Does Housemarque's Returnal feature New Game Plus options?


It's safe to say that there are quite a few good PlayStation exclusives already out on the PlayStation 5. Housemarque's Returnal is leading the charge at the moment, with critics praising almost every aspect of the title.

As a game, it's taken the "Groundhog Day" theme to the next level and this idea of escaping an endless time loop has led to a lot of people wondering if it has a New Game Plus.

Housemarque's Returnal is a narrative-heavy roguelike and we have something that might help you figure things out ahead of finishing the game.

Does Returnal Have New Game Plus?

To put it plainly, no. There isn't a New Game Plus mode in Returnal.

However, this is because Returnal doesn't really ever end. It does have a definitive narrative, though, so this is your spoiler warning.

When you get through the six different biomes, killing the boss in each one, you'll "finish" the game. However, rather than stopping there, the game will actually throw you back into the start of the game.

It seems that you can't quite escape that Endless Loop.

It Does Have Similar Features Though

Just because Returnal doesn't feature an official New Game Plus, doesn't mean you can't play through it again. In fact, its roguelike nature does mean it offers an experience similar to New Game Plus.

When you restart, following a successful run through Returnal, you get to keep your unlocked weapons and all the Ether you've collected. All the gear you need to progress is still there too.

However, that's it. Everything else is reset and you'll need to play through it again (just like if you died!)

From what we can understand, it's essentially a New Game Plus mode without the name. The cyclical nature of Returnal lends itself well to replayability and the fact that it throws you back in once you "finish" fits perfectly with the narrative and the themes in play throughout.

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