Introduction
If you are searching for saros reviews, the headline is straightforward: Saros reviewed very well, but not quite at the very top of the scale. Housemarque’s PS5-only, third-person roguelike action game is set on Carcosa, where Soltari Enforcer Arjun Devraj searches for a lost colony under an eclipse.
This guide rounds up the aggregate and outlet scores, what critics agreed on, where they split, and what has changed since launch. For other major PS5 releases, you can also read our Ghost of Yotei review and our Resident Evil Requiem review.
Saros Reviews at a Glance
| Fact | Saros reviews detail |
|---|---|
| Developer | Housemarque |
| Publisher | Sony Interactive Entertainment |
| Release date | 30 April 2026 |
| Platforms | PlayStation 5 only, including PS5 Pro |
| Genre | Third-person roguelike action, bullet-hell shooter |
| Main character | Arjun Devraj, a Soltari Enforcer |
| Setting | Carcosa, under a threatening eclipse |
| Metacritic score | 87, Generally Favorable |
| OpenCritic score | 87 Top Critic Average, 92% Critics Recommend |
| Metacritic user score | 7.7, Generally Favorable |
Saros is standalone, not a direct Returnal sequel, although reviewers constantly compare the two.
The Overall Scores: Strong, Not Quite 90
Aggregate scores move slightly as reviews are added, so treat these figures as snapshots, not live totals. At launch, round-ups put Saros at 88 on Metacritic, above Returnal’s 86. Later snapshots show 87 on both Metacritic and OpenCritic: firmly Generally Favorable, but short of 90.
| Aggregator | Score | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Metacritic | 87 | Generally Favorable, from 140 critic reviews: 132 positive, 8 mixed, 0 negative in the snapshot checked |
| OpenCritic | 87 Top Critic Average, 92% Critics Recommend | 92% of critics recommend the game, from 165 critic reviews in the snapshot checked |
| Metacritic user score | 7.7 | Generally Favorable, from player ratings: 70% positive, 14% mixed, 16% negative in the snapshot checked |
Critics were almost unanimous, with no negative critic reviews in the Metacritic snapshot. Players were more divided, at 7.7, which fits a demanding roguelike.
What the Reviews Agree On: Combat First
Almost every review starts in the same place: the combat. Housemarque calls it bullet ballet, and reviewers largely agree. Movement is fast and fluid, dodging and shielding matter, and dense projectile patterns must be read at speed. A shield that absorbs enemy fire to charge a powerful weapon turns defence into attack, and reviewers praised that risk-reward loop.
Reviewers also praised how much more approachable Saros is than Returnal, without becoming easy. Permanent progression is the key change: every death reshapes the world but also offers new upgrades, and currency unlocks nodes on a large skill tree. Runs are shorter, often under 30 minutes, and auto-saving was available from day one. Presentation drew praise too, from Carcosa’s biomes and particle-heavy fights to Tempest 3D audio, DualSense haptics, and Rahul Kohli’s performance as Arjun.
Where the Reviews Split: Story, Structure and Polish
The disagreements are about what surrounds the combat, not the combat itself. The most common criticism is the story: ambitious but uneven, interesting and cinematic, yet not always landing emotionally, and sometimes at odds with a roguelike structure built on repetition. Game Informer, one of the highest scorers, still said it was not as emotionally invested in the narrative as it hoped, even while calling the gameplay an unequivocal joy.
IGN’s 7/10 is the clearest version of that argument: top-tier bullet-hell action, but an ambitious story not always effectively told, and a roguelite structure that does not always balance repetition with progression. Eurogamer, at 4/5, made a similar point more gently: two steps forward, one step back, but action so good it leaves a buzz of excitement.
Polish and performance were the other recurring criticism, especially on base PS5. GameSpot’s 9/10 review still flagged performance issues impossible to ignore in a precision game, and other coverage reported stutter and occasional hard locks on base hardware, with a more stable experience on PS5 Pro. Later reports noted a largely steady 60 frames per second on base PS5, but performance remains the main caveat there.
