Fair Warning: Housemarque's Saros Is Tapping Into Some Proper Mind-Meltin' Mythos
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
Housemarque's upcoming game *Saros* is shaping up to be more than just a bullet-hell, with strong hints suggesting it's weaving in cosmic horror themes and literary references from Robert W. Chambers' 19th-century classic, *The King in Yellow* – promising a mind-bending narrative akin to *Returnal*.
Right then, gather 'round, mates. Housemarque, the wizards behind the glorious, controller-throwing chaos that was *Returnal*, have been quietly brewing something new called *Saros*. We've had a couple of peeks – one at the Sony State of Play in February 2025 (yeah, I know, future-gazing with me) and then some proper gameplay at the September 2024 State of Play. And if you thought *Returnal* was just a pretty bullet-hell, well, you ain't seen nothing yet. Because *Saros* is looking like it’s bringing a whole new level of brain-bending, existential dread to the party, seemingly pulling inspiration from a 19th-century cosmic horror classic.
Now, anyone who spent a hundred glorious hours dying repeatedly on Atropos knows Housemarque isn't just about the 'pew-pew' – though they do that brilliantly. They weave narrative threads through their frenetic action, creating a compelling, often unsettling, experience. And it seems *Saros* is set to continue that tradition, albeit with a fresh, unsettling flavour. Our protagonist, Arjun Devraj, finds himself stuck in a loop – familiar territory, right? – on a planet named Carcosa. It's got those signature Housemarque tall, alien structures, plenty of glowing nasties trying to turn you into space dust, and a sky painted in eerie yellow sun rays. Oh, and did I mention the giant, multi-limbed humanoid creature wreathed in fire, sporting a golden helmet and hands covering its eyes? Yeah, that's not unsettling at all. *Bloody hell*.
But here's where my wizarding senses started tingling, and where *Saros* goes from 'cool new game' to 'oh, this is proper interesting'. As detailed by Paulo Kawanishi over at Polygon, there’s a mighty compelling argument that Housemarque has left a breadcrumb trail for those of us who like our games with a side of obscure literature. That name, Carcosa? It's not just some random alien designation. It's got history, a rather unsettling one at that.
Some of you might recognise Carcosa from the first season of *True Detective* – what a ride that was, eh? Or maybe you're a bit of a Lovecraftian lore hound, knowing it's been folded into the Cthulhu mythos by August Derleth. But the true, murky origins of Carcosa, and the chilling mythology surrounding it, trace back to an American writer by the name of Robert W. Chambers. His 1885 collection of short stories, *The King in Yellow*, is where this mysterious locale first appeared.
Chambers' book is a wonderfully unsettling read. Four of its ten stories feature a fictional, cursed play, also titled 'The King in Yellow'. The legend goes that if you dare to read its second act, madness consumes you. And Chambers, the clever devil, never explicitly spells out what Carcosa, 'The King in Yellow', or the 'Yellow Sign' actually *are*. Instead, he lets his characters hint at them, mention them as part of their bizarre reality, leaving readers delightfully in the dark. It's a masterclass in atmospheric horror – the things you *don't* see or fully understand are often the most terrifying, aren't they?
The closest Chambers gets to an explanation of Carcosa is a quote from 'Cassilda's Song', a piece of the play itself, which introduces the book. It describes Carcosa as a place with twin suns, strange moons, and black stars. A shore, too, and somewhere within it, you'd find the King. Sound familiar to those *Saros* trailer observations? Oh, it gets better.
Beyond just naming the planet Carcosa, the references in *Saros* seem to be piling up faster than my unplayed Steam backlog. The initial announcement trailer for *Saros* (the Feb 2025 one) showed Arjun washed up on a beach, a yellow medallion around his neck. When he stands, that sun-like symbol on the medallion becomes clear. And in the sky? An eclipse. A *black star*, perhaps? Then, from the mysterious water, a giant, eight-armed humanoid figure emerges, crowned and ominous. These aren't just subtle winks, mate; these are direct, flashing neon signs pointing to Chambers' symbolic universe, as Kawanishi rightly observes in the Polygon piece.
Now, does this mean *Saros* is a direct adaptation? Probably not. Housemarque, like any good alchemist, knows how to take ingredients and make something entirely new. But the symbolic weight here is immense. Journalist Carlos Orsi notes that in 19th-century Western society, the colour yellow symbolised decadence, immorality, and madness. If *Saros* is indeed drawing on this, Carcosa might not just be an alien planet, but an extension of Arjun himself – a metaphorical journey into his own mind, his own feelings, perhaps even his descent into madness.
And let's not forget 'Carcosa' itself, a name Chambers borrowed from Ambrose Pierce, also carries connotations of the unfamiliar and a yearning to return home. Both *Saros* trailers feature Arjun talking to someone, vowing to find them. Who is this mysterious person? Is his looped struggle a desperate attempt to reunite, or an internal battle to reclaim himself from some existential horror? It perfectly echoes *Returnal*'s brilliant narrative, where the alien planet wasn't just a backdrop, but a twisted reflection of Selene's own internal turmoil and trauma. Housemarque likes to give form and tentacles to our struggles, don't they?
We're still months away from getting any concrete answers, which, honestly, just fuels the speculation wonderfully. Maybe, just maybe, I'm completely off my rocker, and *Saros* is just a game about shooting weird aliens with a cool coat of paint. But knowing Housemarque, knowing the intellectual depth they pulled off with *Returnal*, I reckon *Saros* is going to be far more than just another bullet-hell. It's going to be a proper mind-bender, a dive into the unfamiliar, and a compelling narrative woven through every frantic blast. Carcosa awaits, mate. And I, for one, can't wait to go mad in it.
Original article by Paulo Kawanishi, published on Polygon.
Tags: Housemarque, Saros, Returnal, Cosmic Horror, Literary Gaming
Original article: Polygon