Housemarque built its reputation on punishing, high-octane action, and if early coverage is anything to go by, Saros is set to continue that legacy in style. Eurogamer's review positions the game alongside some of the most celebrated action titles of the current generation, name-dropping Sekiro, Doom Eternal, and Returnal as benchmarks for the kind of white-knuckle intensity Saros apparently delivers.
According to Eurogamer, the telltale sign of a great action game is that post-encounter feeling - hands shaking, controller damp with sweat, and a genuine sense of disbelief that you made it through. That's the bar Housemarque set with Returnal, which became one of the PS5's most talked-about exclusives thanks to its brutal bullet-hell roguelite loops and cinematic tension.
Raising the stakes after Returnal
Following up Returnal was never going to be easy. That game arrived as a PS5 launch window title and carved out a devoted fanbase despite its steep difficulty curve. Saros appears to be Housemarque doubling down on what made Returnal special rather than chasing a wider audience with accessibility compromises - a gutsy call that looks like it's paying off based on Eurogamer's framing.
The comparison to Sekiro is particularly telling. FromSoftware's samurai action game is widely regarded as one of the most mechanically demanding and rewarding games ever made, so placing Saros in that conversation is high praise. Doom Eternal, meanwhile, set a different kind of benchmark - relentless, rhythmic combat that rewarded aggression and mastery over self-preservation.
What to expect
Saros is shaping up to be one of the more demanding action experiences in recent memory, clearly not designed for players looking for a breezy ride. If Housemarque's track record holds, the difficulty will be the point - a system that respects the player enough to make them earn every victory.
With Returnal having already proven the studio can operate at the highest level, anticipation around Saros has been building steadily. Based on what Eurogamer is describing, it sounds like Housemarque hasn't lost a step. Full coverage is available over at Eurogamer.
