Returnal

 PC
Returnal Image
Metascore
86

Generally favorable reviews - based on 45 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
6.6

Mixed or average reviews- based on 180 Ratings

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  • Summary: After crash-landing on this shape-shifting world, Selene must search through the barren landscape of an ancient civilization for her escape. Isolated and alone, she finds herself fighting tooth and nail for survival. Again and again, she's defeated forced to restart her journey every timeAfter crash-landing on this shape-shifting world, Selene must search through the barren landscape of an ancient civilization for her escape. Isolated and alone, she finds herself fighting tooth and nail for survival. Again and again, she's defeated forced to restart her journey every time she dies.

    Through relentless roguelike gameplay, you'll discover that just as the planet changes with every cycle, so do the items at your disposal. Every loop offers new combinations, forcing you to push your boundaries and approach combat with a different strategy each time.

    Brought to life by stunning visual effects, the dark beauty of the decaying world around you is packed with explosive surprises. From high stakes, bullet hell-fuelled combat, to visceral twists and turns through stark and contrasting environments. You'll explore, discover and fight your way through an unforgiving journey, where mystery stalks your every move.    … Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 42 out of 45
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 45
  3. Negative: 0 out of 45
  1. TouchArcade
    Feb 15, 2023
    100
    In its current state, Returnal perfectly suits the Steam Deck, and it runs quite well given the hardware, with visual cutbacks. While it isn’t as nice as playing on PS5 of course, I’ve found myself enjoying Returnal on the go quite a bit thanks to the suspend feature and sublime core gameplay. It also helps that Returnal on PC arrives at a lower asking price with all prior updates included from the start making it a super-polished version of one of Sony’s best exclusives in years.
  2. God is a Geek
    Feb 15, 2023
    95
    Returnal on PC is just as stunning as it ever was, with a high level of detail in its environmental design and layered gameplay.
  3. PCMag
    Feb 28, 2023
    90
    Returnal arrives on PC two years after making a splash on PS5, packing many exclusive features that make this version the one to beat—if you've got the rig to handle it.
  4. The Games Machine
    Feb 22, 2023
    88
    Returnal might not be the mind-bending masterpiece that I was, perhaps mistakenly, expecting after the praise I’d heard from friends and colleagues, but it’s still an excellent roguelike with clean gameplay and a beautiful presentation. Word of warning though: the length of each run combined with the difficulty might make it frustrating for some, and graphical optimization relies heavily on the use of supersampling technologies.
  5. Vgames
    Feb 15, 2023
    85
    New year, same old philosophy by Sony: If a game that was only available on PS5 comes to PC, makes sure it has all possible features, works great, has awesome optimization, controls fantastically and gives the best experience it can to its users.
  6. Movies Games and Tech
    Mar 27, 2023
    80
    Returnal is an interesting game and for those who want a roguelike that keeps the story hidden behind a challenging gameplay loop, this is a wonderful place to start. Astropos is full of mystery and danger but with enough runs, any player has the ability to master the tight combat offered up here.
  7. Dexerto
    Feb 15, 2023
    60
    Returnal on the Steam Deck is going to look a little ugly. All three supersampling options aren’t the best in the world, as AMD’s FSR and Nvidia’s NIS options muddied the screen and VSR turned the game into a gloopy mess. There are also options to turn down the rendered resolution, as well as turn on Dynamic Resolution, but nothing ever managed to run or look ‘right’.

See all 48 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 34 out of 53
  2. Mixed: 10 out of 53
  3. Negative: 9 out of 53
  1. jackinvestor
    Feb 22, 2023
    10
    I played over 100 hours on PS5 and it was my GOY 2021. Now I have played fir 20 hours on PC. Its a fantastic PC port. Play it without RT ifI played over 100 hours on PS5 and it was my GOY 2021. Now I have played fir 20 hours on PC. Its a fantastic PC port. Play it without RT if you have any stutters, Its a smooth experience on my PC at native 4K, ultra settings and 120 fps (without RT. It looks and runs much better than on PS5.… Expand
  2. PanteraHouse
    Feb 17, 2023
    10
    Game is a solid 9/10 but I'll give it 10/10 cuz of some of the babies who didn't look into what type of game it is before playing. "WaaahhhGame is a solid 9/10 but I'll give it 10/10 cuz of some of the babies who didn't look into what type of game it is before playing. "Waaahhh too hard 0/10"… Expand
  4. vladiSPIt
    Feb 16, 2023
    10
    amazing game what a shame this game have 5.2 and hogwarts legacy 9.2 poor gamers
  5. TurboCotton
    May 31, 2023
    9
    I wish the game was harder though. I can see how it can be hard using a controller, but with keyboard and mouse, enemies can be easilyI wish the game was harder though. I can see how it can be hard using a controller, but with keyboard and mouse, enemies can be easily dispatched quickly. The sound design is amazing, especially with 3D raytraced audio enabled. Good sound design is very underappreciated in most games.

