Saros: The Big Preview – Hands-on and developer access with PS5's roguelike game-changer

I love PlayStation’s games, but in a portfolio dominated by cinematic adventures there’s something refreshing about Saros being staunchly “gameplay first”. That’s how Housemarque introduces me to its Returnal spiritual successor after I’m ushered into a cinema-room and blasted with some of the prettiest, scariest particle effect bullets I’ve seen in my gaming career. Thee hours later, having devoured the game’s opening for myself, I’m blown away. Oozing confidence, Saros is so far one of the best PS5 games yet, and a first-party triumph. It feels poised to stick the landing.

Described to me as a “a dream project by a dream team”, Housemarque has made it clear to me that Saros wouldn’t exist without the Finnish studio’s 30-year history behind it, of iterating, tinkering, and honing its devotion to twitchy action. Which doesn’t mean there’s no narrative to speak of. Lead character Arjun Devraj is played by Rahul Kohli, so there’s star power there. But, helping it stand out from the other PS5 games I love, the story is “like an onion”, layered, and up to the player to peel back if they so wish. Otherwise, you can jump back in for roguelike run after run.