Eternal Return

Eternal Return is a challenging game with deliberate combat, an oppressive atmosphere and fragmentary storytelling. You begin with 1 health and 1 stamina, then explore a dangerous world to build both, along with a small arsenal of weapons.

Combat

Combat depends on stamina, precision and timing rather than rapid attacks. You can wield 3 primary and 3 secondary weapons, each with distinct advantages. Attacks such as a greatsword swing take time, and a mistimed move leaves you vulnerable. With no air controls, positioning is central to fights.

Defeating foes earns points that you can spend to use ranged weapons. When you die, you can return to your corpse to recover your points or leave them behind.

The castle

The castle has a looping layout, with progress built around discovering shortcuts, finding keys to unlock doors and using an in-world fast-travel network. There is only one central checkpoint. Environmental clues, cryptic messages on scrolls and conversations with nine tormented NPCs help you work out where to go.

Levels and secrets

The game includes 20 levels, 13 bosses and more than 50 enemy types, described as reflections of past sins. Hidden areas and challenges offer further discoveries, and scattered phonograph records reveal the game’s soundtracks. The world also contains barrels and jars to smash, and a grim 64-color palette that evokes a fading, decaying world.