Returnal is the newest game in the long line of roguelikes that have graced gaming consoles over the years. This fresh take on the style puts players in control of Selene after she crashlands on the planet Atropos. Selene must piece her memories back together as she travels through an ancient alien civilization.

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Many people might be turned off by the idea of a rogue-like game, but knowing a thing or two will give players the edge they need to survive. At the very least, help them make it a little farther.

Updated February 18, 2022 by Jason Van Duine: As one of the top exclusive games on the PS5 and of the year, Returnal will undoubtedly continue to attract new players as time goes on. New players facing the deadly cycle may find the game's roguelike formula frustrating at times. Selene's journey on Atropos is certainly no walk in the park. From utilizing enemy abilities to discovering hidden gems in the environment, players looking to beat Returnal have a lot to take advantage of. Hopefully, these helpful tips and tricks about the game's systems and secrets will definitely help players reach the end of this science-fiction adventure with ease.

10 Carry An Astronaut Figure When Available

Keep an astronaut figure to use for survival in Returnal

Early on in the game, players will come across a 20th-century house. After finally finding the key to the home and progressing through it, players will be greeted by an astronaut when they peer out the window. Going outside the home to where the astronaut was standing will grant players the Astronaut Figurine item.

This item might not seem to do much right away, but it can prove to be vital for Selene's survival on Atropos. As players may find themselves dying a lot in Returnal, the Astronaut Figurine is useful since it brings players back to life when they die. This will help to improve runs and allow players to survive a hard boss fight. The first one is given when someone goes through the house, but more can be purchased from a fabricator in exchange for Obolites.

9 Use Tentacles To Reach New Heights

Vines and tentacles hang down in the forest in Returnal to lift up players

When traversing the Overgrown ruins area of the game, players will find tentacles hanging down from the above environment. These tentacles may seem like a nuisance, and they can be. They will grab players as they are trying to dodge enemy attacks. In order to avoid taking damage, players should dash to escape.

However, these tentacles don't always have to be a nuisance. Once enemies have been dealt with, players can use these tentacles to reach areas that would otherwise be inaccessible. First, players should allow themselves to be picked up by the tentacles. When close enough to a platform, players can dash to escape the tentacles. These platforms often reward players with essential items or powerful upgrades.

8 Get Gates Open Instead Of Ignoring Them

Get gates open by shooting the yellow dot in Returnal

Not long into their playthrough, players are likely to come across a gate with a chest locked away behind them. Ignoring these gates to continue with the gameplay might be easier, but taking the time to unlock these chests might prove beneficial in the long run. It is easy to forget that Returnal tells players exactly how to get around these gates and reap the rewards locked away behind them.

Check out the nearby environment. In the area around the gate, most likely out of sight, will be a yellow light. This may be situated on one of the pillars, as well as some of the statues or even possibly the door itself. Some are easy, while others can be a challenge to find. Regardless, shooting this yellow light will unlock the gate and allow the player to get the reward that's locked away. Rewards range from consumables to new weapons and gear.

7 Get Used To Alt-Fire Mode

Get used to Alt-Fire mode in Returnal with some practice

Thanks to the PS5's adaptive triggers, game developers can do some interesting things with combat that may have previously been impossible. Returnal uses this feature for the all-important alt-fire mode for the various weapons. Alt-fire can be essential for surviving through Returnal, with powerful effects and projectiles that can't be offered from traditional firing. Because of this, players should start off the game by getting used to the adaptive trigger function.

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Holding the left trigger down halfway will allow the player to look down a weapon's sight. Holding it completely down will activate the alt-fire mode. This can be awkward at first, and players might not want to accidentally activate the alt-fire mode in a time they don't need it. If necessary, the controller can be remapped in the game's options. However, this is a feature that players should definitely check out, since utilizing the powerful effects offered by alt-fire can mean the difference between life and death on Atropos.

