The review embargo for Saros has lifted, and Housemarque’s new PS5 action title is off to a hot start. Early aggregates put the game in the high-80s to low-90s, with OpenCritic scores landing in the 90–94 range and Metacritic sitting around 89.
The Finnish studio’s follow-up to Returnal is being framed by critics as a bigger, more polished, and noticeably more accessible take on the same formula. Skill Up gave a strong recommendation, SavePoint Gaming handed out a 10/10, and BGeek called it a clear step up. IGN was the outlier with a 7/10.
Saros keeps Housemarque’s signature quick third-person combat, sci-fi mood, and run-based loop, but layers on much heavier permanent progression. There’s a large skill tree that carries between runs, plus world modifiers that let players stack buffs against milder debuffs to tune the experience.
That shift is the headline change for fans of Returnal. Multiple reviewers noted the game is “way, way easier” than its predecessor, with builds that can become close to invincible once the upgrade systems open up. Some saw this as Housemarque answering complaints that Returnal was too punishing. Others worry the studio softened the edges too much.
Length, weapons, and the Eclipse
Reviewers reported main-path completion times of around 13 to 16 hours, with 25–30 hours floated for full clean-up. The arsenal reportedly includes five main weapon types, hand cannon, rifle, shotgun, crossbow, and chakram, each with three variants, plus four power weapons, totaling 19 options.
Players move through roughly eight biomes, though some rooms and pseudo-puzzle layouts repeat. Enemy variety was called decent but not standout, with tougher “alpha” variants and more distinct boss fights. The Eclipse mechanic isn’t an optional mode but a story-driven system that bumps enemy threat slightly.
The hub is also bigger than Returnal‘s. Players return to a base populated by NPC crew members, giving the game a more structured between-runs rhythm. Co-op reportedly isn’t included at launch, though Returnal eventually got it through post-release updates.
Saros stars Rahul Kohli as Arjun Devraj, stranded on the planet Carcosa beneath an ominous eclipse. The title itself refers to the astronomical cycle used to predict eclipses, fitting Housemarque’s love of loops, repetition, and cosmic mystery. The game is reportedly unconnected to Returnal narratively.
