Returnal: Exploration Returnal guide, walkthrough

Last update: 05 May 2021

This page of the guide contains all the relevant information about exploring the ever-changing world of Returnal.

The Atropos planet in Returnal keeps surprising with the configurations of original locations, terrain, hidden rooms, as well as unique enemies who inhabit each of the 6 biomes available in the game.

• Adaptive worlds
• Fast travel
• Shortcuts
• Inaccessible places
• Hidden rooms
• Traps

Adaptive worlds

Every time Selene dies, the world of Returnal changes. Not only the map will change, but also the number of enemies and the places where they will appear, which enforces extremely fast adaptation and making right decisions.

The ever-changing world of Returnal guarantees the uniqueness of each playthrough as well as provides new items and allows you to use other technologies that can permanently improve or change Selene's skills.

Fast travel

The map of each biome of Atropos is really expansive, but teleportation using translocators makes it much easier to move between the locations you've already visited.

Shortcuts

Each time you quit Returnal or you die, Selene begins another cycle and crashes in the first biome of Atropos. Constant wander through all available locations to get to the next bosses would be a terrible burden, so the game has included various shortcuts that will allow you, for example, to move faster to locations with a boss or go immediately from the 1. to the 3. biome.

Inaccessible places

Not all biome areas will be available from the very beginning, so don't worry if you can't destroy red vines or jump onto high shelves once you start your playthrough. You'll be able to do this later on.

Hidden rooms

While exploring, you should have a solid look-around, so as not to miss hidden locations. Underground vaults are marked with characteristic yellow marker (see image above). When you stand in this area, the rock slab will collapse under the weight of Selene and the heroine will fall to the lower level of the location.

Traps

Some areas of Atropos are filled with all kinds of traps. For example, you may encounter laser obstacles or corridors with deadly red ground on your way. These areas, however, cannot be accessed at the beginning of the game.