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Stranded astronaut Selene fights through shifting alien arenas, dodging bullet storms and rebuilding her arsenal after each death.
Released 15 Feb 2023
Dodge Bullet Storms
Explore Shifting Atropos
Unlock Alien Gun Traits
BREAK THE CYCLE Fight to survive as this award-winning third-person shooter brings Selene’s story to PC. Take on roguelike challenges. Engage enemies in bullet hell-fuelled clashes. Share your journey through Returnal™ with another player.
Developed by Housemarque, Climax Studios · Published by PlayStation Publishing LLC






After crash-landing on the hostile planet Atropos, astronaut Selene searches for a way off while caught in a recurring cycle of death and rebirth. As she explores the ruins and records fragments of her memories, she pieces together the planet’s mysteries.
Combat is a fast third-person shooter built around enemy bullet patterns, constant movement, and timed dodges. Each run offers changing rooms and a different selection of weapons, artifacts, and parasites, some of which bring drawbacks alongside their benefits.
Death resets most run-specific gear and resources, while certain story and traversal items, defeated bosses, and unlocked weapon traits carry forward. Exploration reveals new routes and equipment; optional modes include online co-op and the Tower of Sisyphus, an ascending combat challenge.
Many reviewers enjoy the responsive movement and intense shooting, especially when learning enemy patterns turns difficult fights into satisfying wins. The eerie atmosphere, sound, visuals, and mysterious story are also recurring highlights. At the same time, players differ on whether the challenge feels rewarding or overly punishing, and several report PC performance problems or frustrations with co-op.
| Platforms | Windows |
|---|---|
| Achievements | 38 |
| Age ratings |
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| Players | 1–2 |
| Play modes |
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| Other modes |
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| Multiplayer | Returnal supports single-player and online co-op. Co-op is for 2 players: the host plus one invited or matched online player. Co-op progression is host-based, some content is unavailable in co-op, and cross-play with PS5 is explicitly not supported. |
| Multiplayer & mods | One review mentions a mod that appears to enable Tower of Sisyphus in co-op. No official mod support is stated. |
| Controller support | PlayStation, Xbox |
| Controller required | No |
| DRM / EULA |
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| Content notices |
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| Website | Official website |
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