If you have played Contra, then you probably have an idea of what Housemarque games are like, cutting a deep and strong niche for themselves, in constantly redefining the bullet hell genre. Much like their protagonists are stuck in a never-ending time loop, Housemarque themselves keep perfecting their craft, with each iteration, in creating engaging story-driven games that pull together several genres.It stars Rahul Kohli, who one may remember from Mike Flanagan’s Netflix’s horror shows such as The Haunting of Bly Manor, Midnight Mass and more, now playing a Soltari enforcer Arjun Devraj, who, with his team are stuck on planet Carcosa.They are unable to leave because a constant solar eclipse has them reliving one cycle repeatedly, reshaping the world with every eclipse. Now, it is up to you to stop this dark, fiery Groundhog Day-meets-alien hellscape, by unearthing its secrets, while piecing together your memories.Saros leans in on some great storytelling that is well told across each cycle of life and death. Returnal had that same form of narrative momentum woven into the very fabric of the core roguelike gameplay loop. Rahul Kohli brings some heavy hitting acting chops that sell the frustration of his situation, the grim resolution to find someone that he keeps seeing in fragmented memories. The colony of Carcosa is like a fever dream and it is clear that there is something malevolent at the bottom of its destruction. Saros is a blend of run-and-gun action with puzzle-like elements that bullet hells bring with their deadly spread patterns of glowing orbs, with the rinse-repeat-get stronger gameplay of a roguelike. With each death, Arjun regenerates in a pool of liquid, then uses mysterious tech to upgrade his suit, which has a few abilities.You have a bubble shield that not only blocks attacks, but also absorbs certain ones. You have an attack that blends into the shield and you have a power attack, adding small dimensions of strategy to blocking. You can upgrade the suit to improve your health; it shields a bit more than what roguelikes usually allow you to. Each cycle is short, and quite challenging, as you venture out into harsh terrain, opening different receptacles that house new weapons or power upgrades. Arjun’s movement is fluid, with excellent traversal and gunplay. It is not just about shooting, but strategic absorption of orbs that lets you fire your power move and much more. As you keep upgrading your abilities, you unlock more ways to kill.Saros makes a bold move bringing permanent progression into the genre, which means instead of losing your abilities every run, you get to keep them and grow them. Which balances itself out, allowing the levels to lean into becoming a bit harder.So the goal here is to survive through a series of levels on each cycle, kill a boss, and then advance the game. Returnal was built around the same concept as well, but progression seemed a lot faster then. Saros’ cycles seem stretched, with the challenge amped up a lot more, and despite the abundance of permanent upgrades, there is a feeling that you are barely able to get through an area without dying and restarting.SarosPublisher: Sony Interactive EntertainmentDeveloper: HousemarqueePrice: ₹5,199 on PS5While the levels are different with each loop offering more variety, it does get a bit repetitive with what sometimes feels like a godlike level of skill and patience to move things ahead. Hopefully, future patches can help make repetitive runs a bit more easier to push forward. Particle effects look incredible in all Housemarque’s games, and Saros is no slouch — from monstrosities filled with all forms of tentacled horror, to the sparks pulsing in your shield and the staccato of bullets carving arrays towards you. The other side of Saros is the excellent sound design — you feel you are on a hostile planet with technology that seems to bellow at you. Saros is otherworldly in tone and feeling. If you loved Returnal and yearn for a run-and-gun game that would challenge you, then Saros is right up your alley. With a sci-fi arthouse-like story and presentation to its excellent action, Saros offers a lot of replayability, with a bit of repetition, but in the best possible way. A Playstation exclusive, Saros looks the best if you are lucky to have a Playstation 5 Pro, but I found the game immensely enjoyable on a Playstation Portal. Published - April 27, 2026 04:45 pm IST