Shadowrun Returns

Shadowrun Returns is a turn-based single-player RPG by Harebrained Schemes. It is set in 2054 in Seattle, where magic and cyberpunk technology exist side by side. The main character takes on risky jobs as a shadowrunner and is drawn into a conflict with powerful corporations while searching for a murderer.

Instead of frantic real-time combat, the game focuses on planned turns, conversations, party composition and developing your own abilities.

Shadowrun Returns was released for PC on July 25, 2013. The tablet versions for iOS and Android followed on September 26, 2013. On June 21, 2022, the RPG was released together with its two sequels for Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.

The console versions received adjusted controller support, improved graphics and technical adjustments. Shadowrun Returns remains the first of the three adventures.

Shadowrun Returns has been released for Windows, macOS and Linux on PC, as well as for PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S. There were also standalone tablet apps for iOS and Android.

The original mobile versions are no longer regularly offered in the app stores. On consoles, Shadowrun Returns is also part of the Shadowrun Trilogy, which also includes Dragonfall and Hong Kong. A collection of three games is not the same as an expanded edition of the first part.

In battles you control a small group on a tactical battlefield. Cover, position, range and the right order of actions decide whether an encounter succeeds. Firearms, melee and magic offer different ways to reach the goal.

A team can, for example, push enemies out of cover, attack with spells or use technical options. The calm turn order leaves time to weigh risks and combine the abilities of the companions.

The original Dragonfall campaign was first released in 2014 as an expansion for Shadowrun Returns. It was later published as a standalone game under the name Shadowrun: Dragonfall – Director’s Cut. Shadowrun: Hong Kong is another standalone role-playing game in the same series.

The Deluxe upgrade for Shadowrun Returns includes a soundtrack and an illustrated collection of short stories. These extras do not add a second full campaign to the base game.

Shadowrun Returns requires, according to Steam, at least an x86-compatible processor at 1.4 GHz, 2 GB RAM, a DirectX-compatible graphics card with 256 MB of addressable memory and 2 GB of free hard drive space.

The Windows versions originally listed date from 2013. The current Steam client requires Windows 10 or newer. Older macOS versions have additional compatibility limits, especially for 32-bit software.

In Seattle, the trail of a murder case leads from ordinary streets and run-down districts up to the power centers of the megacorporations. The city is shaped by social inequality, networked implants and a revived magic.

Humans, elves, orcs, dwarves and trolls live in the same world. Conversations with different characters, jobs and decisions drive the investigation forward.

Shadowrun Returns has an open-class skill system. At the start you can follow archetypes, but later you can acquire abilities from other paths. Street Samurai rely on weapons and cyberware, while Mages and Shamans rely on spells and summoned forces.

Deckers access computer systems, while Riggers control drones. This means not only combat skills differ, but also the tasks a group member can take on during a mission.

Magical attacks and technical enhancements are available as two different tools. Spells and summonings help in combat, while implants can enhance physical abilities.

This mix also shapes the world outside combat: corporations invest in modern technology, while supernatural forces fundamentally change everyday life in Seattle.

The main character does not always take on dangerous jobs alone. Other runners bring specialties that can be used for attacks, defense or technical tasks.

A balanced group makes it possible to fight enemies from different directions. It is especially important that the chosen skills suit the mission.

The PC version includes a level editor and supports Steam Workshop. This lets you use additional adventures and player-made game content.

The original tablet versions offered no comparable direct access to the PC editor and its Workshop content. If you want to create your own campaigns, the PC version is the better choice.

Shadowrun Trilogy combines Shadowrun Returns, Shadowrun: Dragonfall – Director’s Cut and Shadowrun: Hong Kong – Extended Edition. The collection was released on June 21, 2022 for the five console platforms Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.

The individual adventures tell their own stories. Those who start with Returns learn the combat system and the mix of fantasy and cyberpunk through the investigations in Seattle.

The PC version supports German on-screen text. Steam also lists English, French, Italian, Spanish and Russian. Dialogue is mostly delivered as text with illustrated character portraits.

The isometric presentation combines three-dimensional characters with hand-painted environments. This keeps the tactical grids easy to read, while the locations keep their own style.

Is Shadowrun Returns a multiplayer game? No. The campaign is designed for one player.

Can I start with Shadowrun Returns? Yes. The story in Seattle is the entry point into the three-part role-playing series from Harebrained Schemes.

Is Shadowrun Trilogy the same game? No. The collection contains three standalone role-playing games, including Shadowrun Returns.

Are there German texts? Yes, the PC version includes German on-screen text.