When looking at trailers and ads for Returnal, it may be difficult at first to tell whether or not it is an open world game. There's talk of multiple biomes, branching paths, and a great deal of freedom of movement that all might point towards it being open world, but the truth is that the game is about as linear as they come. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, however, and fans of the roguelite genre as a whole will understand why. Each time the player starts a new cycle, the entire world rearranges itself, providing a new experience for players.
Returnal sees players braving the horrors of Atropos death after death, and it's true that there are a lot of options when doing so. To say that it is open world in the traditional sense is simply not true, however, as each room is a self contained experience and the biomes are only connected by portals the player can unlock.
Part of why Returnal may seem like an open world game at a glance is its incredible level design. When traversing through the game's first biome, the overgrown ruin, players likely won't realize that they are on a linear path at first. Each room connects to the others in a natural way, and players will rarely feel like they are hitting invisible barriers because the level's bounds are very organic. There are also various branching paths that players can take to get to the end, so although they can all eventually be explored completely, it feels as though the player has a lot of options.
After players defeat Phrike, the first boss of Returnal, they then gain access to the Crimson Wastes. This sprawling desert takes the open world vibes and turns them up to 11, but it does come with a drawback. Now that each room isn't clearly defined with walls or overgrown trees, players are free to wander far away from the game area. Doing so triggers a sandstorm to block the player from straying too far off the path. This is the most railroading that Returnal does, however.
While it may not be a true open world experience, Returnal does offer an endless array of possibilities for players to explore. Its procedurally generated biomes will feel alien every time the player progresses through them while at the same time having hints of familiarity to tie everything together.
Returnal is available now on PS5.