Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 8 hours ago
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Returnal from Housemarque is one of my most beloved video games of the 2020s, and honestly, it’s probably one of my favorites of all time. Its brutal but satisfying difficulty, mysterious, cryptic story, and tight, rewarding gameplay made for an experience I have not been able to stop thinking about in the 5 years since. So as you can imagine, I was quite excited for Saros, its pseudo-sequel follow-up that released earlier this year. And while I certainly enjoyed my time with this new entry, and think it is a fantastic game, I would be lying if I said I enjoyed it as much as Returnal. In the weeks since finishing h Saros, I’ve been reflecting on it a lot. Trying to pinpoint what exactly left it feeling less impactful for me. After all, nearly everything about Saros is a direct response to Returnal. Everywhere you look throughout your journey, you will see refinements being made to elements that weren’t quite perfect in the first game, or full-on fixes to common criticisms Returnal players had. There is no tangible reason why Saros shouldn’t be seen as a clear-cut improvement, and yet I was not left with that impression. As I racked my brain for an explanation on why what should have been a guaranteed personal game of the year contender left me feeling slightly unfulfilled, it finally hit me. As crazy as it may sound, I think the difference between Returnal and Saros comes down to one single letter.
Thanks for Watching!
I STREAM HERE: twitch.tv/ZackLillipad
Returnal from Housemarque is one of my most beloved video games of the 2020s, and honestly, it’s probably one of my favorites of all time. Its brutal but satisfying difficulty, mysterious, cryptic story, and tight, rewarding gameplay made for an experience I have not been able to stop thinking about in the 5 years since. So as you can imagine, I was quite excited for Saros, its pseudo-sequel follow-up that released earlier this year. And while I certainly enjoyed my time with this new entry, and think it is a fantastic game, I would be lying if I said I enjoyed it as much as Returnal. In the weeks since finishing h Saros, I’ve been reflecting on it a lot. Trying to pinpoint what exactly left it feeling less impactful for me. After all, nearly everything about Saros is a direct response to Returnal. Everywhere you look throughout your journey, you will see refinements being made to elements that weren’t quite perfect in the first game, or full-on fixes to common criticisms Returnal players had. There is no tangible reason why Saros shouldn’t be seen as a clear-cut improvement, and yet I was not left with that impression. As I racked my brain for an explanation on why what should have been a guaranteed personal game of the year contender left me feeling slightly unfulfilled, it finally hit me. As crazy as it may sound, I think the difference between Returnal and Saros comes down to one single letter.
