Returnal
Reddit take
AI summary of the Reddit excerpts below — not a quote
Returnal is frequently cited as a standout "next-gen" title for the PS5, lauded for its fluid, precise combat and atmospheric sci-fi horror setting. While many players consider it one of the best games on the platform, it is defined by a steep difficulty curve and a roguelite structure that can be polarizing for those who struggle with repetitive loops or high-skill requirements.
Pros
- Fluid and exceptionally precise combat mechanics
- Immersive, atmospheric environment with a creepy, horror-adjacent story
- Technical showcase for the PS5 hardware and controller features
- High replayability through its core loop, Tower mode, and co-op
- Challenging but generally perceived as fair gameplay
Cons
- High difficulty barrier that can prevent meaningful progress for some
- Steep learning curve that may lead to early frustration
- Permanent progression is less significant compared to other roguelites, relying more on player skill
Caveats
- Success is heavily dependent on personal skill improvement rather than just unlocking upgrades
- RNG (randomness) can significantly impact the strength of a specific run
- The roguelite structure requires players to potentially lose significant progress upon death
Best for
- Players seeking a high-challenge shooter
- Fans of atmospheric sci-fi like 'Alien' or 'Arrival'
- PS5 owners looking for a game that feels tailor-made for the hardware
Avoid if
- You have a low tolerance for repeating content after dying
- You prefer games where grinding permanent stats makes the game significantly easier
- You find high-difficulty 'bullet hell' style combat frustrating
This summary uses balanced time weighting with about a 122-month half-life. The evidence comes from a selection of 30 mentions across PS5 and gaming-focused subreddits with a median age of approximately 377 days.
Sentiment
26 positive (79%) · 5 mixed (15%) · 2 negative (6%)
Trust + time weighted score: +73% · raw score 73%
What redditors said (10 of 33)
I am someone who enjoys a creepy/horror-adjacent story and environment (recently favorites for me were Subnautica and Returnal)
Few seem tailor-madw for the system - Returnal and Astro Bot being notable exceptions.
The only game I’ve played on your list is Returnal and that’s a 10/10 for me.
lacked skill in some (Returnal)
Sick gameplay. Felt so atmospheric and I felt the peril of the main character despite minimal cutscenes. Was so much fun after you get a few upgrades.
Demon Souls and Returnal are pretty much the only PS5 games that have wowed me
Returnal.
Returnal. I don't love a lot of modern shooters but something about Returnal keeps me coming back. I almost always go back to it for at least a few runs through the base game or the tower when I'm between other titles just because I love it so much.
Parent context: Remember it’s a roguelite. The more you play, the easier it becomes because you’ll unlock permanent upgrades to your weapons. This isn’t readily obvious. So don’t get discouraged by losing the first several runs. And hopefully of course you as a player will improve too, and progress will be made with each run. It’s an absolutely sublime game in my opinion. Cannot wait for Saros. Reply: I adore Returnal and have beaten it. But one way that it’s unusual as a roguelite is that the permanent progression is not nearly as significant as it is in most games in the genre. It gets easier but not by much - you’re mostly relying on your own skills improving plus favorable RNG to enable a strong run.
That was my issue with it too. It was just too hard for me to make any meaningful progress
Compare
Returnal vs Sekiro: Shadows Die TwiceReturnal vs Armored Core VIReturnal vs Dispatch
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