Returnal

 PC
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86

Generally favorable reviews - based on 41 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
6.4

Mixed or average reviews- based on 105 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: 38 out of 41
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 41
  3. Negative: 0 out of 41
  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. Player 2
    Mar 14, 2023
    91
    The best version of an already great game, Returnal on PC is a fantastic rogue-like experience if you have the hardware to handle it. It also serves as proof that Sony is really starting to understand the PC platform as a whole.
  3. Game Revolution
    Feb 27, 2023
    90
    Thanks to a recent patch that fixed the majority of performance issues that I was having, I can happily call Returnal on PC the “definitive version.” It has the looks, the performance, and the best controls, ready to reward those who waited for the PS5’s timed-exclusivity period to end with a compelling, mysterious story and top-tier bullet hell gameplay.
  4. Hobby Consolas
    Feb 15, 2023
    89
    The arcade shooting "bullet hell" with roguelite elements results in an interesting proposal, that on its way to PC leaves an even more astounding technical exhibition. However, its difficulty and style may not be to the liking of all players, so if you hate challenging games and/or loops or repetitions, better think about another title.
  5. Oyungezer
    Feb 20, 2023
    85
    These days it's hard to find a more action-packed, more colorful, more addictive game than Returnal. Even if you've played it on PS5, Returnal is the perfect game for keyboard & mouse control and you should give it a try on PC.
  6. Twinfinite
    Feb 24, 2023
    80
    Having Returnal on PC is an excellent move for everyone involved, especially with the quality shown in the port. A new audience can finally have a taste of that amazing blend of gameplay that constantly beguiles players into taking one more run, enhanced by the bells and whistles made possible by the power of the PC. As one of the PS5’s best games, it would make perfect sense that Returnal maintains that form in its migration to the PC, and it proves just that.
  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 43 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 28 out of 41
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 41
  3. Negative: 7 out of 41
  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. dziubaty
    Feb 19, 2023
    10
    Excellent title, the truth is that I was hooked on the game, recommended. Very good landscape, enemies, it has some jerks in the cinematics,Excellent title, the truth is that I was hooked on the game, recommended. Very good landscape, enemies, it has some jerks in the cinematics, which will surely be fixed with a patch… 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. Kaijoshin
    Feb 17, 2023
    9
    As on the Playstaion, there are great graphics, first-class shooter gameplay, and an interesting loop. Recommended.
  6. infraRecon
    Feb 20, 2023
    8
    I heard terrible things about this game, but after playing for a few hours I am already satisfied, and I saw only a few story beats. For mostI heard terrible things about this game, but after playing for a few hours I am already satisfied, and I saw only a few story beats. For most Players that don't like Souls games, and die a lot I wouldn't recommend this game unless you are willing to suffer and Unlock your love for Difficult games, it is again like Elden Ring an Acquired Taste for difficulty.

    This game is Difficult and is basically Space Souls the Video game, it reminds me a little about space Invaders and PT, surprisingly.

    I did not find any performance Issues like crashing or stuttering (If I do I will update this), and I rarely encountered FPS dips Playing on Ultra, 1080p (I will try 1440p and 4K) with or without DLSS with my 3060, and I'm running on a USB 3.1 with an HDD, not even an SDD, that is impressive work with the shader cache and the overall port.

    In terms of graphics, it looks like a PS4 going-to-PS5 game, meaning it looks great, it's a dark gritty planet, with glowing enemies and looter shooter mechanics.
    it's often that I'm afraid to fight the enemies in fear of death in a game, which is a good thing.

    While I can't rate this game fully because it might take a while to finish, I am enjoying it very much, Maybe I wish that it was a little forgiving, but I guess that is the purpose of Permanent skill unlocks.

    If I were to nitpick, the game doesn't have a mode for all players (It's meant to be difficult, understandable).
    I wish there was some variation of effects, visuals and animations, not that it lacks animation, it just needs to be presented with more visual appeal, it is meant to be a next-gen game, thankfully it's cheaper on PC than on PlayStation.

    And as always more spectacle, developers like FromSoftware and now HouseMarque that make these types of Soulsborne and Roguelike games should use cinematography to their advantage, it makes your game look even better.

    And finally, the enemies, are probably a little too aggressive, I feel that when I'm running away or about to dodge there is always an enemy in my path that's going to hit me. Again Understandable, pressure, but these enemies have projectiles so that makes it incredibly difficult to find a path of least resistance.

    So if you're looking for a difficult game to play before Armored Core or the next Souls game, Then Returnal is your best bet. Just be ready to die. I don't understand the hate for this game, It's probably some PC gamers that hate Sony or don't know how games are actually made, I get it Sony Exclusives blah blah blah its meant to be a game, not a movie, or it's a Souls rip-off.

    Look at the moment Sony is starting to do some weird business practices (I'm definitely not happy about that), but thankfully they are still attempting to make and publish well-made games, unlike XBOX, Ubisoft and Square Enix.

    We should all be happy that this game was ported to PC and that PlayStation realises that they can get in on the PC market with Quality games, If Ratchet and Clank, and Demon Souls get ported, that is gonna sell a lot.

    I will continue to support and Enjoy playing these games, but I'll always remember to actually hate games that deserve it *cough: Forspoken.    … Expand
  7. petriAND
    Feb 20, 2023
    7
    Gameplay - 8.5
    Visuals - 7.5
    Story - 5 Sound - 8.5 Fun - 7.5 ------------------- 7.4 The concept is spot on for a roguelike game,    Gameplay - 8.5
    Visuals - 7.5
    Story - 5
    Sound - 8.5
    Fun - 7.5
    -------------------
    7.4

    The concept is spot on for a roguelike game, shame it has a cryptic story full of symbolism and the ending really disappointed me. The sound in this game is really good, and the visuals are good overall. Gameplay, as the sound, is the strong point of this game, animations are amazing, is fun and the shooting feels pretty good. Another bad thing about this game is optimization, is full of stutters at launch.    … Expand
  8. Foonky
    Feb 22, 2023
    0
    Un jeu avec un bon scénario, un atmosphère incroyable on s'y croiraient vraiment, une bonne mécanique d'arme, de loot, de zone... MAIS BORDELUn jeu avec un bon scénario, un atmosphère incroyable on s'y croiraient vraiment, une bonne mécanique d'arme, de loot, de zone... MAIS BORDEL arrêter avec vos rogue like de merde!!! Qui aime ce genre de jeu sérieux? C'est vraiment pourris vous êtes des sadomaso ce qui aime ça comment tu peux prendre plaisir a jouer ce genre de jeu.… Expand

See all 41 User Reviews

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6
#6 Best PC Game of 2023
8
#8 Most Discussed PC Game of 2023

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