Pathologic 2

79%
Game Brain Score Based on 3,986 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • atmosphere
Pathologic 2 Game Cover
Pathologic 1 & 2 are masterpieces of games as art. They are cruel and disturbing, but ask unique questions and do things you won’t see anywhere else. These are singularly unique experiences that are worth suffering through.
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In Pathologic 2, players must confront a deadly outbreak in a secluded town with only 12 days to manage their resources, form alliances, and make difficult decisions to survive. The game is a narrative-driven dramatic thriller that explores the realities of a collapsing society and the harsh choices that must be made in lose-lose situations. Time management is crucial, as players must balance their bodily functions and gather resources while fighting against the plague and uncovering the town's secrets.

  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Cloud
  • NVIDIA GeForce NOW
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

79%
Audience ScoreBased on 3,986 reviews
story461 positive mentions
optimization64 negative mentions
  • Truly immersive and interesting experience with phenomenal ambience, lore, story, and writing.
  • Exceptional graphics and art style that complement the narrative beautifully.
  • Unique gameplay mechanics that challenge players to make difficult choices and manage resources effectively.
  • Poor optimization leading to performance issues and frustrating gameplay.
  • Extremely difficult and punishing, which may deter casual players.
  • Confusing dialogue and narrative structure that can be hard to follow.
  • story1,536 mentions

    The story of *Pathologic 2* is widely praised for its depth, complexity, and unique narrative style, drawing players into a richly atmospheric world filled with moral dilemmas and existential themes. Many reviewers highlight the game's ability to intertwine survival mechanics with storytelling, creating a sense of urgency and emotional weight as players navigate a plague-ridden town where every choice has significant consequences. While some find the narrative challenging and cryptic, those who invest the time to engage with it often describe it as one of the most compelling and thought-provoking experiences in gaming.

    • “The ambience, lore, story, and writing are phenomenal.”
    • “The story is unique, surreal, and engaging, and something you can dissect from multiple angles over and over again, extracting more from it each time.”
    • “The story, world-building, characters, etc. are all absolutely phenomenal - the writing alone in the story was more than enough to keep me hooked on what's going on and that writing is so good, so well thought out, so meaningful that almost everything everyone says has some hidden meaning.”
    • “The story is confusing and obtuse, making it hard to follow and engage with.”
    • “The story just seems to fall apart as it approaches the end, characters seem to forget their motivations at times changing their opinion on you and various other things in the world rapidly and without any real exposition or even time between these shifts.”
    • “I felt completely uninvested in the disjointed and confusing story.”
  • gameplay940 mentions

    The gameplay of *Pathologic 2* is characterized by its brutal survival mechanics and a complex interplay of resource management, time constraints, and narrative choices, which evoke a sense of desperation and urgency. While some players appreciate the depth and thematic integration of these mechanics, others find them frustrating and tedious, leading to a divisive reception. Overall, the game offers a unique experience that challenges players to engage deeply with its world and story, though it may not appeal to those seeking traditional gameplay enjoyment.

    • “The gameplay is enjoyable yet brutal and unforgiving, and successfully conveys the sheer bleakness and despair of the setting without being as tedious as the original's non-gameplay.”
    • “The survival mechanics are brilliantly balanced with the most unique and ingenious death system I've ever seen.”
    • “Pathologic 2 is a marvel of a game that through its writing, gameplay and haunting art and sound design create organic moments of dread, struggle, empathy and triumph that few modern games are able to achieve.”
    • “It is also one of the most viscerally punishing gameplay experiences out there, and most people will not enjoy playing it at all.”
    • “The gameplay is a mix between item and time management, forcing you to do choices you usually might not have done to survive.”
    • “Pathologic 2 is a deeply frustrating, obtuse, and stressful experience, with clunky combat, a crushing atmosphere, and survival mechanics which will leave you on the brink of total exhaustion, starvation, and death for most of the game.”
  • atmosphere432 mentions

    The atmosphere in "Pathologic 2" is widely praised for its immersive and oppressive qualities, effectively conveying a sense of dread and hopelessness throughout the gameplay. Reviewers highlight the game's unique blend of surreal visuals, haunting sound design, and intricate storytelling, which together create a deeply engaging and emotionally charged experience. Despite its challenging mechanics, many players find the atmosphere to be the game's strongest asset, making it a memorable and thought-provoking journey.

