Returnal Biome Guide

Explore every biome on Atropos -- enemies, bosses, and strategies for each area.

Overgrown Ruins

Act 1

Boss: Phrike

Ancient alien ruins consumed by aggressive vegetation and bioluminescent flora. The first biome introduces Selene to the hostile ecosystem of Atropos with relatively forgiving enemy encounters.

A vast red desert littered with the remains of a long-dead civilization and towering rock formations. The open terrain forces players to manage spacing carefully against aggressive, fast-moving enemies.

Derelict Citadel

Act 2

Boss: Nemesis

A massive alien citadel suspended in darkness, featuring vertical platforming and narrow corridors. The mechanized enemies here are significantly tougher and require upgraded weapons to handle effectively.

Echoing Ruins

Act 2

Boss: Hyperion

Corrupted ruins warped by an unknown force, filled with dimensional anomalies and deadly traps. Enemies here can reconstruct after death, making thorough area clearing essential for survival.

Fractured Wastes

Act 3

Boss: Ophion

A fractured dimension where reality itself has broken apart into floating islands and unstable terrain. The final biome throws the most elite versions of all enemy types at the player simultaneously.

Tower of Sisyphus

Endless Mode

Boss: Ascending Tower

An endless ascending tower added in the Ascension update, featuring randomized floors and escalating difficulty. Each phase pits players against waves of mixed enemy types with increasingly powerful modifiers.