PATHOS

About

PATHOS is a single player casual puzzle game. It was developed by The Brofessionals and was released on December 5, 2017. It received positive reviews from players.

In PATHOS, a resilient mind is strangled by tragedy and loses its order. Through 150+ puzzles (including some of the hardest ever made for Steam), follow Ego as it works desperately to put back together a brain that’s losing the will to fight.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

90%

Audience ScoreBased on 58 reviews

story8 positive mentions

grinding2 negative mentions

PATHOS offers a challenging yet rewarding gameplay experience with over 150 well-designed levels that require strategic thinking and problem-solving skills.
The game's charming pixel art visuals and atmospheric soundtrack create an immersive environment that enhances the overall experience.
With a high replay value due to diverse character classes and unlockable content, PATHOS encourages players to explore and experiment with different strategies.

Some players have reported frustrating difficulty spikes in later levels, which may require significant patience and perseverance to overcome.
The lack of an 'undo' feature and mandatory move limits can make the game cumbersome and tedious, especially in more complex puzzles.
There are ongoing issues with broken achievements and inaccessible content, leading to disappointment among players who expect a polished experience.

story
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
63%
10%
The story in the game is described as intriguing and thematically linked to the puzzle levels, enhancing the overall experience. While some players find the narrative a bit pretentious and wish for better accessibility to the story elements, many appreciate how it adds depth and meaning to the gameplay. Overall, the integration of story and puzzles is seen as a distinguishing feature that elevates the game beyond typical puzzle offerings.
- “In Pathos, you are a little yellow cube completing an incredible amount of well-crafted levels which takes a lot of brain power and time to figure out. Along the way, you indirectly follow the story of someone’s ego, humor, and other personal aspects, which makes it a lot more meaningful.”
- “It is this story that makes you carry on through these difficult puzzles and what I think makes this game stand apart from all the other difficult puzzle games.”
- “The use of an interesting storyline in a puzzle game, and it being done well, is a remarkable thing. I think that is one of the reasons that Pathos is different and better than your average puzzle game.”
- “And for such a story-heavy game, there should be an in-game place to re-read all the story bits without launching every level separately.”
- “It's a fairly pure puzzle game with not much else to offer other than some story dialogue, but it offers a very large amount of content for the price.”
- “Please, if you can get some voice acting for the story.”
music
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
45%
13%
The music in the game is characterized by haunting melodies and ambient soundscapes that effectively immerse players in its eerie atmosphere, enhancing the overall experience. While the selection of tracks is somewhat limited, the occasional introduction of new music keeps the gameplay fresh, and the calming nature of the soundtrack is praised for helping players maintain focus during challenging puzzles. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a perfect complement to the game's intense moments, providing a soothing backdrop that encourages relaxation and concentration.
- “To top it all off, the soundtrack is amazing to help keep you calm while you're nearly blowing a gasket, skirting the edge of a solution you can't quite seem to put your finger on.”
- “I think for a game with difficult puzzles, this was probably the best choice for a soundtrack, not distracting the player from his primary objective but providing the relaxation and realization that it’s just a game to keep the player sane and going.”
- “Right now there's not a ton of different music selections, but one thing I do like about it is that every once in a while a new music track will slip into the game's playlist at a random stage of progress.”
- “The soundtrack of pathos, while not phenomenal on its own, is almost perfect for the game. It calms the player who at times may want to breathe heavily while mumbling swears. Instead of that happening, I felt at ease with the calming visuals and the peaceful music in the background; I took a moment and took a breath.”
- “The soundtrack, composed of haunting melodies and ambient soundscapes, sets the mood perfectly, immersing players in the eerie atmosphere of the underworld.”
gameplay
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
50%
14%
The gameplay is highly praised for its strategic combat mechanics, requiring careful positioning and resource management, alongside a permadeath feature that heightens tension and encourages skill development. While the initial learning curve may be steep, the game effectively introduces new mechanics through intuitive gameplay, offering a wealth of content and challenging puzzles that provide dozens of hours of engaging play. Despite some minor bugs, the overall experience is rewarding and appealing to both genre veterans and newcomers.
- “The combat mechanics are satisfyingly strategic, requiring careful positioning, resource management, and quick reflexes to emerge victorious.”
- “The permadeath mechanic adds a layer of tension to each run, compelling players to hone their skills and adapt to the ever-changing challenges of the dungeon.”
- “With engaging gameplay, charming visuals, and a wealth of content to uncover, it's a must-play for fans of the genre and newcomers alike.”
- “I only wish the dev would fix a few remaining bugs that prevent reaching the final set of levels, but don't let that scare you away: you have dozens of hours of gameplay before you'll even confront that issue.”
- “If you want a puzzle game that will test your limits and frustrate you while putting all of that frustration on your shoulders (the game is not cheapened by bad controls or mechanics), then be sure to pick it up.”
- “While the initial learning curve may be steep for some, the game gradually introduces mechanics and strategies through intuitive gameplay and subtle tutorialization.”
graphics
16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
43%
19%
The graphics of "Pathos" feature nostalgic pixel art that, while not cutting-edge, effectively captures the charm of classic RPGs. Users appreciate the simplistic yet polished visuals, which complement the game's engaging gameplay and calming soundtrack, creating an inviting atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.
- “While Pathos' pixel art visuals may not dazzle with cutting-edge graphics, they possess a nostalgic charm that harkens back to the golden age of classic RPGs.”
- “The graphics are simplistic but polished, which is just right for a puzzle game of this difficulty.”
- “While not the focus of the game, the graphics are slick, and the soundtrack is pleasant.”
humor
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is described as ambiguous and often unclear, with some players finding it lacking entirely. However, others appreciate the deeper narrative that intertwines personal aspects like humor and ego within the puzzle-solving experience, suggesting a more meaningful, albeit complex, approach to humor. Overall, reactions to the humor are mixed, with some players questioning its effectiveness.
- “Isn’t it funny?”
- “In Pathos, you are a little yellow cube completing an incredible amount of well-crafted levels which takes a lot of brain power and time to figure out. Along the way, you indirectly follow the story of someone’s ego, humor, and other personal aspects, which makes it a lot more meaningful.”
- “Each puzzle has a certain amount of text reflecting various aspects of a person’s thoughts, including their humor and ego, which are all personified.”
atmosphere
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's atmosphere is enhanced by intricately detailed environments, atmospheric lighting, and particle effects that enrich the dungeon-crawling experience. A haunting soundtrack and ambient soundscapes further immerse players in the eerie underworld, creating a captivating and immersive mood.
- “The environments are intricately detailed, with atmospheric lighting and particle effects adding depth to the dungeon-crawling experience.”
- “The soundtrack, composed of haunting melodies and ambient soundscapes, sets the mood perfectly, immersing players in the eerie atmosphere of the underworld.”
replayability
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game excels in replayability, with users consistently rating it 5 out of 5, highlighting its strong value in encouraging multiple playthroughs.
- “Where Pathos truly shines is in its replay value.”
grinding
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be cumbersome and tedious, noting that it does not increase the difficulty but rather detracts from the overall experience.
- “As always, it doesn't make the game more difficult, just a lot more cumbersome and tedious than it should be.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game effectively intertwines challenging gameplay with poignant emotional scenes that delve into a character's memories, creating a compelling and thought-provoking experience.
- “It gets really clever and difficult later, while presenting emotional scenes from a memory of a person's mind.”