Returnal Reviews
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.
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.
Review in Slovak | 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
One Thousand and One Deaths. A loop of stories told until you lost your mind. Selene's diaries became Sherazade's tales, the ending delayed until the next day, the next loop.
Review in Italian | Read full review
In an industry overflowing with sequels, copycats, and remakes, Returnal is a beacon of originality.
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.
Returnal is a whole lot of fun to play. The adrenaline-fueled combat is complemented with flawless controls. The Dualsense haptics further amplifies the action, absorbing you into the game. The story contains more than enough mystery to catch the attention of any sci-fi lover. It drives you to discover more and does a great job at trying to explain the mechanics of a roguelike in a more mature and detailed way. The randomness of the game can be a little frustrating at times when you just can't find the items you need to survive. The inability to apply any permanent upgrades that impact your combat strength makes it very hard to stay engaged when you are faced with an obstacle that is proving to be a real challenge. Difficulty goes hand and hand with the genre and despite making your blood boil from time to time, Returnal is a masterpiece for the roguelike genre and was a worthwhile risk for the development team that really paid off. It doesn't matter how much you get your ass kicked, you will keep coming back for more.
Returnal makes an important, evolutionary (house)marque on the arcade shooter landscape.
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
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
That’s not to say Returnal doesn’t have a lot to offer players in addition to its addictive ‘one more run’ loop. There’s a rich catalogue of history to fill out for Atropos which tells a fascinating story in its own right, and there’s a daily challenge good for both fun and in-game credits.
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 - with experiences large and small, more difficult as accessible - and the best Housemarque title.
Review in French | Read full review
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.
Returnal is a great game on console and on PC, and its brilliant fast-paced gameplay will give daring players a highly entertaining experience despite its frustrating elements.
Returnal is a great experience for those who love bullet hell games or sci-fi roguelikes. Though the difficulty spikes and unbalanced weapons sometimes make it hard not to rage quit, sticking with Selene in her mysterious and symbolic journey is truly rewarding. With the co-op and endless modes being available at launch, Returnal's arrival on PC can be celebrated long because of its replay value.
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.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
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.
Review in German | Read full review
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.
Review in Italian | Read full review