6 Understand Enemy Attacks

Understand enemy attacks in Returnal

There are a lot of different enemies in Returnal. Some shoot in waves, some shoot lasers, and some even shoot bombs that cause Selene to slow down. It is wise to understand the enemy and not go running in blind. The latter will only result in the player getting killed. Instead, players should take the time to figure out what enemy they're facing and what kinds of attacks they should expect in the oncoming battle.

Rather than going in guns blazing, players should give enemies the chance to attack once or twice so they can understand what kind of shots they will be dealing with. Many enemies, especially bosses, will attack with specific patterns. Some enemies even reappear with different attack methods. Turrets start off by shooting clusters but eventually change to shoot in a rapid-fire method. While getting straight to combat might be tempting, stopping for a moment to figure out the best strategy to defeat an enemy can be far more effective.

5 Make Use Of Fabricators And Reconstructors

Reconstructors bring players back to life in Returnal

Fabricators and Reconstructors can be found periodically throughout the game, and they often can be real lifesavers. First off, Reconstructors are machines with a humanoid shape carved into them. These might seem scary, but fear not, for they actually can be very helpful for the player. These machines can be used to get a respawn in the event that the player dies, which will happen quite often in Returnal. This, of course, comes at the cost of a few Ether, but it is more than worth it to not have to restart at the ship.

Fabricators act as a shop of sorts on Atropos, allowing the player to sell important items. This will help get the player further in their current run, while also getting rid of items they may no longer need. Fabricators can also provide higher stats and new abilities for the player, usually at the cost of some Obolites.

4 Listen To The Robot

Selene's suit's robot can detect secrets in Returnal

If players are looking for some extra secrets hidden on Atropos, Selene's suit will become their best friend. Selene's suit comes equipped with a handy robot that beeps whenever a secret is nearby in the environment. These secrets can be many things but will mainly be hidden chests and walls. Search the area whenever this little buddy beeps to find new items or weapons that will help further the current run.

Secret walls stand out from the rest of the environment. These walls appear decayed slightly with many crevices. Keep on the lookout for anything that appears out of place with the rest of the planet. While it may take some time, also don't be afraid to explore the environment a little bit. With enough investigating, these secrets will make themselves clear in no time.

3 Don't Pick Up Items Without Reading Them

Make sure to read items first in Returnal

It's easy for players to mindlessly pick up everything the game offers, since the assumption is that nothing will have drawbacks. This, unfortunately, isn't the case with Returnal. Every item has a description whether it is a weapon, consumable, or artifact. It is important to know if a weapon that's being picked up is actually better than the currently equipped one. More importantly, it is important to know the effects of a malignant item.

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Malignant items are ones that give a benefit to Selene while also giving a chance of malfunctions. If an item describes its negative, examine whether it is worse than the benefit provided. Picking up these items without reading them can lead to some horrible side effects that players don't want to live with.

2 Remember Where Obolites Are

Obolites are an important resource in Returnal

Obolites are the main source of income in Returnal. They are used to purchase useful items from the Fabricator, so players will want to stock up on as much as they can. Fortunately, this valuable resource can be acquired in multiple ways. Killing enemies is a good way to start but players will only get a small amount at a time from them.

Taking time to explore Atropos rather than running to the next objective can also earn players some extra Obolites. Apart from enemies, Obolites can also be found in various side rooms, chests, and yellow rocks that are sprinkled across the environment. There are also yellow glowing creatures that give a lot of Obolites at one time. Players should try to pick them off quickly because otherwise, they will disappear.

1 Be Aware Of Your Surroundings

Watch Your surroundings in Returnal

Atropos is a valuable but dangerous place. It is important for players to keep track of where everything is located and the effects they have. Water on Atropos is deadly and should be avoided at all costs. Long falls will also kill Selene. Though players should be on the lookout for purple egg sacs; they will drop items and Obolites.

Some items will be important but can't be grabbed at a certain time. Keep track of those items and Selene can return to get them later on. Remember where the Reconstructor and Fabricator are for future use. Finally, remember where hard-to-reach chests are located. Later on, a player may get an item that allows them to reach the chest.

Returnal is currently available on the PS5.

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