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Returnal
Released On: Apr 30, 2021
86
7.4
Where to Buy
Where to Buy
All Platforms
Metascore
Generally Favorable Based on 115 Critic Reviews
86
93% Positive
107 Reviews
107 Reviews
7% Mixed
8 Reviews
8 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Metascore
Generally Favorable Based on 115 Critic Reviews
86
93% Positive
107 Reviews
107 Reviews
7% Mixed
8 Reviews
8 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Feb 15, 2022
A perfect example of the performance of the PS5 and all its functions. Great gameplay and the music catches and won't let go until you get to the bottom of it all. But in the end, the final may surprise you unpleasantly.
May 25, 2021
The core gameplay loop is definitely not for everyone but the rewards for persisting are well worth pursuing here. The gunplay and movement feels absolutely divine and the “one more run” approach to the gameplay is certainly addictive and unique amongst larger budgeted titles.
User Score
Mixed or Average Based on 4,458 User Ratings
7.4
69% Positive
3057 Ratings
3057 Ratings
11% Mixed
472 Ratings
472 Ratings
21% Negative
929 Ratings
929 Ratings
User Score
Mixed or Average Based on 4,458 User Ratings
7.4
69% Positive
3057 Ratings
3057 Ratings
11% Mixed
472 Ratings
472 Ratings
21% Negative
929 Ratings
929 Ratings
Nov 13, 2025
un très bon jeu que je recommande fortement sur ps5 si vous aimez ce genre de production
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PlayStation 5 Nov 10, 2025
LE jeu le plus sous côté de la gen, c'est prenant, addictif, fun. Merci Playstation d'avoir financé un AAA roguelike, c'était pas gagné mais c'est une grande réussit
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PlayStation 5 Apr 29, 2021
It feels immensely satisfying to be sat here in 2021, eons after playing Super Stardust HD on PS3, and see just how far Housemarque has come. Offering a visual bullet hell spectacle, a showcase for the DualSense controller and a rewarding sci-fi narrative woven around the roguelike loop, we can say with unflinching confidence that Returnal is the PS5’s best game to date.
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.
May 20, 2021
Returnal is by turns a gloriously dynamic action game and a dark slice of psychological horror. [Issue#259, p.106]
Apr 29, 2021
People who love hard video games will find a lot to praise in Returnal, but the haunting beauty of Atropos is surrounded by a harsh environment that will overwhelm those who can't keep up.
Apr 29, 2021
This lack of variety in the style of play makes every run feel samey, and they begin to blur together. That leads to a roteness that made me want to put down the game when I was struggling with the difficulty. I like challenging games, but roguelites need to walk a fine line between familiarity and routine. Familiarity is the warm embrace of something that feels like home. Routine is boredom, and it is poison for a game like this.
Oct 31, 2025
Returnal remains my favorite PS5 game in 2025. Few titles still look better, even years later. Its gameplay loop nails that perfect mix of fast-paced action and high challenge, with an upgrade system that rewards every run and keeps you coming back. The Tower of Sisyphus is downright addictive; I still jump in for a round or two multiple times a week. And the storytelling is wonderfully creative, weaving a haunting, cohesive narrative that melds seamlessly with the gameplay and ever-shifting environments. It’s a rare roguelike that feels both razor-sharp and artfully immersive.
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PlayStation 5 Oct 24, 2025
Yeah Returnal just isn’t for me, or rogue likes for that **** in a good 8-10 hours and I can see how the game does reward progression, but I just don’t like the start over aspect and retracing steps over and over. I like the satisfaction of progress despite getting my butt kicked at times.
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PlayStation 5 Report
PlayStation 5 Jun 8, 2025
As someone who loved Alienation (even got the platinum trophy), I was excited to see what Housemarque would do next. Sadly, Returnal is a massive letdown. Sure, the graphics and sound are decent, the controls are tight, and the combat starts off feeling like a full 3D Alienation. But that initial excitement vanishes quickly. The roguelike design kills the fun. After every death, you're back at the start with a basic pistol, running through the same levels, fighting the same enemies. Six hours in, and I was still doing the exact same thing. There's almost no real progression, no variety, just repetition. It feels like a never-ending flu dream—confusing, exhausting, and ultimately boring. There’s barely anyone playing online, and no cross-play between PC and PS5. It all feels empty, and soulless like a single demo level. I really wish they made Alienation 2 instead. This isn’t it.
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PlayStation 5 Feb 2, 2025
Straight to the point: an outstanding game, one of the worst plats ever made.
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PlayStation 5 Summary Returnal transforms roguelike gameplay into a third-person shooter where players fight to survive a hostile planet that changes with every death. Players can switch instinctively between firing modes by using a single adaptive trigger and can get right back into the action after dying. PS5’s immersive 3D audio brings the alien world to l...
Rated T for Teen
Platforms:
- PlayStation 5
- PC
Initial Release Date: Apr 30, 2021
Developer:
- Housemarque
Publisher: PlayStation Studios
Genres:
