Returnal™
Last updated: 2025-02-22
- Visually stunning and immersive experience.
- Exceptional sound design and music.
- Tight controls and fluid movement.
- Intense and well-designed boss fights.
- High difficulty, punishing mechanics.
- Repetitive environments and content.
- Reviews
(sample size) - 1571
- Helpful reviews
- 74%
- Unhelpful reviews
- 24%
- Protest reviews
- 2%
- 72%Helpful reviews with positive sentiment
- 28%Helpful reviews with negative sentiment
- Positive points
- 2684
- Negative points
- 1925
- Gameplay points
- 479
- Perf. points
- 321
- Rec. points
- 919
- Misc points
- 136
| Point | Description | Importance |
|---|---|---|
Exceptional sound design and music
| The game's sound design and music are exceptional, enhancing the overall atmosphere and immersion. The soundscape is well-integrated with the gameplay, creating tension and excitement during combat. Many reviewers recommend using headphones to fully appreciate the 3D audio and sound effects. | 82% |
Visually stunning and immersive experience
| The game features stunning graphics, detailed environments, and impressive particle effects, creating a visually appealing and immersive experience. The art style draws inspiration from sci-fi horror, with otherworldly and macabre environments reminiscent of Aliens and H.R. Giger. The game also runs smoothly, even on mid-tier systems, with well-optimized graphics settings. | 82% |
Tight controls and fluid movement
| The game features tight, responsive controls and fluid character movement, making the gameplay feel smooth and satisfying. The controls work well with both controller and keyboard/mouse, allowing for skillful play and precise aiming. This contributes to the overall enjoyable and engaging experience. | 78% |
Varied weapons and satisfying progression
| The game combines bullet hell and third-person shooter mechanics, with a wide array of unique and enjoyable weapons. The weapons have unique perks and a leveling system that encourages experimentation. The game also features a satisfying loot system, offering meaningful choices between weapons and gadgets. | 64% |
Intense and well-designed boss fights
| The game features intense and well-designed boss fights that require players to learn attack patterns and utilize their skills. Defeating bosses after multiple attempts is incredibly rewarding and creates a sense of accomplishment. The boss designs are visually impressive and contribute to the overall excitement of the game. | 63% |
Engaging and mysterious story
| The game features an engaging and mysterious story that explores dark themes and psychological horror elements. The narrative is presented through subtle imagery, symbolism, audio logs, and brief cutscenes, leaving players with questions and encouraging theorizing. The story is well-integrated with the gameplay and atmosphere, creating a cohesive and immersive experience. | 26% |
Generally well-received, challenging, fun
| The game is generally well-received, with reviewers praising its gameplay, graphics, and story. The game is also considered to be a challenging but fair experience. However, some reviewers have noted performance issues and bugs, which can detract from the overall experience. | 18% |
Unique, addictive, and highly replayable
| The game is a unique and fulfilling experience that combines arthouse-esque storytelling and roguelike gameplay. The game is highly replayable, with procedurally generated levels that keep things fresh and exciting. The game is also addictive, prompting players to start 'one more run' even late into the night. | 13% |
Great DualSense implementation, Selene is compelling
| The game makes excellent use of the DualSense controller features, including adaptive triggers and haptic feedback, enhancing the immersion and gameplay experience. Many reviewers recommend using a gamepad for the best experience. The protagonist, Selene, is also well-developed and relatable, adding depth to the overall experience. | 12% |