    • “The atmosphere and way the game handles the tutorial are top notch and really incredible.”
    • “The music, atmosphere, characters, setting, and visual design are all incredible on their own, but come together to create a story and world that is unlike anything I've ever experienced.”
    • “The atmosphere is so thick you can feel it, and I constantly feel on edge and anxious playing it.”
    • “The atmosphere is so oppressive and hopeless that you'll be lucky to see it through, if you try hard enough.”
    • “The atmosphere of this game is so intense and creepy it's unlike anything I have ever played.”
    • “Pathologic 2 is a deeply frustrating, obtuse, and stressful experience, with clunky combat, a crushing atmosphere, and survival mechanics which will leave you on the brink of total exhaustion, starvation, and death for most of the game.”
  • graphics226 mentions

    The graphics of "Pathologic 2" are often described as beautifully stylized, creating a haunting and immersive atmosphere that complements its narrative. While many players appreciate the unique art direction and detailed character models, there are frequent complaints about poor optimization and inconsistent frame rates, which can detract from the overall experience. Despite these technical issues, the game's visuals are generally regarded as a significant improvement over its predecessor, contributing to its distinct and compelling aesthetic.

    • “Fantastically written, with high-quality but uniquely stylized graphics to accompany a thrilling narrative.”
    • “The haunting melodies that accompany you on your journey, and the surreal visuals that change as the plague worsens, create an atmosphere that is both mesmerizing and chilling.”
    • “The graphics have received the biggest overhaul compared to the first title, the world looks beautiful, the lighting in particular is excellent, the choice of its colors is simply spot on, it renders every scene in unique ways, and it complements the architecture which creates an overall astounding eerie and dreamlike atmosphere.”
    • “The graphics are clearly dated and many of the models are recycled.”
    • “The optimization is very bad, as well as the graphics, although the design is excellent.”
    • “For a 2019 game, it's pretty bogged down; it probably won't get in your way while playing, but not once did I have a 'wow' moment while playing it, with most of what is presented graphically being pretty forgettable aside from specific scenes.”
  • music192 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its atmospheric and haunting qualities, effectively enhancing the overall experience and immersion. Many players describe the soundtrack as beautiful, unique, and memorable, with a mix of tribal and electronic influences that complement the game's unsettling themes. However, some critiques mention repetitiveness and a preference for the original game's music, suggesting that while the new soundtrack is strong, it may not fully capture the same impact as its predecessor.

    • “The music, atmosphere, characters, setting, and visual design are all incredible on their own, but come together to create a story and world that is unlike anything I've ever experienced.”
    • “The music is fantastic as well as the sound design, and absolutely sells you on the town's unique culture and atmosphere.”
    • “The soundtrack is atmospheric and unnerving.”
    • “The soundtrack, while pretty atmospheric and eerie at first, plays over and over and over during all your hours just wandering around the map to the point of driving you nuts and wanting to turn the music volume all the way down.”
    • “The music is unsettling and annoying at times.”
    • “This game's music doesn't hold a candle to the soundtrack of the first one.”
  • optimization163 mentions

    The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with many players reporting significant performance issues such as stuttering, long loading times, and frame rate drops, even on high-end systems. While some users have found ways to mitigate these problems through settings adjustments, the overall consensus is that the game is poorly optimized, detracting from the immersive experience it aims to provide. Despite these technical shortcomings, many players still appreciate the game's unique narrative and atmosphere, hoping for future patches to improve performance.

