Saros Does Something I Wish Returnal Did 5 Years Ago

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Housemarque, the team behind Returnal, is building on its signature third-person shooting and roguelike gameplay with their new game, SAROS. While SAROS features a completely fresh setting, it shares Returnal‘s ever-changing environments. A cataclysmic event called The Eclipse will transform the world during each playthrough, unleashing tougher enemies and obstacles. Unlike Returnal, SAROS expands beyond just random level generation, adding a new system to further impact your experience.

Sony’s February 2026 State of Play gave viewers a look at gameplay for SAROS, a new game that shares a lot in common with Returnal. Like Returnal, SAROS features challenging enemies, intricate level design, and a roguelike structure where you improve your character with modifiers and perks after each attempt. However, SAROS expands on this formula with a much more open world – the world of Carcosa – allowing players to quickly travel to any unlocked area and offering more accessible replayability features than were available in Returnal.

Saros Introduces The Passage As An Explorable Hub Area For In Between Runs

In Returnal, dying meant starting over from the beginning, immediately jumping back into the game. This design choice was central to the game’s story, which unfolded like a Lovecraftian tale, connecting the repeating gameplay loops to the character’s personal journey. While this created a compelling atmosphere, it offered little respite from the constant cycle of runs needed to progress.

With the release of SAROS, players will encounter elements of the planet Carcosa that weren’t found in Returnal’s alien world, Atropos. A key new feature is The Passage, a central hub where players can interact with various systems between runs before returning to the planet. While details revealed so far are limited, it’s notable that the protagonist isn’t traveling alone this time.

So, I’ve landed in The Passage, and it’s full of people who were on this ship, the Echelon IV. They’re really helpful for figuring out more about this weird place, Carcosa, as I keep finding new enemies and locations. It sounds like not everyone made it out of the ship okay – some of the survivors were… altered, and didn’t reach The Passage. I’m getting to know these characters, and there’s this device called Primary that lets me prep for the next run. Basically, I’m learning skills and getting info from them to hopefully survive longer each time.

Additional World Building & Safety Through The Passage Marks A Shift From Returnal

Unlike Returnal, which pushed players directly back into the action, SAROS’s Passage encourages more preparation and reflection. While Returnal offered limited time to process each run before starting a new one, SAROS gives you ample opportunity to prepare for your next attempt and delve into what made your previous run significant.

This feature enhances the storytelling because it allows you to safely process and reflect on what happens between attempts. Having characters you can interact with is a big part of this – you can discuss what you’ve seen and get their perspectives. For instance, if you encounter a major event like The Eclipse, returning to the hub area might reveal that characters react to it, providing valuable clues and understanding.

Although the characters you can interact with in SAROS aren’t as complex as those in games like Baldur’s Gate 3, they’re very helpful for understanding the game’s story and setting. Like the hub area in Elden Ring, the central location in SAROS might evolve as you progress, changing based on your actions. Both meaningful characters and a dynamic safe space are great ways to make SAROS feel more immersive and engaging.

Returnal offered a wonderfully atmospheric, almost frightening world, though it felt somewhat constrained in scope. SAROS, on the other hand, builds brilliantly on Returnal’s strengths. The Passage, especially, is a standout feature that encourages players to delve deeper and enrich their experience with each challenging playthrough.

What are your thoughts on the gameplay of The Passage and SAROS? Share your opinions in the comments below, or discuss them with other fans in the ComicBook Forum!

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2026-02-18 17:14