Excluded PS5 highly anticipated, Saros has just reached a symbolic milestone: the international press has already established it as a serious contender for the title of game of the year 2026. For the Finnish studio Housemarqueknown for his taste for bullet hell and roguelite, it’s a new splash after Returnal.
Continuing this demanding science fiction formula, but with a more accessible and more narrative approach, Saros makes numbers and superlatives speak. The first 2026 rankings already place him at the top, to the point that the question is no longer whether he is good, but whether he can really go for a GOTY trophy.
Saros GOTY 2026: Metacritic scores that match the buzz?
At the time of writing, the version PS5 of Saros displays a score of 88/100 on Metacriticbased on 86 tests. Above all, around 95% of these reviews are positive, none are classified as negative, which remains rare for an AAA.
To measure the progress of Housemarquejust look Returnalstuck at 86/100 on the same site. Two more points may seem anecdotal, but at this level of notoriety, it is often what makes the difference when the end of year reviews come.
On OpenCriticsame flattering observation: Saros averages around 91, with around 95% “Critics Recommend”. These aggregators compile the ratings from the world press to produce a weighted average, which has become a key indicator in discussions around the game of the year.
As a result, the game is already just behind Resident Evil Requiem And Pokémon Pokopiaand at the level of Mewgenicsamong the highest rated titles of 2026.
Why does Saros do better than Returnal in the eyes of the press?
The previews and tests converge: after a few hours of getting started, GamesRadar speaks of a title “already a GOTY contender”. For its part, Insider Gaming believes that Saros is “well and truly a GOTY contender, sure to be nominated for multiple categories at The Game Awards 2026”.
On the gameplay side, the roguelite loop remains nervous and demanding, but the structure has been refined. Persistent progression between runs, central hub with NPCs, adjustable difficulty via modes like Eclipse: everything is designed to maintain tension without discouraging players. Returnal had left on the floor.
Critics also praise the artistic direction and the narration, carried by the protagonist Arjun Devraj on the planet Carcosa, in a SF atmosphere tinged with cosmic horror. This fusion of staging and gameplay weighs heavily when it comes to deciding between the candidates for The Game Awards.
Saros GOTY 2026: PS5 release, target audience and chances at the Game Awards?
Saros is available exclusively since April 30, 2026 PS5under the leadership of Sony Interactive Entertainment. Several French-speaking media and communities like WeArePlayStation are already relaying the idea of a “must-play” for console owners, or even a new system seller.
Facing it, the 2026 competition is solid with Resident Evil Requiem, Pokémon Pokopia, Mewgenicsand behemoths still to come like GTA 6. The GOTY season is far from over, but current signals clearly place Saros in the leading pack.
For gamers PS5 French, the message is clear: if you liked the proposal of Returnal or if it intrigued you without daring to take the plunge, Saros is already establishing itself as one of the major events of 2026, and a very serious candidate for the throne of game of the year.