Housemarque has done it again — and then some. Saros, the Finnish studio's follow-up to the critically acclaimed Returnal, has earned an 88 on Metacritic ahead of its April 30 launch, making it Housemarque's highest-rated game of all time.
The roguelite shooter has already been called one of the best PS5 games by multiple outlets, with early Game of the Year conversations heating up just four months into 2026. On OpenCritic, the game sits even higher at 89, with standout scores including a 93 from Game Informer, 9/10 from GameSpot, and a perfect 5/5 from VGC.
More Accessible, Still Demanding
The clearest consensus among reviewers is that Saros is meaningfully more approachable than Returnal without sacrificing the challenge that made that game special. Housemarque introduced a permanent progression system that lets players carry upgrades across runs, smoothing out the punishing difficulty curve that divided opinions on their previous title.
Combat remains the star of the show. The game blends bullet-hell intensity with third-person shooter precision, creating encounters that critics describe as thrilling and diverse. Each run feels distinct thanks to the roguelite structure, and the deeper narrative gives players more motivation to push through challenging sections.
A Stronger Story
Where Returnal told its story through fragmented environmental clues and cryptic cutscenes, Saros takes a more character-driven approach. Critics praise the narrative as more impactful and accessible, with a story that nurtures genuine emotional investment across multiple runs.
The game launches exclusively on PlayStation 5 and PS5 Pro on April 30, 2026. Reports indicate Saros looks particularly stunning on PS5 Pro, with enhanced PSSR upscaling technology pushing the game's signature particle effects to new visual heights.
Housemarque's Winning Streak
With an 88 on Metacritic, Saros now surpasses Returnal's 86 to claim the studio's all-time best review score. It joins Resident Evil Requiem and Pokemon Pokopia as the best-reviewed games of 2026 so far.
Saros confirms what many already suspected: Housemarque is one of the most distinctive studios in Sony's portfolio, capable of evolving a demanding formula while preserving the essence of what made it compelling. For PS5 owners, April 30 just became the most important day on the calendar.