During Sony's Future of Gaming Show, Returnal was announced. This is a trippy sci-fi adventure that comes exclusively to the PlayStation 5 console.
Developed by Housemarque, known for their PlayStation titles such as Nex Machina and Alienation, revealed that Returnal is their next title. We got a brief look at the gameplay and story of Returnal, and it looks trippy.
In the trailer, our female protagonist crashes onto an alien planet, gets attacked and dies. This event repeats time and time again, almost like Groundhog Day. This seems to have a gameplay purpose as well; as the protagonist dies, a new world is shaped. The extent of this generation is unknown, and as to whether it's procedural or not, we will have to see.
Gameplay shows a third-person sci-fi shooter. You'll be able to blast at aliens so that you can, hopefully, break the cycle of death. According to the video's YouTube description, Returnal will take advantage of the PS5 controller's adaptive trigger and the consoles 3D audio. Furthermore, the description says the title is a combination of "side-scrolling action with roguelike gameplay."
There is no release date yet for Returnal, but rest assured you will be informed of all the details when more are available.
Quick Take
I am very excited to see that it has roguelike elements. I don't think there are many AAA roguelites, and you tend to find randomization in the indie scene. The trailer mentions the world changes, and there's the whole thing about dying over and over again - so those are some components we can expect to see. Combined with an interesting looking story and crisp visuals, it's a pleasant surprise to have a big budget game falling within the genre.
Are you interested in this game? Let us know in the comments below!