"But this indecisiveness is precisely what has held back Saros and is evident in nearly all of its systems. This contradiction is most clearly and consistently felt in its gameplay. While Saros' limited level variety and stagnant bosses are weaknesses that go against the spirit of the genre, its stunted build variety is its most egregious fault. Roguelikes typically thrive on throwing variables at the player--be it a cadre of perks, weapons, or, in Balatro's case, Jokers--and spontaneous inte"
Housemarque declared that arcade-style games had no future and shifted toward new genres after Matterfall’s 2017 release. Returnal emerged from that change, combining Housemarque aesthetics and chaos with a roguelike third-person shooter, becoming a cult success with critical acclaim. Saros, described as a spiritual sequel, moves away from the roguelike focus by paring back roguelike elements to reach a wider audience. Saros still uses cycling levels, randomized weapons, resources, and perks, making it technically roguelike, but it avoids clear genre labeling. The reduced roguelike systems create contradictions, especially in gameplay, where limited level variety, stagnant bosses, and weak build variety undermine the genre’s core appeal.
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