I played and beat Returnal while recovering from the Omicron variant of COVID-19. It was the most oppressive experience I've had with a video game.

Returnal is intense. Returnal is bleak. Returnal is beautiful. Returnal is heart-breaking. Returnal is anxiety-inducing. Returnal is exhilarating.

Selene is, hands down, the best playing character in all of 2021. Selene is unstoppable.

Returnal is one of the few 2021 video games that truly made me feel things.

And even long past getting the Act 3 ending, I'm still playing Returnal.

Returnal will not let me go.