    • “Brilliant world concept, deep multi-layer lore, awesome design and nice optimization.”
    • “Despite this, I still genuinely believe the only two downsides in my opinion are some performance issues, which I trust the developers to address as they have been very transparent with their patches and their future updates.”
    • “If you can stomach some of the performance problems (or have a really good PC) and seek a challenge that is not really based around dodging attacks at the exact millisecond then look no further.”
    • “The only issue I'd say the game has is that it's not very well-optimized at times, and if you're playing it on a hard drive, you'll experience long wait-time lags at transitions between indoor and outdoor environments and loading screens.”
    • “My only big gripe with this game is that it's terribly optimized.”
    • “The optimization is very bad, as well as the graphics, although the design is excellent.”
  • emotional126 mentions

    The emotional impact of "Pathologic 2" is profound and multifaceted, with players reporting intense feelings of despair, guilt, and attachment to the game's characters and narrative. Many describe the experience as emotionally taxing, often leading to tears and deep introspection, as the game's mechanics and storytelling evoke a visceral connection to the struggles of the townsfolk. Overall, it is hailed as a unique and haunting exploration of human emotion, making it a standout title for those seeking a deeply immersive and challenging emotional experience in gaming.

    • “I was truly emotional, not because of a cinematic cutscene or scripted moment but because the game's mechanics work so well to saturate the world with desperation, and I briefly overcame that desperation with my own intuition and understanding of what the game allows me to do.”
    • “This game hit me in all the emotional sweet spots, from found family to well-written complex characters to hard moral choices and questions that really make you dig deep into your psyche to see what kind of hero you try to be and who you try to save, this game never let me down in terms of giving me a multilayered narrative that constantly made me think and question things, and for me that's the most important thing a game can give me.”
    • “Pathologic 2 is a haunting and introspective masterpiece that defies traditional gaming conventions to deliver a deeply emotional and thought-provoking experience.”
    • “The story feels buggy and half-finished, making it a tedious walking simulator with poorly programmed elements.”
    • “The emotional depth is lacking, resulting in a boring narrative that fails to engage the player.”
    • “The game is frustratingly difficult, which detracts from any potential emotional impact it could have had.”
  • grinding56 mentions

    The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being excessively tedious and frustrating, often described as a "slog" that detracts from the overall experience. Players note that the mechanics, such as resource management and navigation, can feel clunky and demotivating, leading to a sense of monotony. While some appreciate the atmosphere and story, many agree that the game's design choices make the grinding feel more like a chore than an engaging challenge.

    • “That's pure, enjoyable content with minimal reloads and next to no grinding.”
    • “The game is really nothing more than a tedious slog of a timewaster; it was designed to be like that.”
    • “Pathologic 2 is tedious, stressful, and often unrewarding by design.”
    • “It consists basically of gathering herbs, bartering essential items with random NPCs, walking around the city, a fairly basic and cheesy combat system that has no depth to it, an interesting gameplay mechanic which is the diagnostic and treatment of people affected or vulnerable to the plague, a pretty interesting and innovative mechanic to an RPG but that is shadowed by the other 85% of the tedious gameplay and an annoying survival-based physiology system to the character, which is your biggest threat.”
  • stability38 mentions

    The game's stability is frequently criticized, with many players reporting numerous bugs, freezes, and stutters that disrupt gameplay. While some find these issues tolerable in light of the game's overall quality, others express frustration over the frequent crashes and poor optimization, making it difficult to recommend. Overall, the stability is considered low, significantly impacting the gaming experience despite the game's narrative strengths.

    • “The game stability is pretty low; it freezes a lot, stutters, and has a general loss of frames. Even the quality of the game going to crap for several seconds at times can really pull you out of the experience.”
    • “It is hard to recommend a game that always freezes and crashes.”
    • “Loading times are as bad as GTA 5, and the game freezes and stutters every 2 meters. I also crashed 2 times during 1 minute of actual play.”
  • replayability37 mentions

    Pathologic 2 boasts significant replayability, with players noting the depth of its story, branching choices, and the potential for different experiences with each playthrough. Many reviewers appreciate the game's intricate mechanics and the promise of additional playable characters, which could further enhance its replay value. However, some players find the game can feel draining or tedious at times, which may affect their willingness to replay it frequently.

