James Billcliffe
VG247Returnal Review | Housemarque's PS5 Exclusive is all about Control - VG247
Published 4/29/2021
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Scoring alignment
—
Score
80
-3 vs critic avg
Review
Read originalCritic Atlas
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PC / PS5 - 4/30/2021
Returnal
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.
- Developer
- Housemarque
- Publisher
- Sony Interactive Entertainment
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Critic average
83
Average of 15 scored external reviews.
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Serious / dark / groundedDefining · Curated baseline
Run-based / proceduralDefining · Curated baseline
Highly replayableDefining · Curated baseline
Reflex / execution-heavyDefining · Curated baseline
Systems / mechanics-drivenDefining · Curated baseline
Exploration-drivenDefining · Curated baseline
Combat / action-focusedDefining · Curated baseline
Punishing / high-pressureDefining · Curated baseline
Show 12 more descriptors
Buildcraft / customization-heavyDefining · Curated baseline
Loot / progression-drivenDefining · Curated baseline
Multiplayer / socialDefining · Curated baseline
Atmosphere-driven / aesthetic identityDefining · Curated baseline
Strategic / planning-heavyStrongly · Curated baseline
Story / character-drivenStrongly · Curated baseline
Side-content richStrongly · Curated baseline
Unconventional / experimentalStrongly · Curated baseline
Puzzle / logic-focusedSlightly · Curated baseline
Whimsical / playful / lightheartedNot present · Curated baseline
Cozy / low-pressureNot present · Curated baseline
Short / focusedNot present · Curated baseline
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Review coverage
Critic signal strength
Numeric critic scoring uses full scored reviews once available. Review-in-progress scores act as temporary early signal only until full review scores exist. Unscored reviews still count as coverage, but they are not included in the critic average.
High confidencePolarized
Critic avg
83
15 scored reviews
Total coverage
15
All coverage currently scored
Score range
60–100
Lowest to highest scored review
Signal shape
Polarized
Score range is 31+ points
Critic landscape
The critic average is 83 across 15 scored reviews, with a 40-point spread. Critics are far apart on this one.
How to read this
Treat the average carefully. A polarized landscape is where reviewer match, review text, and score deltas matter more than the headline number.
Most scored reviews currently sit in the 90–100 band.
Score distribution
Shows how included scored reviews are clustered across the normalized 100-point scale.
15 included scored reviews
90–1006 reviews · 40%
80–896 reviews · 40%
70–792 reviews · 13%
Below 701 review · 7%
Showing 11-15 of 15 matching critic reviews. 15 total critic reviews. Page 2 of 2.
Castielle
FextralifeReturnal Review & Impressions: PS5 Gameplay Worth Your Time, A Sci-Fi Rogue-Like as no other | Fextralife
Published 4/29/2021
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Scoring alignment
—
Score
93
+10 vs critic avg
Review
Read originalBrad Ellis
Easy AlliesReturnal - Easy Allies Review - YouTube
Published 4/29/2021
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Scoring alignment
—
Score
85
+2 vs critic avg
Review
Read originalCameron Corliss
Game RantGame Rant Returnal Review
Published 4/29/2021
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Scoring alignment
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Score
100
+17 vs critic avg
Review
Read originalKevin Dunsmore
Hardcore GamerReview: Returnal
Published 4/29/2021
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Scoring alignment
—
Score
80
-3 vs critic avg
Review
Read originalPlayer reviews
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