Returnal cover

Returnal

Critic score19 critics
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First release
Apr 30, 2021
Developer
Housemarque
Genres
Shooter · Action, Science fiction, Horror
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 5

Returnal is a 2021 roguelike third-person shooter video game developed by Housemarque and published by Sony Interactive Entertainment. It follows Selene Vassos, an astronaut who lands on the planet Atropos in search of the mysterious "White Shadow" signal and finds herself trapped in a time loop. After crash-landing on a shape-shifting alien planet, Selene finds herself fighting tooth and nail for survival. Every time she’s defeated, the player is forced to restart the journey.

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Details

Storyline, release dates, time to beat, age ratings, modes, links, keywords

Storyline
Break the cycle of chaos on an always-changing alien planet where even death is no escape. 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 time she dies.Read more

Break the cycle of chaos on an always-changing alien planet where even death is no escape. 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 time she dies.

Release dates
PlayStation 5
Apr 30, 2021
PC (Microsoft Windows)
Feb 15, 2023
Time to beatIGDB · recorded
Main Story
11h
Main + Extras
32h
Game modes
Co-operative, Multiplayer, Single player
Perspective
First person, Third person
Keywords
exploration, psychological horror, surrealism, dark, story driven
… All 30, roguelike, fast paced, upgradable weapons, procedural generation, permadeath, time manipulation, cinematic, difficult, bullet hell, atmospheric, surreal, psychological, time loop, boss fight, steam achievements, steam cloud, resource gathering, narrative, roguelite, alien world, the game awards - best action game - winner, the game awards - best audio design - nominee, the game awards - best game direction - nominee, action roguelike, steam families

At a Glance

Critic Score
90
Main Story (IGDB)
11h
Main + Extras (IGDB)
32h
OverviewHow it playsMediaCommunityBehind the gameRelated

Overview

Steam review summary

Steam users rate this Mostly Positive, 6,656 reviews in all languages, recorded 16 October 2026

Valve's summary of Steam user reviews. Valve counts only reviews from purchases on Steam, not key activations, and leaves out review periods it has marked as off-topic. It isn't part of the CritScore score.

Review summary: SteamSteam data provided via the Steam Web API (opens in a new tab)Not affiliated with Valve →

Multiplayer

  • Online multiplayerIGDB · 31 Oct
  • Online co-opSteam · 16 Oct
  • Co-op campaignIGDB · 31 Oct
  • Drop-in, drop-out co-opIGDB · 31 Oct

Feature data: SteamFeature data: IGDBSteam data provided via the Steam Web API (opens in a new tab)Not affiliated with Valve →

About storefront and compatibility information

Compatibility, feature and availability information shown on this page is recorded from the storefronts and services named against each fact, on the dates shown. Steam and the Steam logo are trademarks of Valve Corporation; Steam data is provided via the Steam Web API. Other product and service names are trademarks of their respective owners. CritScore is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by or certified by Valve Corporation or any other storefront or platform holder, and does not itself test or certify any game.