Six years later, the PS5 is still light on exclusives — but this space-age shooter is an absolute must-play

TechRadar recently revisited the 2021 roguelike third-person shooter Returnal, developed by Housemarque. Originally launched as a PlayStation 5 exclusive, the game follows astronaut Selene Vassos as she crash-lands on the hostile planet of Atropos. The title is noted for its unique integration of a cyclical 'death and rebirth' narrative with fast-paced, challenging gameplay. Players must navigate procedurally generated combat rooms while managing limited resources and dodging complex projectile patterns. The article highlights how Returnal successfully bridges the gap between traditional story-driven experiences and the high-stakes, repetitive nature of the roguelike genre. Despite the ongoing discussion regarding the PS5's library of exclusive titles, the author argues that Returnal remains a standout experience that effectively utilizes the console's hardware capabilities. The game has since expanded its reach to Windows, allowing a wider audience to experience its dense, mysterious, and addictive gameplay loop.