Returnal Hits PS Plus Extra: The PS5 Exclusive You Probably Skipped

The PS5 exclusive you probably skipped just got harder to ignore

Returnal sliding into the PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium Game Catalog is the kind of quiet update that actually matters. Housemarque’s 2021 roguelike shooter was one of the first games that made the PS5 feel “next-gen” in your hands, but its reputation for being punishing (and that launch price tag) scared off a lot of players. With PS Plus removing the cost barrier, there’s no excuse not to give one of Sony’s most daring exclusives a proper shot.

• Housemarque’s arcade DNA meets AAA spectacle-bullet hell, but make it cinematic.
• DualSense support isn’t a gimmick; it’s core to how Returnal plays.
• The Ascension update added online co-op, a suspend feature, and the Tower of Sisyphus mode.
• If you bounced off at launch, the quality-of-life fixes make a huge difference now.

Breaking down the announcement

Returnal is now available to download for PS Plus Extra and Premium members in the Game Catalog. That means no piecemeal DLC, no “trial”-the whole package, including the Ascension content update, is in. Considering Returnal peaked before the new PS Plus tiers existed, this gives the game a second life in front of an audience that’s grown used to trying prestige titles without a checkout screen. Just be aware: Game Catalog entries rotate. If this clicks for you, jump in sooner rather than later.

The real story: arcade roots, AAA execution

Housemarque built its name on laser-precise arcade shooters like Resogun and Nex Machina. Returnal takes that kinetic, pattern-reading chaos and folds it into a third-person roguelike with immaculate feel. It’s all in the details: the micro-vibrations of rain in the DualSense, the way a half-pull of L2 enters aim while a full squeeze unleashes your alt-fire, the satisfying snap of a perfectly timed dash through a lattice of neon projectiles. The Tempest 3D audio sells the space; you’ll learn to locate enemies by sound as much as sight.

Under the hood, the loop is deceptively elegant. Each run teaches you enemy patterns and room layouts. Permanent weapon traits unlock as you use them, so your arsenal literally evolves with you. Risk-reward is the beating heart: parasites grant powerful buffs with nasty trade-offs, malignant chests can curse you with malfunctions unless you cleanse them with rare Ether, and consumables are worth using now-not hoarding for a hypothetical later that might never come.

If you bounced off at launch, try it this way

Returnal launched hard-edged and uncompromising. Since then, Housemarque addressed the biggest pain point: you can now suspend your cycle mid-run and resume later. The Ascension update also added online co-op for the campaign and the Tower of Sisyphus, an endlessly escalating score-chase mode that doubles as a brilliant training ground.

• Start with the Tower of Sisyphus to internalize dash i-frames, melee timing (breaks shields), and alt-fire usage without the fear of wasting a “serious” run.
• In the campaign, prioritize integrity (health) and weapon proficiency; a level-appropriate gun matters more than a favorite model with low proficiency.
• Use your consumables. The astronaut figurine is a run-saver, and reconstructors act as extra lives—don’t pass them up.
• Tune settings: performance mode, higher HUD opacity, and a comfortable trigger resistance curve on DualSense make a tangible difference.
• Co-op isn’t a cheat code, but it smooths the early difficulty spikes and lets you learn boss patterns with less punishment.

What the marketing won’t tell you

Returnal isn’t for everyone—and that’s okay. The story is intentionally opaque, drip-fed through environmental storytelling and fragmented vignettes. RNG can deal you a rough hand, and runs can get long if you’re chasing perfect builds. Co-op occasionally introduces desync weirdness, and there’s still no traditional difficulty slider. But here’s the trade: few games reward mastery as cleanly as Returnal. When it clicks, you stop blaming the build and start reading the arena like a Devil May Cry savant meets bullet-hell veteran. That feeling is rare.

Why this matters now

Returnal on PS Plus isn’t just another catalog filler; it signals Sony’s willingness to put more daring first-party work in front of more players. Housemarque is now a fully acquired PlayStation studio, and Returnal proved their arcade-first craftsmanship scales to blockbuster scope. If you’ve been drowning in safe open worlds and checklist action RPGs, this is the sharp, uncompromising palette cleanser you’ve been missing.

TL;DR

Returnal finally has the audience it deserves on PS Plus Extra/Premium. It’s brutal, beautiful, and brilliantly tuned—an arcade soul in a prestige body. Give it a few runs, use the quality-of-life tools, and let Housemarque’s bullet opera sink its hooks in.