a wonderful harmony of encounter design, a visually stunning bullet ballet, and an evocative story.
Returnal is full of risky design choices and rewarding mechanics, and finally makes use of the best features of the PlayStation 5.
Returnal is a work of absolute quality, a triple A product that is completely disinterested in linear stories and well-acted tales, to embrace the game in the most literal sense of the term.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Returnal may not beat out other more anticipated titles for Game of the Year honors at the end of the year, but it won't by any means be forgotten as the potential of next-gen hardware is explored. It's a shame the game isn't available on the PlayStation 4 or even other platforms so that more players could experience it, but if that compromise means we get more games like Returnal, that's a convincing argument. Other games may employ similar mechanics in the future, but Returnal should always be remembered as one of the ones that did it first, and, as of now, did it best.
Returnal is the game the PlayStation 5 needed. It demonstrates every aspect of the new console’s technical prowess and sets the standard for future games. On top of that, it packs in a thoroughly enticing story with fantastically fluid gameplay.
Returnal is a solid game that will hit for roguelike fans especially but might set the barrier for entry too high for those just curious. The PC port pushes the graphical boundaries even further and makes Returnal look breathtaking.
I’ve raved about how amazing it is that we can play PlayStation exclusives on PC before, and with Returnal I feel that this is the very encapsulation of Sony’s goal. Returnal is a chaotic delight to play, and fits perfectly with the setup and mindset of a PC gamer. I’m already looking forward to trying my next run.