Developer: Housemarque
Publisher: Sony Interactive Entertainment
Platform: PS5
Tested on: PS5
SAROS – Review
Even though we are always eagerly looking forward to the next possible big gaming hit, SAROS had been on our radar for a while until we kind of forgot about it. Then, suddenly, the game’s release crept forward, and we were granted our review copy, reigniting the spark that initially made us interested in the first place. We feel the game didn’t get as much marketing as some other big Sony exclusive titles, which is a shame, as we can already tell you at the start of this review that SAROS is an amazing experience. So, without further ado, let’s delve into what makes SAROS such a great title.
Story
The story starts rather vague, not unlike Returnal, a similar title also developed by Housemarque. You’ll wake up as Arjun on a strange planet, with no recollection of what happened in the last few days. You know you were sent to check up on different mining colonies on the planet of Carcosa after all contact was lost. When you make it back to your central base of operations, you learn that you have been away for days and that a member of your crew has gone insane, sabotaging your spaceship. While not immediately explained, the story will slowly become clearer, while still juggling a few key topics: Arjun’s search for his missing wife on Carcosa, the alien presence on the planet, and the fact that he keeps getting revived when meeting his untimely demise. The story itself is very interesting and we did enjoy the overall flow of the narrative.
Graphics
SAROS is a beautiful game and truly shows us what the PS5 is capable of. While the game only has a limited number of enemy types per habitat and some assets are reused here and there, there is still a lot of diversity when it comes to the environments and the monsters you’ll be battling. The boss designs stand out in particular and were quite awe-inspiring when we first faced them. That being said, there is often not much time to enjoy your backdrops because so much is going on at all times. You’ll see different-colored bullets fly by and many other attack animations that come with a hefty dose of special effects. The game looks impressive as a result, and pulling off successful dodges or using our shield at the right time was made so much more satisfying when looking at the barrage of bullets heading your way. During our play sessions on the original PS5 model, we did not notice any slowdowns or frame drops, even during the most hectic battles SAROS threw at us.
Sound
Across the board, SAROS’s sound design is superbly handled. The music is very cinematic in nature, but it manages to get you pumped up when you’re in combat. The sound effects also pack a punch and provide amazing audio feedback when in combat, but also when platforming. Weapons feel heavy, and every little detail enhances the overall immersion. The voice acting is the icing on the cake here, with Rahul Kohli voicing Arjun, and many veteran (voice) actors backing him up. The cast is impressive here, and while the game doesn’t have that many long dialogues, the different characters make the desolate wastelands of the planet Carcosa a lot more bearable.
Gameplay
SAROS could be considered the spiritual successor of Returnal, a game we took a closer look at in 2021. While SAROS has the same third-person shooter, bullet-hell roguelite experience running under its hood, it does feel a bit different, a bit more refined, and slightly better structured. The game is built around making further and further progress in a single run, but unlike Returnal, SAROS does have checkpoints of sorts where you can start in different zones after beating the previous overlord. The more progress you make, the more passive upgrades you can purchase that will aid you in your next attempts to get further in the game.
Truth be told, the offset here is really simple. You just venture outside, defeat enemies, find upgrades, collect different materials to unlock permanent upgrades, find new weapons, and probably die a lot. When you die, you restart your randomized run, and you do it all over again, until you can defeat the zone’s overlord. When doing so, the next zone opens up as a new starting point. You have different skills at your disposal when fighting off enemies. You’ll have the traditional jump and dash, but you’ll also have a shield that can absorb certain types of enemy projectiles. On top of that, Arjun has a basic weapon, a punch, and a charged attack. As you progress through the zones, you’ll also unlock other abilities that make traversal easier and make it worth it to revisit the earlier zones as well.
Just like Returnal, SAROS is tough-as-nails. The game doesn’t pull its punches, and you’ll die a lot. The good thing here is that from the second zone onwards, you can modify the difficulty slightly to make it easier or harder, if you’re a glutton for punishment. This felt like a nice change of pace, as it might help players tackle a certain issue they are dealing with. That being said, you cannot lower the difficulty too much, or the game will not let you start a new run. We also always felt in control, and when we died, we more often than not felt like it was our own fault. This made it so that we wanted to keep going without actually getting annoyed by the game itself.
Conclusion
For us, it doesn’t get much better than SAROS if you’re a fan of this particular genre. The game truly makes you feel in control at all times, only leaving yourself to blame if you meet your untimely demise. The presentation is superbly handled, and a few camera issues aside, Housemarque is truly using the potential of Sony’s now almost six-year-old console. If you loved Returnal, you’ll love what SAROS has to offer as well. Even though the game can be brutal and unforgiving, even newcomers to the genre will be able to make progress and will enjoy every minute of it. This might already be one of the best games 2026 has to offer.
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