Summary
Besides its upcoming Dark Horse graphic novel adaptation, Housemarque’sReturnaldoesn’t seem to be an IP Sony is pulling from its shelf any time soon.Returnalwas highly popular at launch and, like Supergiant’sHades, helped redefine roguelikes as a vessel for intimate character-driven storytelling. Still, there’s no telling if it’ll ever have a sequel or spin-off to continue its legacy.
Returnal’s story was incredibly tight-knit and inseparable from protagonist Selene, so a direct sequel or prequel seems unlikely if not narratively improbable. There are many waysReturnal’s gameplay could be expanded on, but its story would need to take a considerable detour if it wasn’t going to continue harping on Selene’s trauma and grief somehow. In this case, no franchise has been more in tune with characters’ grief and trauma thanSilent Hill, andfutureReturnalinstallmentscould surely draw inspiration from how the psychological horror franchise has gone about its consecutive games’ loose continuity.
Silent Hill’s Bleak, Traumatic Tone is Prevalent in Returnal
Silent Hillis more or less a loose anthologywith fewer explicit narrative connections between installments besidesSilent HillandSilent Hill 3. This wasn’t the only reason it was successful, but it was certainly a boon when it came to portraying different characters within the same world who aren’t connected in any way aside from being under the same Silent Hill banner.
The town invites applicable characters and dwells on their psychological issues, essentially warping the town and its grisly inhabitants into reflections of the character’s psyche. Characters can interact with one another there, and yetSilent Hillseems most profound when each entry tells a distilled story centering on one protagonist, such asJames Sunderland inSilent Hill 2.
This isn’t much different from Selene’s experience on Atropos, where the cyclical cosmic horror she endures is tailored specifically to her subconscious.Returnal’s gameplay couldn’t be more different than aSilent Hillgame, but it’s undeniable that its storytelling and atmosphere evoke a similar sense of dread and introspection asSilent Hilldoes.
Returnalalso has the same sort of convoluted storytelling approach asSilent Hill; the unreliable narrator being the protagonist players view Silent Hill through, and with many interpretations about what certain enemies or creatures could represent for that character.
Returnal Can Be an Anthology Series Like Silent Hill
IfReturnalever resurfaces with a sequel and not merely aDark Horse comic book adaptation, it could behave in the same way and expand on the deep-space psychological science-fiction it’s established by depicting a new character whose personal life and trauma could tether them to Atropos like characters become tethered to the titular Silent Hill, if not some other planet or cosmic prison.
All Housemarque would need to justify is that another astronaut or explorer stumbled upon another planet and all of its new biomes, depictions, and allusions could be adapted to a new character’s story. LikeSilent Hill,Returnalcould continue to unravel new protagonists’ narratives as players progress with thecore loop of science-fiction roguelike bullet hell gameplaynever becoming stale.
Roguelikes aren’t as niche as they were back whenReturnaloriginally launched and yet it pioneered roguelikes’ popularity in mainstream gaming; therefore, a secondReturnalwould be a wonderful surprise and if it took aSilent Hill-esque anthology approach it could get a ton of mileage out of its immersive gameplay. This might be the only feasible way forReturnalto go on, anyway, since its narrative pigeonholes itself otherwise—only time will tell ifReturnalis an IP Sony wants to recycle or not.
Returnal
WHERE TO PLAY
Break the cycle of chaos on an always-changing alien planet. After crash-landing on this shape-shifting world, Selene must search through the barren landscape of an ancient civilization for her escape. Isolated and alone, she finds herself fighting tooth and nail for survival. Again and again, she’s defeated – forced to restart her journey every time she dies.Through relentless roguelike gameplay, you’ll discover that just as the planet changes with every cycle, so do the items at your disposal. Every loop offers new combinations, forcing you to push your boundaries and approach combat with a different strategy each time.Brought to life by stunning visual effects, the dark beauty of the decaying world around you is packed with explosive surprises. From high stakes, bullet hell-fueled combat, to visceral twists and turns through stark and contrasting environments. You’ll explore, discover and fight your way through an unforgiving journey, where mystery stalks your every move.Designed for extreme replayability, the procedural world of Returnal invites you to dust yourself off in the face of defeat and take on new, evolving challenges with every rebirth.