    Selene is soo fine. I wouldn't let her leave either     … Expand
  6. UnKidreal
    Aug 28, 2023
    8
    Игра пройдена на уровне сложности – Нет уровня сложности.

    На удивление неплохой roguelike шутер, да, далеко не шедевр, но, садясь играть    Игра пройдена на уровне сложности – Нет уровня сложности.

    На удивление неплохой roguelike шутер, да, далеко не шедевр, но, садясь играть совсем не думал, что получу столько удовольствия. Вызов, который предоставила игра, особенно во второй главе …… разработчикам RESPECT, погибая в очередной и рассуждая мысленно, что из экипировки подобрал не правильно, в этот раз, ловил себя на мысли, что возможно это путешествие мне не по зубам, но, читая финальные титры …., вердикт, но того стоило, приятная, в меру технологичная графика и история, хоть и предсказуемая, но всё же порождающая сомнения до определённого момента времени, к чему всё идет, лишь добавили приятных ощущений от игры.
    p.s. Одно, но, зачем было делать такой страшной главную героиню? Порой возникало ощущение, что играешь за саму смерть, а это не очень приятно если честно.

    Оценка: 8/10
    Оценка: с RTX 9/10    … Expand
  7. Soracifer88
    Feb 22, 2023
    6
    With great regret I have to admit that I am dissatisfied with my experience with Returnal, my complaints are not about the performance (whichWith great regret I have to admit that I am dissatisfied with my experience with Returnal, my complaints are not about the performance (which I'm sure will be fixed) but the core of the gameplay... I'm a huge fan of Roguelikes I've completed a lot and I've been waiting so much for this sony exclusive to arrive on pc... i was promised a triple A roguelike experience with a high level of challenge, instead i was presented with a very easy game... i finished the game on my second run in just 8 hours... the game is extremely generous in giving you weapons, objects, passive powerups but above all very generous with the heal item... all this combined with a practically always available dodge that makes you completely invincible, bring down the level of challenge very low.
    But the biggest problem with this game is the lack of what makes roguelikes replayable to death.... in this game you can't create any builds, this makes all runs identical, there are no abilities that change your dash, jump, meele or other things there is just some pretty straightfoward bonus and malus stat... the only different thing that changes the gameplay experience are the weapons, but the game itself is constantly throwing you so much that you can try almost all the weapons and variants in a couple of run and you'll just end up holding only the most powerful one momentarily... build creation and variety is the key to any good roguelike this kills replay value completely.
    Add in a rather cryptic story with a not particularly exciting protagonist and we end up with a disappointing experience.

    To recap:
    pros:
    +Visually satisfying
    +great audio
    +good controls and fast base gameplay

    with
    -very low level of difficulty
    -total lack of builds and therefore of any replayability typical of roguelikes
    -lack of balancement in the weapon (some are very strong and overpower some very bad and weak)
    - cryptic story

    In general enjoyable but not worth the 60 dollars it asks for. games like Enter the gungeon, risk of rain2 etc are definitely superior    … Expand
  8. metacriticLOL
    Feb 22, 2023
    0
    It's mid and very repetitive, feels like a tech demo more than a game. If you have to get it, I would wait for a sale, around $10-$15 is theIt's mid and very repetitive, feels like a tech demo more than a game. If you have to get it, I would wait for a sale, around $10-$15 is the appropriate price I definitely wouldn't recommend paying more than that.… Expand

See all 53 User Reviews

Awards & Rankings

26
#26 Best PC Game of 2023
28
#28 Most Discussed PC Game of 2023

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