Saros Reviews by Outlet
| Outlet | Score | Short verdict |
|---|---|---|
| Game Informer | 9.3/10 | Phenomenal, improves on Returnal in almost every way |
| GameSpot | 9/10 | Best-in-class gameplay, held back by polish and performance issues |
| GamesRadar+ | 4/5 | Broadens Returnal’s appeal without sacrificing it |
| Eurogamer | 4/5 | Two steps forward, one step back, but phenomenal action |
| TheGamer | 4/5 | One big adventure revealed piece by piece |
| Tom’s Guide | 4.5/5 | Relentless, exciting, demanding roguelite shooter |
| IGN | 7/10 | Ambitious story not always effectively told, but top-tier action |
| Giant Bomb | 3/5 | Lowest major score, a clear outlier against 87 |
The spread from Giant Bomb’s 3/5 to Game Informer’s 9.3/10 shows Saros divides opinion at the edges, but most major outlets landed at 4/5 or 9/10.
Saros vs Returnal: Easier, But Is It as Special?
Round-ups kept asking: is Saros easier than Returnal, and does that make it less special? The consensus is that Saros is considerably more welcoming, thanks to permanent progression, clearer visuals, colour-coded projectiles, and more defensive options. Some critics worried that sanding down the pain also sanded down some of Returnal’s magic; others said Saros addresses every issue they had with Returnal.
What Has Changed Since Launch: The Zenith Update
Reviews describe the launch game, but Saros has changed since April 2026. The free Zenith update, from 19 October 2026, adds replayability and accessibility without new story content, answering criticisms about endgame content and intimidation for newcomers. Zenith adds Overlord Rush, a boss-rush mode in Passage: Incursion and Ascension each contain three Overlords and take about 10 minutes, while Totality lines up all eight, with leaderboards filterable by main weapon. It also adds Eclipse Layers, a New Game+ mode unlocked after clearing the game, with harder rules and 12 Visions revealing more story text. For newcomers, Slow Game Speed gives more time to read attacks without changing them, plus auto-fire and 20 new Carcosan Modifiers.
UK Price and Verdict: Should You Buy Saros?
Saros launched at £69.99 for the Standard Edition on the PlayStation Store in the UK, with a Digital Deluxe Edition at £79.99 that included three armour sets and 48-hour early access from 28 April 2026. Retail listings have been reported lower, from around £59.99 to £64.99, so treat those as reported prices, not a live quote.
The verdict: if you want one of the best action games on PS5, Saros is an easy recommendation at 87 on Metacritic and 92% recommended on OpenCritic. If story is your top priority, or you play on a base PS5 and are sensitive to performance dips, the lower scores are a fair warning.
Conclusion
Saros reviews paint a consistent picture: a superb action game with a good but not flawless story, a friendlier structure than Returnal, and a few performance caveats on base hardware. The aggregates tell the story: 87 on Metacritic and 87 on OpenCritic, with 92% of critics recommending it. Combat is the reason to buy, story is why some reviewers held back, and Zenith improves the package.
This article is part of Game Horizon‘s ongoing PS5 coverage.
FAQs
What is the Saros Metacritic score?
Saros holds a Metacritic score of 87, Generally Favorable, from 140 critic reviews in the snapshot checked: 132 positive, 8 mixed, 0 negative. At launch, round-ups reported 88, so small movements are normal.
What is the Saros OpenCritic score?
Saros holds an OpenCritic Top Critic Average of 87, with 92% of critics recommending it, from 165 critic reviews in the snapshot checked. Its OpenCritic player rating was reported at 90.
Is Saros better than Returnal?
Most reviewers say Saros improves on Returnal in structure, accessibility and combat depth, while some feel it loses a little of Returnal’s mystery. Saros sits at 87 on Metacritic against Returnal’s 86.
What did Saros reviews criticise most?
An ambitious story that does not always land emotionally, a roguelite structure that can struggle to balance repetition with progression, and performance issues on base PS5. Combat itself was rarely criticised.
Is Saros worth buying in the UK?
For most PS5 players who enjoy demanding action, yes. The Standard Edition launched at £69.99 on the PlayStation Store, with retail listings reported lower, and the free Zenith update adds boss rush, New Game+ and accessibility options. Check the current price before buying.
Has Saros had any major updates since launch?
Yes. The free Zenith update arrived on 19 October 2026, adding Overlord Rush, Eclipse Layers New Game+, Slow Game Speed, auto-fire, 20 new Carcosan Modifiers, new trophies and Photo Mode extras. It adds no new story content and costs nothing extra for existing owners.