Returnal™ (2023)

Developer: Housemarque, Climax Studios
Publisher: PlayStation Publishing LLC
Platforms: Windows
Genres: Action
Rating: 4.0 of 5, 10,842 player ratings
Typical playtime: about 15 hours
Where to get it: Steam

The 3D catalog: game boxes on wooden shelves, with the cat sitting at the counter next to its greeting.

The catalog in 3D

The same catalog has a room you can walk around in. The cat behind the counter is the AI Catbot, and they pick real games from it when you tell them what you feel like playing. Nothing is for sale, here or in there. Go in from here and this game is already out on the counter, with more like it waiting on the shelf next to it.

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How it feels

A relentless, high-stakes third-person shooter where every run feels like a desperate fight for survival against both alien enemies and a crumbling psyche.

atmospherictensepsychologically intensepunishingfast-pacedsurrealisolatingarcade-like

What players say

Players praise the tight third-person shooting, smooth movement and haunting audiovisual atmosphere, but are split on the roguelike design: some love the unforgiving loop while others find runs too samey and progression frustrating. Long-time players report that development stalled and some bugs ruin runs.

Screenshots

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This page is from Underplayed Gems, a catalog of older and overlooked games. Not quite it? You can browse by platform and genre, or take this one into the 3D catalog and ask the Catbot for something closer.