Returnal Reviews

Returnal is ranked in the 96th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
8.8 / 10.0
Apr 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.

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9 / 10.0
Apr 29, 2021

Returnal is an engaging and intriguing game from the start till the very last second

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8 / 10
Apr 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

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PSX Brasil
Top Critic
98 / 100
Apr 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.

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9.5 / 10.0
May 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.

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9.2 / 10.0
Apr 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.

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91%
Feb 26, 2023

Housemarque's first attempt at something bigger was an almost complete success. If you are a fan of roguelites you really need to try Returnal.

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9.5 / 10.0
Nov 17, 2021

Returnal is an apex-tier game that capitalizes on the PS5's capabilities as a "next-gen" platform.

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8.7 / 10.0
Feb 16, 2023

Returnal is just as good a game on PC as it is on PS5 and even better in some areas. For fans of third person shooters who like a good challenge, it is a blind buy. Especially if you have a system that can play the game stably at 120 frames. That only makes the game better. Just don't expect the game to be playable for the "casual" gamer right now. All the additions help, but the gameplay is still unforgiving. All in all, this is a successful port that Sony can once again be proud of.

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9 / 10.0
Apr 29, 2021

Returnal is a unique experience that fires from all cylinders. The combat is tight and responsive. The progression system keeps the player intrigued and the story is delivered in a satisfying way. The one negative is its lack of save points, which was intentionally designed to avoid save scumming.

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4 / 5.0
Feb 17, 2023

Returnal is an impressive game that sets a new standard for PS5-to-PC ports. The game is challenging, well-balanced, and offers a unique combination of shooter and platformer gameplay. The game’s benchmarking tools are incredibly helpful in determining optimal settings, and the inclusion of ultrawide aspect ratios, while not always beneficial, is a welcome addition.

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7.5 / 10.0
Mar 15, 2023

Returnal is a very good proposition for PC gamers, but it needs time to improve the technical problems that deprive it of perfection.

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6 / 10
Mar 5, 2023
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Recommended
Feb 21, 2023

Returnal on PC is one of the rare blessings of this late generation. It’s challenging, rhythmic bullet-hell shooting, with a satisfying combat loop and an unconventional way of storytelling that make it one of the riskiest yet rewarding experiences in PlayStation’s long line of stellar exclusives. If you like titles like Doom: Eternal, FURI, or Cuphead, then look no further than this. However, for casual beginners, this one can be one hell of a nightmare. Still, if you’ve got the balls to go through its steep learning curve, there’s probably nothing that you can’t handle!

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9 / 10
Mar 3, 2023

Returnal is the latest of Sony's first-party games finding a new audience on PC, and it feels right at home on the platform through a solid port. The fluid and swift movement is a pleasure to control with a keyboard and mouse, and the port coming without some of the teething problems of the PS5 release makes Returnal an approachable proposition.

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Worth your time
Feb 24, 2023

I’m ecstatic for the chance of playing Returnal further after the five or so hours I spend with the PlayStation 5 version. It’s a great port, and it didn’t take me long at all to get back to exactly the same spot I was when I stopped playing it before, proving that the muscle memory and skill built in by the game’s difficulty is indeed there. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for me further on and for the journey to get there.

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Feb 24, 2023

The planet of Atropos is sprawling cornucopia of danger, colors, and excitement. At times, Returnal can be borderline on being space horror with its themes and setting, which makes it so good at what it does. Housemarque still retains those arcadey and shmup elements that they essentially have baked into their core. The PC version of Returnal gives those without a PlayStation 5 or a desire to own one a way to play one of the most unique roguelikes to ever exist. Returnal is this homogeneous blend of elements that fuse into something so beautiful and wonderful, that you just have to play and experience for yourself.

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9.5 / 10.0
Feb 22, 2023

The PC-port of Returnal fixes one of the biggest issues of the Playstation-version; not being able to safely quit the game without losing progress. In keeps its smooth combat, even with a mouse and keyboard and allows the graphics too be even better on modern hardware. An amazing roguelike with just a few minor complaints.

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9 / 10.0
Feb 21, 2023

http://www.capsulecomputers.com.au/returnal-review/

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85%
Feb 18, 2023

Returnal will be extremely frustrating for many, but it's undoubtedly an unique, one of a kind experience. Housemarque's risk has definitely paid off.

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