According to multiple reports, Saros is a roguelite shooter developed by Housemarque, serving as a spiritual successor to Returnal. Major media outlets report that the game is set on the planet Carcosa, which features shifting environments and ancient alien ruins. The protagonist is Arjun Devraj, an Enforcer for the Soltari corporation, played by actor Rahul Kohli. The player's goal is to find missing colonists on Carcosa and uncover what happened to previous rescue teams.
Saros features a persistent progression system where death allows players to trade resources for permanent upgrades, according to multiple reports. The game's environments reconfigure and morph each time the player dies. Major media outlets have described Saros as more accessible than Returnal but still challenging. The game emphasizes story and characters more than Returnal, with the narrative drip-fed regardless of whether the player lives or dies. The sun operates as a built-in gameplay mechanic that can affect runs, while enemies remain unchanged between cycles, but weapon and upgrade selections vary.
Housemarque does it again with a just as testing, adrenaline-fueled roguelite shooter
According to Daily Mirror, Saros is "a just as testing, adrenaline-fueled roguelite shooter" and noted that "if Returnal was Housemarque's coming out party for the magic it can muster with a AAA-scale shooter, then Saros is just plain showing off." The Guardian reported that Saros is "a punishing game, but not insurmountable, and there's something delicious about heading back to earlier areas when you're all souped up and can mow down everything you find." The Guardian also described the action as "pure panic and instinct," calling it "brilliant."
Several details about Saros remain unknown. The exact release date has not been announced. Specific gameplay mechanics that differentiate Saros from Returnal beyond the sun and story emphasis have not been fully detailed. The full extent of the upgrade system and how it affects replayability is also unclear. Additionally, it is not known whether Saros includes any multiplayer or cooperative elements.
If Returnal was Housemarque's coming out party for the magic it can muster with a AAA-scale shooter, then Saros is just plain showing off.
Saros is a punishing game, but not insurmountable, and there’s something delicious about heading back to earlier areas when you’re all souped up and can mow down everything you find.
This kind of action is sometimes described as a bullet ballet, but ballet is graceful and purposeful, and this is pure panic and instinct. It’s more like bullet-crossing-the-motorway-in-your-pyjamas, or laser-beam hopscotch. It’s brilliant.