Returnal Reviews
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.
Playing Returnal, it feels like next-gen has truly begun.
Returnal is a test of the human capacity to adapt and persevere, fuelled by a relentless stream of Lovecraftian horror. Mixing roguelike mechanics with the wonders of exploration, every biome on planet Atropos offers fresh challenges through randomised gameplay design, plus satisfying gunplay. The cryptic storytelling might not be everyone's cup of tea, but it never failed to keep my attention, making Selene an intriguing protagonist. There were a few performance dips here and there, but that's to be expected with the particle effects that flood the screen. Returnal is (and was) truly an underrated gem, and I hope this PC release gets more eyes on it.
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.
Returnal is a solid roguelike that does a very good job of encouraging you to play just one more run over and over again. The shooting and traversal are solid, and the fights may be tough but never feel cheap. The inclusion of the DLC and the Suspend mode from the get-go ensures that the game seems more fair, even though death can still come easily. The presentation shows that the PC can still provide a top-of-the-line experience for modern games. The stuttering is the only real thing dragging down this experience, but if you are somehow immune to that or are reading this by the time the patch has been released, Returnal is a must-have for those who enjoy difficult solo shooters.
These days it's hard to find a more action-packed, more colorful, more addictive game than Returnal. Even if you've played it on PS5, Returnal is the perfect game for keyboard & mouse control and you should give it a try on PC.
Review in Turkish | Read full review
Even with the classic problems of a PC version, Returnal has robust graphics and gameplay options that make it a pleasure to experience it again.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Unforgiving roguelike gameplay of Returnal is not for everyone, but this is another good PC port of PlayStation exclusive game with loads of options and visual improvements.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
There's been a succession of great roguelike games coming up this year and I'm not complaining.
Review in Turkish | Read full review
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.
Review based on a copy of the game purchased by Softpedia.
A wonderful and engaging rogue-lite that always has surprises up its sleeve, despite not offering any big innovations or super original ideas.
Review in Russian | Read full review
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.
Review in Persian | Read full review
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.
Review in Persian | Read full review
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.
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.
Review in Persian | Read full review
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.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Returnal is a challenging game. If you like to get tired and want to know an interesting story, the atmosphere of which can delight – do not wonder. However, if you are not part of this group, you will throw the controller after a few attempts. This is another exclusive Sony title aimed at a narrow audience.
Review in Polish | Read full review
Returnal is a game unlike any other. But with flaws and bugs like many other games.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
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.