Saros Reviews
Saros turns death into progress, delivering a fast, challenging and visually striking sci-fi adventure where every failed run makes Arjun stronger and Carcosa even more compelling.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
An unforgiving alien planet, brutal bullet-hell combat, and a mystery slowly eating away at reality - Housemarque came back with another game full of chaotic combat and eerie atmosphere that demands your full attention.
Saros is a triumph for Housemarque and a reminder that some of the most exciting games being made today don’t need to rely on cinematic spectacle to leave a lasting impression. It takes everything that made Returnal special and builds upon it in meaningful ways, from its improved progression systems to its breathtaking world design and its roster of unforgettable boss encounters. The story is heavy, the gameplay is addictive, and the world of Carcosa will stick with you long after the credits roll. If Returnal was Housemarque announcing themselves to the world, Saros is them planting their flag. Don’t sleep on it.
"Saros is a game where it dances on the line of head-scratching design decisions along with intriguing ideas. Its influences from The King in Yellow are wonderful and its core gunplay is excellent, yet it fails to coherently bind together its gameplay along with narrative in a way which makes it enjoyable at length."
Saros has everything it takes to become more than just a spiritual successor to Returnal, representing a clear evolution of the formula created by the studio, but with a completely new look.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Saros is the sequel to Returnal. You take on the role of Arjun to find out what happened on Carcossa. You must do everything you can to find out why the colony has disappeared.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
While Saros tries to offer its protagonist, who seeks to rewrite the past, “a new tomorrow,” it unfortunately traps the player in the same cycle. Although the player-friendly features added following feedback from Returnal create a much smoother experience, the balance of difficulty can occasionally spiral out of control. As a result, Saros ends up being a game that addresses the shortcomings of the genres Housemarque knows best, while also dulling some of the studio’s greatest strengths.
Review in Turkish | Read full review
SAROS feels like a confident evolution of Housemarque’s gameplay-first philosophy. Between the stylish combat, rewarding progression systems, and haunting sci-fi atmosphere, the game delivers an intense and memorable experience that keeps pulling players back into the darkness of Carcosa.
Instead of being just like every other safe and overbudgeted action adventure by the company, this is a gameplay-first experience, just like how Returnal had done five years prior. It shows, once again, that Housemarque might actually be Sony’s most important internal development team, masterfully mixing arcade-like controls and an endlessly replayable gameplay loop with higher quality visuals and cinematic storytelling.
I have a truly strange relationship with Saros. On the one hand, it’s a game I honestly hate and that has caused me endless frustration. On the other hand, it’s a game that rewards you even for your failures, and once you finally master the chaos on the screen, the sense of satisfaction from your progress is simply immense. It’s a game that, despite its rather bland supporting characters and a lack of deeper emotion in the plot itself, manages to draw you in with an incredibly engaging story full of intriguing mysteries. The world design is a true masterpiece created by talented artists, further enhanced by stunning visuals and brilliant sound design. To top it all off, the core gameplay itself, though incredibly exhausting most of the time, ultimately proves exceptionally satisfying. Saros is a fascinating paradox that’s hard to ignore.
Review in Polish | Read full review
This is a great showcase for the PS5 and well worth a look for those seeking a sci-fi epic packed full of challenge.
SAROS is recommended because it’s a step up from Housemarque’s previous title. The experience is much more polished, especially in terms of its progression system and accessibility, yet it doesn’t lose any of its intensity. It’s not a perfect game, but it knows exactly what it wants to offer and how to keep you hooked for hours.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Saros is one of PlayStation’s finest action games and a strong candidate for 2026 Game of the Year conversations come December.
Housemarque has taken a game genre they master better than anyone else, and made it more accessible for regular human beings like me, without losing what makes them unique. Play Saros if you liked Returnal, play Saros if you enjoy action games; play Saros even if you think it might be too difficult. Eventually, it will all fall into place.
Review in Unknown | Read full review
Saros is certainly an enjoyable experience, but it remains completely overshadowed by Returnal. I would have preferred the team to have explored more innovative ideas within the game, but that didn't happen. However, if you haven't played Returnal, Saros will undoubtedly be a fantastic experience with plenty of challenging and fun moments.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
Despite the hiccups I experienced, SAROS is still Housemarque’s most ambitious game to date. The scale of the experience is impressive. From the fast, polished gameplay the studio is known for, to its stronger narrative focus, elevated production values, and standout sound design, there is a lot here to love.
Saros impressively combines chaos and control. This unfolds in a game that has you restarting hundreds of times—yet always with a sense of progression. What begins as an overwhelming storm of bullets evolves into a tightly orchestrated experience where everything revolves around flow, insight, and timing.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
Saros represents the natural evolution of a development team that has successfully reworked its formula without betraying its essence. Housemarque has crafted a solid and satisfying action-shooter, taking the frenetic gameplay of its illustrious predecessor and grafting it onto a progression system that rewards perseverance and mitigates frustration. The world of Carcosa, enhanced by inspired art direction and the brilliant Corruption mechanic, constantly challenges the player to balance risk and reward.
Review in Italian | Read full review
SAROS delivers a confident evolution of Housemarque’s roguelite formula, pairing exhilarating bullet-hell combat and exceptional boss design with meaningful progression systems that give each run a satisfying sense of growth. While its moment-to-moment gameplay consistently impresses through tight mechanics and smart use of haptics, the narrative struggles to keep pace, relying too heavily on logs and lacking cohesion in its delivery. Even so, the game’s distinct identity, strong encounter design, and engaging loop make it a compelling, if uneven, PlayStation experience that soars more often than it stumbles.
Saros is a satisfying iteration on Returnal, but its narrative can’t live up to its predecessor’s brilliance.