Risk of Rain Returns
Release date: November 8, 2023
Risk of Rain Returns is a faithful remaster of the cult roguelike known for wild loot combos, sharp difficulty, and pixel charm. The re-release mixes the classic 2D design with ideas from Risk of Rain 2 and new content. You’ll find two new Survivors (including the scrappy Drifter), improved multiplayer, and quality-of-life upgrades. If you grew up chasing arcade credits or haggling over cartridge boxes, Returns has that same retro bite — modernized yet still eager to punish pride.
What the game is — high level
The loop remains simple but fierce: land on Petrichor V, cut down evolving swarms, grab bizarre items, and escape before the timer drowns you in enemies. This version includes 15 Survivors (two brand new), a mix of old and new items, more than ten Artifacts, and both online and couch co-op for up to four players. Favorites like Chef, Enforcer, Loader, and Acrid return with fresh kits, while newcomers like the Drifter bring tactical variety.
Story & Setting
Returns avoids a sweeping story. Instead, it leans on atmosphere and mystery. Petrichor V feels like a wrecked zoo of creatures and relics, hinting at lost design and past disaster. Story beats hide in the environment, monster types, and rare collectibles. It’s survival first, narrative second. If you want Hades-style character arcs, you’ll find it thin. But if you enjoy emergent tales shaped by improvisation and failure, it’s excellent.
Gameplay Mechanics
- Core loop: Fast runs, rising difficulty, and reliance on item combos. Short, vicious playthroughs.
- Survivors: 15 characters filling tank, DPS, support, and hybrid roles. The Drifter adds resource-gathering and team buffs.
- Items: The core of the game. Simple boosts mix with wild rares like Brilliant Behemoth to create surprising builds.
- Artifacts: Run modifiers that reshape play, such as random gear or mass spawns.
- Difficulty: Time makes foes tougher. You must decide whether to risk exploring for loot or exit early.
Survivors, Balance, and Progression
Each Survivor feels unique. Loader is still the damage powerhouse. Acrid dominates space control, while Enforcer holds the line. The two new characters expand options, especially the Drifter. Balance holds up, though combos can sometimes trivialize fights while other setups feel weak. That tension has always sparked heated community debate, and this remaster will fuel it further.
Multiplayer & Co-Op
The remaster’s multiplayer is a big draw. Four players can dive in online or on the couch, with services more stable than before. Co-op deepens the loop: splitting duties, sharing loot, and laughing over chaotic synergies. Players highlight this as a strength, though some matchmaking hiccups and early bugs were noted. Developers are patching these.
Visuals & Audio
The pixel art stays intact but looks sharper. Animations are livelier, the HUD is cleaner, and particle effects add punch. It balances nostalgia with readability. The soundtrack and sound effects back the action well. Expect tight, energetic cues rather than sweeping orchestral scores.
Replayability & Content
Artifacts, 15 Survivors, dozens of items, and shifting stages keep replay value high. Runs feel fresh thanks to randomness and team choices. Borrowed content from Risk of Rain 2 adds variety for veterans. Completionists and speedrunners will find long-term challenges in modifiers and unlocks.
How it compares to peers
- Vs. Risk of Rain 2: Returns stays 2D and tactical. RoR2 offers 3D chaos and large boss fights. Pixel-combat fans will lean here; spectacle seekers may prefer RoR2.
- Vs. Hades: Hades wins on story depth and character polish. Returns wins on chaotic synergy and multiplayer fun.
- Vs. Dead Cells / Enter the Gungeon: Those games prize precise control and mastery of one hero. Returns focuses on stacking loot and team strategy.
Community Reception — what the reviews say
As of this preliminary look, community sentiment is broadly positive but with a noticeable dip in recent impressions. Aggregate Steam stats show:
- Recent Reviews: Mostly Positive — 79% of 118 reviews
- All Reviews: Very Positive — 94% of 16,400 reviews
That gap is telling. Historically, Risk of Rain attracted a fiercely loyal fanbase, reflected in the ‘Very Positive’ lifetime rating. The more modest recent score reflects launch-era grumbles from new players and veterans alike: matchmaking hiccups, occasional stability issues, and some balance or QoL expectations not met out of the box. Simultaneously, many reviewers praise the remastering work, the added Survivors (especially The Drifter), and the preservation of the core, addictive loot loop.
Strengths
- Core gameplay loop remains addictive and highly replayable.
- Item synergies and artifacts create emergent, often hilarious run compositions.
- Polished pixel visuals and sharper UI bring the original up to modern standards without losing charm.
- Co-op and couch play are engaging; the Drifter and other new Survivors add meaningful variety.
- Faithful inclusion of fan-favorite Risk of Rain 2 content expands the toybox.
Weaknesses
- Recent user feedback highlights matchmaking and stability issues at launch — not uncommon for remasters but disruptive for co-op-focused play.
- Some balance concerns: the existence of runaway combos can trivialize parts of the game while other builds feel comparatively weak.
- Light on narrative depth; players seeking story-driven roguelikes may find Returns sparse.
- Because it treads a middle ground between the original and Risk of Rain 2, some players may feel certain design choices are inconsistent.
Industry Impact
Risk of Rain Returns shows how to remaster with care. It proves you can modernize a cult hit, add content, and expand its reach without losing its identity. The game also highlights the appetite for roguelikes built on emergent chaos and co-op synergy rather than scripted story.
Final Thoughts
For fans of the original and players who love cooperative, loot-driven roguelikes, Risk of Rain Returns is a recommended play. It balances reverence for the source material with meaningful additions that refresh the experience — The Drifter and updated multiplayer are welcome. Newcomers should be aware of a steep learning curve and some early-launch roughness reported by recent reviewers, but the underlying systems are strong and deeply rewarding.
Retro netherworld scorecard: If Risk of Rain 1 felt like a compact, unforgiving arcade cabinet you had to master, Returns is that cabinet with a new coat of paint, a few extra buttons, and a louder coin-op soundtrack. Expect exhilarating highs, infuriating failures, and a game that rewards curiosity and perseverance.
Recommendation: Pick it up if you relish loot permutations, co-op chaos, and a retro-flavored roguelike loop. Keep an eye on patch notes if you play multiplayer right at launch — community feedback is active and the devs have a history of listening.
