Saros Reviews
Housemarque has once again made one of the best-playing PS5 games and a shooter that handles wonderfully as you find upgrades and create a build to take on difficult bosses.
Saros isn’t just an evolution of Returnal; it’s the culmination of decades of mastery from Housemarque. A must-play game that showcases the PS5’s true potential. The studio hasn’t simply rested on the success of Returnal. It’s a game that manages to be faster, more beautiful and, above all, smarter in the way it respects the player’s time. By balancing challenging difficulty with addictive permanent progression and risk-based mechanics such as Eclipses, the studio has delivered what is, for me, the definitive experience in the roguelike genre.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Saros can be just as intimidatingly challenging as Returnal, but thanks to a streamlined gameplay loop, addictive combat, and solid art direction, it excels as one of the best games of 2026.
Saros multiplies the Returnal formula with a brutal shooter and mechanics refined to perfection. Unfortunately, this excellence comes up against an uninspired and disjointed narrative that interrupts the rhythm. Even so, there is an addictive mechanical heart that keeps you coming back.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Saros is undoubtedly a really fun game to play. Yes, the game is essentially very similar to its predecessor, Returnal, but it’s clear that Housemarque has directly applied the lessons learned from that game to Saros.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
Without straying from the excellent formula they gave us in Returnal, Housemarque has delivered a spiritual successor in Saros that achieves the rare feat of improving in almost every aspect. At the same time, it is far more accessible and respectful of the player's time, without ever diluting the level of challenge and adrenaline the studio is known for. Frenetic from start to finish, Saros leaves us with that "just one more run" itch while simultaneously inviting us to discover all its secrets through a narrative that starts slow but ends up being truly surprising.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
“Saros” is a powerhouse. Visually, sonically, and mechanically, few action titles can match this adventure on Carcosa. Six years into its lifecycle, the PS5 finally gets its first truly must-have exclusive action shooter. Its finely balanced mix of offense and defense, breathtaking setting, and a solid—if somewhat clunky—story make this roguelite essential, even if you’re not typically a fan of shooters.
Review in German | Read full review
When I reviewed Returnal back in 2021, it felt like Housemarque had one foot in the AAA door, politely knocking while clutching a fistful of bullet hell credentials. With Saros, they’ve kicked that thing clean off its hinges
Housemarque has crafted a masterpiece in which the dynamism of the gameplay and the controlled chaos that ensues generate an ‘instinctive’ feel that is utterly addictive. It is a work that minimises the gap between intention and action, capable of making us enthusiastic ‘accomplices’ in a magnificent frenzy. If Returnal challenged us with its harshness, Saros invites us to master the storm with a newfound awareness that creeps under your skin in a damn natural way. It is a cohesive, pulsating and utterly dynamic experience that makes everything else seem to move in slow motion. It is the Finnish team’s mature masterpiece: intelligent, brutal and bloody brilliant. Once you’ve entered its loop, you’ll just want to keep going, and going, and going.
Review in Italian | Read full review
In the end, Saros stands out as a must-play for fans of the genre and a worthy successor to Returnal, pushing roguelike shooters forward with confidence and style.
'SAROS' is a game that faithfully carries on the DNA of its predecessor, Returnal. From the relentless barrage of bullets to the rush of breaking through seemingly impossible odds and the sheer catharsis of a punishing shooter, it surpasses Returnal in every way. The one caveat is that it has also inherited its predecessor's shortcomings — a narrative so convoluted it actively gets in the way of the fun.
Review in Korean | Read full review
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Review in German | Read full review
As a follow up to Returnal, Saros is excellent. It builds on the foundations of Selene’s adventure and is a sensational slice of bullet-hell shooter goodness.
SAROS stands as a strong successor to Returnal, carving out its own identity with a more approachable experience while retaining Housemarque’s signature bullet ballet combat. It remains challenging, though its accessibility may feel less punishing than that of its predecessor. For fans seeking the same relentless difficulty, SAROS might seem lighter, but its appeal extends far beyond mechanics. Beneath the frenetic action lies a story of obsession, regret, and redemption, told through a fragmented narrative that grips players with its unsettling mystery right up to the climactic finale. This layered storytelling, paired with its cosmic-horror atmosphere, ensures that SAROS resonates on both emotional and thematic levels.
Saros is an absolute blast to play. The gameplay loop is tight, challenging, and spectacular in all the right moments. When the bullet hell clicks, there's nothing like it.
Saros is Housemarque at its best. It nails the roguelike formula, with each run feeling completely different than what came before thanks to changing areas and a variety of weapons. The story grips you and doesn’t let go, with Rahul Kohli’s fantastic performance at the heart of it.
Saros was a game that was genuinely enjoyable to play but didn't quite live up to its full potential. Its atmosphere and sense of action managed to draw me in, but the lack of variety and certain design choices dragged the game’s score down a bit. Still, looking at the overall experience, it's a game I enjoyed playing despite its shortcomings, and I think fans of the genre should give it a try.
Review in Turkish | Read full review
Saros is a game I'll be chewing on for the rest of the year. It's a game that has a lot of flaws, but makes up for them in showcasing the complicated and messy dynamics that humans find themselves in. An easy recommendation for those looking for a bullet hell with a deep mythos around it. A game that isn't perfect, and is messy, much like all of us.
Just like its spiritual predecessor Returnal, Saros is an unparalleled experience. Saros is a game that has kept me on the edge of my seat for 35 hours so far. During that time, I didn’t find a single thing that bothered me. I enjoyed every second of the spectacle conjured up on my screen. Housemarque has also taken a brilliantly clever approach to accessibility, ensuring that players familiar with this genre can still find their own way. The fact that I’ve been living in a cocoon for the past few days to write this review of Saros says it all. This is an unrivalled masterpiece and, at the moment, my Game of the Year.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
A perfect marriage of difficult and accessible, Saros is a brilliantly designed, majestic sci-fi nightmare that is as compelling as it is challenging.