    • “Its replayability is a strong suit, offering so much that may have been missed in your first run.”
    • “The story quite literally adapts to how you play, and it makes the replayability value go up, which I thoroughly appreciate.”
    • “The good: an outstanding atmosphere and world-building, a very intricate storyline in which choices definitely matter, solid replayability and a decent, but ultimately rewarding, challenge.”
    • “There is a lot of replayability here, I think, but I couldn't bring myself to do more because the game sometimes feels like a chore.”
    • “Lots of replay value but also draining to play.”
    • “I'm surprised the publisher couldn't have the resources to make different playable characters as promised; there would be strong replayability if DLCs were introduced.”
  • humor27 mentions

    The humor in "Pathologic 2" is described as both dark and surreal, often blending with the game's serious themes to create a unique experience that is thought-provoking yet funny. Players appreciate the witty dialogue, absurd situations, and the developers' playful engagement with player choices, resulting in moments of laughter amidst the game's intense atmosphere. The humor is characterized by a dry, Russian wit that complements the game's melancholic and mysterious narrative, making it a standout aspect of the overall experience.

    • “It's deliberately theatrical (in a way that complements both the themes and presentation of the game), thought-provoking and often surprisingly funny.”
    • “Culturally, this game is steeped in Russian literature and history, and admirers of the aforementioned authors will feel at home in its pessimism, melancholy, surrealism, and wry humor.”
    • “It's amazing how funny it can be at times (I'm not sure about the Russian version, but the English one, holy hell) while still being mostly mysterious, creepy, and worrisome in case of some characters.”
  • character development8 mentions

    Overall, character development in the game is praised for its strong writing and engaging design, contributing to a compelling narrative. However, some reviewers noted that the abundance of characters limits the depth of individual development, making it difficult for players to form strong connections. Despite this, the overall aesthetic and storytelling elements enhance the character experience.

    • “The story is really good, the character development is quite nice; a lot of things are really great, the graphics are sweet, the music is just perfect, and the gameplay is good.”
    • “Pathologic 2 theoretically had a lot to offer, a plague-themed RPG with a focus on the story and character development, featuring good writing and challenging gameplay, fitting for a real plague story.”
    • “Voice acting, character design, story, and writing are top-notch.”
    • “The only downside I found was that because there are so many characters and stories, there is not much time for character development, so you don't really connect with them.”
  • monetization4 mentions

    The monetization of this game is praised for being transparent and fair, contrasting sharply with the prevalent practices of AAA publishers that often rely on microtransactions and loot boxes. Players appreciate the game's depth and storytelling, viewing it as a genuine labor of love rather than a cash grab, which enhances their overall experience.

    • “The unique gameplay and style makes this game stand out among the crowd and one of the bright spots between all the drama with AAA publishers, loot boxes, and microtransactions.”
    • “You have to earn Pathologic 2; it will make you work both in-game and in-between games, as you will probably lose sleep over it, thinking about the events taking place and planning your actions.”
    • “You have to earn Pathologic 2; it will make you work both in-game, in-between games (as you will probably lose sleep over it, thinking about the events taking place and planning your actions), and long after, as you attempt to comprehend all it tried to tell you and just how such a game could ever be pulled off in an industry filled with mediocre storytelling, filler open world gameplay, flashy graphics with no substance, and microtransactions.”
    • “The unique gameplay and style makes this game stand out among the crowd and one of the bright spots amidst all the drama with AAA publishers, loot boxes, and microtransactions.”
    • “This is not fake advertising, and the devs disclosed it a while ago.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

65% average critic score

Buy Pathologic 2

Play time

14hMedian play time
19hAverage play time
7-24hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 17 analyzed playthroughs

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