Shadowrun Returns

Lore & Background

Shadowrun Returns is set in the year 2054 after magic has reentered the world. The player assumes the role of a shadowrunner who receives a pre-recorded message from an old accomplice, Sam Watts, triggered by a dead man's switch embedded in his body. The message offers a reward of 100,000 nuyen for bringing whoever was responsible for his death to justice. The investigation in Seattle reveals Sam is the latest victim of the Emerald City Ripper, a serial killer surgically removing organs from victims. The player meets Jake Armitage, the protagonist of the SNES Shadowrun game, who provides leads.

The game ships with a campaign called "Dead Man's Switch." Further campaigns can be downloaded from external websites. The plot involves the Universal Brotherhood, a New Age organization that is a front for a cult creating an insect spirit hive. The player character can customize their gender and appearance, and choose from five races: humans, elves, dwarves, orcs, and trolls. There are no traditional character classes, but six pregenerated archetypes are available: street samurai, mages, deckers, shamans, riggers, and physical adepts. Character progression uses karma points, and any character can gain any skill regardless of starting archetype.

Reader's Guide

Shadowrun Returns was notable for its successful Kickstarter campaign, which revived the Shadowrun video game franchise after a long hiatus. The game's isometric graphics and turn-based tactical combat, including cover mechanics and action points, recalled earlier entries like the 1993 Shadowrun for the SNES. Its character system allowed flexible skill development, enabling a decker to also learn shamanic summoning, for example. The game's campaign, "Dead Man's Switch," introduced a story involving insect spirits, a chemical weapon called Project Aegis, and the immortal elf Harlequin. The game's engine later received an upgraded version used for Shadowrun: Hong Kong. A remastered compilation including Shadowrun Returns, Shadowrun Dragonfall: Director's Cut, and Shadowrun: Hong Kong was released on multiple platforms in 2022. The game's legacy includes its role in demonstrating the viability of crowdfunding for niche RPG revivals and its expansion into standalone releases like Shadowrun: Dragonfall – Director's Cut.

Did You Know?

• The game was crowd funded through Kickstarter and released in 2013.
• The game's campaign is called 'Dead Man's Switch' and features a serial killer known as the Emerald City Ripper.
• Deckers can enter a virtual reality world called the Matrix to engage in a hacking minigame.