PS5 Exclusive Returnal Is A Roguelike With Some Creative Control Options

Housemarque, creators of arcade shooters Resogun, Nex Machina, and Super Stardust is once again working on a PlayStation exclusive title. Returnal is a different type of game for the studio, however, shifting to third-person action in a roguelike structure for the PS5.

Revealed earlier this year during Sony's PlayStation 5 Showcase in June, Returnal was detailed further in a new game listing on Sony's website today. It expanded more on the game's roguelike elements which will let you collect alien technology to enhance your abilities with each new run. Each run will be a test of resource management and shooting skill, as you explore a procedurally generated world with persistent secrets to uncover.

The listing also mentions a narrative through line that will follow through each run, perhaps similar to how narrative is handled in Supergiant's recent roguelike, Hades. Selene, Returnal's protagonist, is seeking lost memories throughout each run which will piece together the story of the strange planet you find yourself on.

Being a PlayStation 5 exclusive, Returnal is also making use of some of its exclusive features. Perhaps most interesting is the use of the adaptable triggers on the new DualSense controller. Depending on the amount of pressure you exert, you'll go from aiming down the sights to triggering your weapon's secondary fire on the same trigger.

Returnal doesn't have a release date yet, which means it's likely not going to be joining Spider-Man: Miles Morales and Bluepoint's Demon's Souls remake as a launch title. The PlayStation 5 launches on November 12, and you can keep an eye out on preorders coming back into stock with our handy PS5 preorder guide.