Saros Overview & Gameplay Guide

Short intro

SAROS is Housemarque’s upcoming sci-fi action game for PlayStation 5, blending intense third-person shooting with bullet-hell energy and roguelike structure. Set on the eerie planet Carcosa under a deadly eclipse, you play as Arjun Devraj, a Soltari Enforcer who will stop at nothing to find the person he’s hunting. Unlike Housemarque’s previous roguelike style, SAROS emphasizes permanent progression, letting you carry upgrades forward between runs.

Story overview

SAROS centers on the mystery of a lost off-world colony and the forces controlling Carcosa’s ominous eclipse. As Arjun pushes deeper into the planet’s ruins, the story unfolds through discovery—revealing what happened to the colony and why Arjun’s mission is personal. Expect a character-driven sci-fi mystery vibe, with the world’s secrets and Arjun’s pursuit gradually colliding.

Gameplay Mechanics (SAROS)

SAROS is a fast, intense third-person action shooter from Housemarque (Returnal) that blends bullet-hell patterns, tight movement, and a roguelike-style run loop—but with a key twist: more permanent progression so each run can push your character forward in lasting ways.

Run-Based Structure with Permanent Progression

Like a roguelike, you’ll die and restart, but SAROS leans into persistent upgrades—using resources to unlock permanent buffs, loadout improvements, and suit enhancements that carry into future attempts. It’s designed to give you more “agency” over your growth, not just pure RNG.

Bullet-Hell Pressure in Third Person

Combat mixes traditional shooting with dense projectile patterns and fast enemy aggression. Success is about reading patterns, repositioning cleanly, and keeping your offense stable while the screen gets increasingly hostile.

Soltari Shield: Defense That Feeds Offense

A signature tool is the Soltari Shield, which can block attacks and absorb projectile energy. That absorbed energy can then be converted into offensive output—turning defense into a resource you actively manage, not just a panic button.

Eclipse System: Dynamic World and Combat Modifiers

The ominous eclipse isn’t just story flavor. It can corrupt/alter weapons, artifacts, and even biome behavior, changing how areas play and adding extra danger or properties during encounters (for example, environmental hazards shifting under eclipse conditions).

Store: [Playstation]