Best Console Exclusive of 2021
Second Runner-Up: Returnal
Senior Editor, Alex Gibson: The PS5’s launch lineup was decent enough, but the buzz of new hardware demands a game that feels as though it too marks the next step in performance for developer and design. Returnal, from Swedish developer Housemarque –Sony’s latest first-party acquisition–, proved exactly that. It will go down as the arrival of Housemarque on the big stage, and a unique third-person shooting experience that is among the most innovative next-generation gameplay experience so far.
Typical of Housemarque, Returnal places a strong focus on challenging gameplay that feels absolutely brilliant to control. The shooting mechanics are unlike anything else we played this year; more or less a third-person equivalent of Nex Machina, one of the studios’ most acclaimed arcade titles. With the action now on a 3D plane, however, there’s a new element of verticality to dodging the hails of incoming alien firepower, as well as precision required to shoot back with all manner of upgradeable weapons. The boss fights proved some of the trickiest but ultimately rewarding moments of gameplay this year.
Of course, Returnal incorporates more than just gameplay; in a first for Housemarque, it’s also a story-driven, cinematic experience brought to life with terrific acting and cutting-edge visuals. The coming together of these new elements and the studios’ signature gameplay is something Housemarque fans have been yearning to see for years, and by all accounts, we’re expecting plenty more moving forward after the success of Returnal. Bring it on!
