Arjun Devraj, the central figure in Housemarque’s latest foray into the roguelike genre, Saros, is driven by a singular, consuming obsession. Early on, we discover he is fixated on tracking down someone named Nitya. Despite clear indications that she perished on the alien planet Carcosa—a fate shared by almost everyone who preceded her—Arjun clings to a stubborn, irrational belief that she remains alive.
<p><strong>[Ed. note:</strong> The following analysis contains significant spoilers for the plot, conclusion, and secret ending of <em>Saros</em>. Proceed with caution.<strong>]</strong></p>
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<p>Arjun is a member of Echelon IV, a desperate mining expedition deployed by the Soltari corporation to extract lucenite, the planet's most valuable asset. His teammates—Jerome, Tarn, Sheridan, Kayla, and Stack—are steadily succumbing to the planet's psychological degradation, and they rely on him for survival. Yet, with every death in the field that forces a return to the base at Passage, the situation for his crew grows increasingly dire.</p>
<p>Theoretically, the game sets up a conflict: should Arjun abandon his fruitless hunt for Nitya to support his living comrades, or should he continue pursuing his own agenda? In reality, the narrative offers no such choice. Arjun never contemplates abandoning his quest, eventually revealing that Nitya was—or had been—his romantic partner.</p>
<p>This profound solipsism permeates Arjun's every decision. As the story unfolds, we learn he was far from a supportive partner; it is strongly implied that he was unfaithful, or at the very least, sought solace with another individual named Sebastian after their relationship fractured.</p>
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<p>In a flashback—the sole moment where we directly control Nitya—we find Arjun hungover, and the dialogue hints at a debilitating dependency on alcohol. When Nitya notes that he is mirroring his father’s behavior, Arjun reacts with hostility. When she ultimately decides to leave him, he resorts to emotional manipulation, pleading desperately for her to reconsider.</p>
<p>Despite Nitya explicitly ending the relationship, Arjun behaves with the entitlement of someone incapable of accepting reality. He is convinced she made a mistake, that he can fix it, and that he is destined to be better. He believes he only needs to find her to force her to see things his way. Due to the chaotic temporal distortions on Carcosa, it remains unclear exactly how much time has passed for either of them, given she arrived on the initial Echelon I expedition.</p>
<p>The game's secret ending reveals that Nitya found genuine comfort with a crewmate, Kiira. Upon discovering this, Arjun remarks, "I didn't know. I thought she needed me." It is a chilling display of narcissism; he has entirely convinced himself that his presence is the prerequisite for her happiness, demonstrating an extreme case of 'main character energy' that ignores the agency of the very person he claims to love.</p>
<p>Then, there is the matter of Sebastian. From the outset, Sebastian maintains the vegetation in Passage, acting as a confidant for Arjun. A photograph of the two resides on his desk. However, because no other member of the Echelon IV crew ever acknowledges Sebastian, it becomes clear that his presence is not what it seems.</p>
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<p>Sebastian, it turns out, is a figment of Arjun’s psyche, never having set foot on Carcosa. Flashbacks suggest they once shared a life in a hotel room, and the secret ending clarifies that Arjun was responsible for Sebastian’s death. As Sebastian lay dying, he asked Arjun what he meant to him, only for Arjun to coldly retort, "You were nothing." The sirens that echo in the background of that scene follow him like a haunting metaphor for his inability to outrun his past.</p>
<p>Throughout <em>Saros</em>, Arjun operates under the delusion of being a hero rescuing a damsel, but in truth, he is perpetually fleeing. His journey to Carcosa could have been a path to redemption, a chance to prove his worth by protecting those who actually needed him. Instead, he systematically disregarded the lives of his crew to satisfy his own ego.</p>
<p>It is also impossible to ignore the context: Arjun serves a corporate entity intent on stripping a planet for profit. The AI commander, Primary, mirrors a cold, utilitarian morality obsessed with efficiency. While Arjun clashes with Primary, claiming the importance of his search for Nitya, he remains oblivious to his own hypocrisy. He sees himself as a noble savior, yet he is just another cog in a destructive corporate machine.</p>
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<p>Playing as an inherently selfish protagonist is not uncharted territory in gaming. In <em>The Last of Us</em>, Joel makes a catastrophic choice to save Ellie, damning the rest of humanity in the process. However, the player leaves that experience conflicted because Joel’s motivations are grounded in a relatable, human desperation. We are forced to ask ourselves if we would have acted any differently.</p>
<p>Consider also Henry in <em>Firewatch</em>, who accepts a job to isolate himself from the reality of his wife’s dementia. He is deeply flawed, yet his actions stem from a recognizable, if avoidant, human vulnerability. Arjun lacks this common touchstone of empathy.</p>
<p>Rahul Kohli delivers a stellar performance in <em>Saros</em>, bringing depth to a character who is effectively a playable antagonist. Regardless of the chosen ending, Arjun faces a grim, well-deserved reckoning: whether trapped as the King in Yellow or doomed to an eternal, cyclical nightmare on Carcosa, he is destined to remain a prisoner of his own making.</p>Source: Polygon
