Saros is Housemarque's follow-up to Returnal, released April 30, 2026 exclusively on PS5 (with PS5 Pro enhancements). Set on the shape-shifting alien planet Carcosa, this third-person roguelite shooter follows Soltari Enforcer Arjun Devraj (played by Rahul Kohli) on a desperate search for a lost off-world colony. With a Metacritic score of 88/100 and OpenCritic rating of 89-91 (95% of critics recommend), it stands as Housemarque's highest-rated game to date. [Source: Metacritic, OpenCritic, Sony Press Release]
All Saros Guides
Saros Beginner Tips - 12 Things to Know
Essential survival tips for your first runs on Carcosa.
Saros Prophet Boss Guide - How to Beat the First Overlord
Complete phase breakdown and strategy for the Prophet in Shattered Rise.
Saros True Ending - How to Unlock the Secret Good Ending
Step-by-step guide to unlocking the secret ending by sparing the King.
About Saros
Saros builds on the bullet-hell roguelite foundation of Returnal with several key innovations. The Soltari Shield allows players to absorb blue enemy projectiles to charge a devastating Power Weapon, shifting combat from pure avoidance to aggressive engagement. A permanent progression system through the Armor Matrix ensures every death makes you stronger -- a direct response to Returnal's lack of persistent upgrades. [Source: VGC, GamesRadar, official Housemarque previews]
The game features shorter runs than Returnal with teleporter unlocks after the second biome, and Carcosan Modifiers that let players fine-tune difficulty between Protection (easier) and Trial (harder) options. [Source: Kotaku, Polygon, GosuGamers previews]
The story follows Arjun Devraj, a Soltari Enforcer searching for a lost off-world colony and a missing woman named Nitya Chandran (Shunori Ramanathan) on the hostile world of Carcosa -- a planet consumed by a corrupting eclipse. The tone has been described as The Thing-like, with crew members slowly succumbing to madness. The cast includes Jane Perry (also voiced Selene in Returnal) and Ben Prendergast, with a dark electronic score by two-time Grammy winner Sam Slater. [Source: GameSpot, IGN, Sony Press Release]
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Developer | Housemarque |
| Publisher | Sony Interactive Entertainment |
| Release Date | April 30, 2026 (Digital Deluxe: April 28) |
| Platforms | PS5 (PS5 Pro Enhanced) |
| Genre | Roguelite / Third-Person Shooter / Bullet Hell |
| Player | Single-player |
| ESRB Rating | T for Teen |
| Price | $69.99 (Standard) / Digital Deluxe available |
| Metacritic | 88/100 |
| OpenCritic | 89-91 / 100 (95% recommend) |
Scores sourced from Metacritic and OpenCritic as of May 2026.
Critical Reception Summary
Reviewers widely praised Saros' combat fluidity, permanent progression system, and Rahul Kohli's voice performance. GameSpot awarded it 9/10, stating it "surpasses its spiritual predecessor in every conceivable way." VGC gave it 5/5, calling it "a polished, refined experience." [Source: GameSpot, VGC]
Criticisms centered on the narrative feeling disjointed or uninspired compared to Returnal, with IGN US scoring it 7/10 and noting the structure fell short. Some players reported performance issues, including frame drops on base PS5 in later areas. [Source: IGN, Polygon review roundup]
Platform Availability
Saros is a PS5 console exclusive. No PC version has been officially announced as of May 2026. Returnal received a PC port approximately two years after its PS5 launch, but Housemarque has not confirmed a similar timeline for Saros. [Inference based on Returnal's release pattern; no official PC announcement exists.]