Saros Reviews
As a fast-firing spaceman, one minute you're invincible, the next you're dead – with every battle like watching a firework show through a kaleidoscope
Housemarque's newest roguelite is ultimately a safer counterpart.
"Come back stronger," has been pitched as the core ethos Saros wants to instil within you - and Housemarque absolutely did.
Saros is a confirmation of the talent and skill of the team at Housemarque, delivering a highly accessible action roguelite that is by no means easy. Both the aesthetic and narrative aspects are outstanding, and the game places the pure gameplay experience at the center of everything-dynamic and incredibly fun. A game that comes close to perfection.
Review in Italian | Read full review
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Saros is a brilliant third-person shooter that takes what worked in Returnal and streamlines it for an even smoother game without diluting the fun. The core gameplay is the star attraction; complex yet intuitive, and a perfectly judged challenge that's so satisfying to overcome. With compelling permanent progression, flexible ways to modify your experience, and an intriguing story to follow, this is another step towards Housemarque's planetary takeover.
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A blistering, rapid-fire epic without peer, Saros confidently delivers a dual masterclass in third-person shooter design and roguelike sensibilities all wrapped in a delectable veneer that elevates it to one of the best looking games on PlayStation 5. To quote the kids - Housemarque cooked here. This is their masterpiece and it is next the must have, utterly essential PlayStation exclusive. Carcosa beckons.
Saros is basically a sequel to Returnal in all but name. By building on the mechanics of its previous work, Housemarque has made Saros an even better roguelike and bullet-hell experience. It’s slick, powerful, and devilish in all the right places.
Saros is brilliant from every angle, even if it's not as risky and far more innovative as Returnal . Its highly sophisticated gameplay fits perfectly with beautiful level design and its roguelite structure.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
As expected, SAROS stands out as a worthy spiritual successor to Returnal, and even more so. Far from resting on its laurels, Housemarque has successfully built upon the solid foundation of its previous title to deliver an epic adventure, enhanced by new features that make it accessible to a wider audience. While more accessible, SAROS remains a challenging yet exhilarating experience that delivers incredible thrills. This makes it a new must-have in the PS5 catalog, which once again boasts one of its best exclusives thanks to the Finnish studio.
Review in French | Read full review
Overall, Saros manages to build a clear and coherent identity, even when not all of its solutions are entirely convincing.
Review in Italian | Read full review
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Review in German | Read full review
Saros is Housemarque's ultimate creation; the culmination of years of hard work and experimentation. Returnal is Game of the Year quality, no doubt. But Saros has taken what Returnal offered and refined it, only adding to the formula until the end result is Housemarque's finest release yet. In a sea of great April games, Saros' excellence stands out as another Game of the Year contender.
Speaking as a fan of Returnal, Saros brought me hours and hours of fantastic fun; I couldn’t get enough of the beauty of this dark world. The game’s biggest problem is its simplified and safe approach; there isn’t enough originality or confidence in its own design vision. If you’ve played the previous game, you’ll get more of the same.
Review in Polish | Read full review
Saros is an utterly sizzling romp through a sci-fi cosmic horror show that showcases Housemarque’s pedigree for spectacular, arcade action. Not only is Saros a user-friendly evolution of Returnal's core systems, which were already near-perfection, but it’s an exceptional, technical showpiece for a console that makes faultless performance seem magical. If Returnal was a reason to invest in next-gen, Saros pays that belief off again in what is currently a one-horse race for Game of the Year.
Even with those caveats, Saros is a confident evolution of Housemarque’s formula and a compelling experience from start to finish. It may not carry the same punishing edge as Returnal, but what it gains in accessibility and progression makes it a game that more players can engage with and enjoy. If you can play it, you absolutely should.
SAROS delivers Housemarque’s best-in-class gameplay, backed by a genuinely intriguing narrative and a unique world. But it’s lacking polish, with performance and optimisation issues that are impossible to ignore for a game so reliant on precision.
Saros pushes the envelope on multiple fronts, changing the roguelike genre in ways that's more player-friendly than ever while taking advantage of the PS5's DualSense controller in novel fashions. It's near perfect in several ways, even if its story lacks the satisfaction that its gunplay otherwise provides.
SAROS carries that torch and expands on the formula to new heights, introducing an entire ensemble cast of characters that push the narrative further as players unravel the mystery on a new alien planet, Carcosa.