Die and Die Again… Then Play These 8 Alternate Titles!
Returnal won’t be for everyone but it’s certainly a unique rogue-like experience. The game is moody, atmospheric and filled to the brim with adrenaline-soaked shooting.
If you’ve finished playing this one and are looking for alternatives – fret not! We’ve combed through the archives and saved you the hassle with our top 8 picks.
Of course for all the games we’ve reviewed, we’ve also added a handy link so you can check out our full thoughts on that and see if it’s something you want to invest your time with.
So without further ado, we present 8 games to check out when you’ve finished playing Returnal.
Dead Space
While Dead Space doesn’t necessarily share the same genre as Returnal, it does mirror the atmosphere and mystery.
For those unaware, Dead Space takes place on the abandoned USG Ishimura in the distant future. You play the role of Isaac Clarke, an engineer who has the misfortune of trekking through this nightmarish ship. Along the way you’re tasked with fixing up your ship to escape. Unfortunately you’re not alone.
Nasty necromorphs hide around every corner, testing your shooting skills (and nerves) as you rip these creatures limb from limb.
The game combines survival horror with action nicely, backed up by a gripping story and a unique in-game UI. The result is one of the best games in the survival horror genre.
Hades
Hades is one of 2020’s brightest jewels. This Indie gem takes all the best parts of rogue-likes and blends them up into a gripping game steeped in Greek mythology.
With tight, responsive controls and a perfect isometric aesthetic, those looking for an in-depth and regarding dungeon crawler should find more than enough here.
The game is incredibly moreish and it’s worth pointing out that this game was made with no crunch or predatory monetization either. For that alone, Hades is a must-play.
Risk Of Rain 2
Don’t let the bright, cutesy visuals of Risk Of Rain 2 put you off, this game is absolutely brutal. This third person rogue-like shooter begins simply enough, as you arrive on an alien planet and find yourself forced to explore and survive.
Over time, the game’s difficulty increases, spawning more powerful and dangerous creatures to battle against.
Risk Of Rain 2 is both challenging and rewarding, delivering a solid survival experience that’ll keep you coming back for more.
Control
Released in 2019, Control is a really enjoyable game, boasting satisfying gameplay and uniquely stylized mechanics.
The story revolves around the Federal Bureau of Control (FBC), a secret U.S. government agency tasked with containing and studying phenomena that violate the laws of reality.
At the center of this is Jesse Faden, the Bureau’s new Director. Through her eyes, this third person shooter sees you explore the FBC’s paranormal HQ.
Along the way you utilize powerful abilities, allowing you to take on and defeat a deadly enemy known as the Hiss.
Beyond Two Souls
Beyond Two Souls is one of the more polarizing games on this list. From the mind of David Cage and his team over at Quantic Dream, this cinematic narrative adventure is certainly more of a one-time play than a title you can pick up and play repeatedly.
The game’s story centers on Jodie Holmes, one of two playable characters. The other is an incorporeal entity named Aiden; a separate soul linked to Jodie since birth.
With elements of Stranger Things woven through the story, Beyond Two Souls takes what worked in Heavy Rain and expands that into a brand new story, complete with an abundance of QTE events, twists… and plot holes. Still, it’s an enjoyable adventure despite its flaws.
The Binding of Isaac
The Binding Of Isaac is an indie rogue-like, inspired by the biblical story of the Binding of Isaac.
Straight from the brilliant minds of the devs who made Super Meat Boy, Binding Of Isaac plays out as a love letter to The Legend Of Zelda. The story revolves around Isaac, who heads down into his basement to escape from his murderous Mother. Once there, he finds himself stuck in a procedurally generated battleground where he must fight to survive.
This wonderfully fun and visually striking game really tests your reflexes, with a similar bullet-hell to Returnal.
Outer Wilds
Outer Wilds features an unnamed astronaut exploring a solar system that is stuck in a 22-minute time loop. Once that time has elapsed, a star goes supernova and the cycle repeats ad-infinitum.
With each cycle you learn more about the planet and its history, which in turn aids with future cycles. The crux of the issue here comes from an extinct alien race known as the Nomai. To give much more away about the story though would be a disservice to this game.
Armed with a gorgeous aesthetic and aided by some solid storytelling, this one’s definitely worth checking out.
Dark Souls
The Crème de la crème of learning by dying, Dark Souls (and its subsequent sequels to be fair) takes everything that made its predecessor Demon Souls so good and amplifies that to 11.
The punishing gameplay forces you to learn as you play, with death a normal part of every playthrough. The online marks left by other players only adds to the experience, while the numerous imaginatively designed bosses will test your skills – and patience.
With lots of different weapons and styles of play available, Dark Souls is a must-play for those looking for a punishing and grueling experience like Returnal.
So there we have it, our 8 video game picks to keep you busy after playing Returnal on Playstation 5.
What do you think of our picks? Do you agree? Are there any notable omissions? Let us know in the comments below!