Risk of Rain Returns: A Nostalgic Journey Back to 2D

Game Review

(Image credit: Gearbox Publishing)

The gameplay of Risk of Rain Returns remains true to its roguelike roots, offering a satisfying blend of exploration and combat. Players must navigate through hostile environments, amassing a collection of power-ups that synergize to create chaotic on-screen action.

• Time-based difficulty increase adds a strategic layer to gameplay.
• Balance exploration and swift progress to avoid overwhelming enemy forces.
• Experience a familiar yet fresh take on the series’ classic mechanics.

Graphically, the game has received a noticeable upgrade with crisper visuals and larger sprites, making it easier to discern the action during intense battles. The absence of frame drops, even on modest systems, marks a significant improvement over the original.

The soundtrack, a standout feature of the series, has been masterfully remastered. Chris Christodoulou’s music, now remixed with new collaborators, continues to set the atmospheric tone for the game’s trippy universe.

Multiplayer and Characters

The multiplayer component of Risk of Rain Returns has been completely overhauled, offering a smooth and seamless online experience. This is a significant step up from the original game, where online play was nearly inoperable. Now, players can enjoy the game with friends, which is arguably the best way to experience the game for veterans.

Playable characters in Risk of Rain Returns are genuinely distinct, each offering a unique playstyle. For example, the agile Huntress provides a stark contrast to the tanky Enforcer, making it feel almost like playing a different game.

• The Pilot, a highly-mobile combatant that can aim diagonally.
• The Drifter, who generates temporary items using scrap from fallen foes.

With a roster that has expanded to 15 characters, players will find immense fun in exploring new playstyles and seeing how some characters from Risk of Rain 2 adapt to the 2D environment.

New Additions and Challenges

Risk of Rain Returns introduces several new features and enhancements that enrich the gameplay experience. Among these are quality-of-life improvements, new items, enemies, and unlockable alternate skills that inject further variety into the game.

One of the most significant new features is the Providence Trials, character-specific challenges that serve as both skill tutorials and engaging mini-games. These trials are designed to test players’ mastery of individual characters and their unique abilities.

• Specimen Sampling: Navigate slithering blobs across a lava-filled cavern.
• Caustic Climb: Bounce on acid spheres in a Bubble Bobble-esque challenge.
• Piercing Space and Time: Use teleportation arrows to traverse a vertical labyrinth.

These additions, along with an expanded achievement list, offer players new incentives and ways to enjoy the game.

(Image credit: Gearbox Publishing)