Stories: The Path of Destinies

Upon hearing the title: Story: The Path of Destinies, many gamers alike may roll their eyes and tut at the unartistic name.

80%Game Brain Score

story, gameplay

grinding, optimization

88% User Score Based on 3,106 reviews

Critic Score 74%Based on 17 reviews

Platforms

Buy Nowfrom $14.99

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About

In Stories: The Path of Destinies, play as Reynardo, ex-pirate and accidental hero, as you defend your world against a mad Emperor and his ravens. Each choice you make leads to a unique narrative, with diverse and action-packed scenes ranging from light-hearted to dark and Lovecraftian. With multiple endings, you'll need to learn from past mistakes to find the one true path. The game is now powered by Unreal Engine 4.1.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Stories: The Path of Destinies screenshot

+10

88%

Audience ScoreBased on 3,123 reviews

story1.1k positive mentions

grinding183 negative mentions

Engaging storytelling with a unique mechanic that encourages replayability.
Charming visuals and a humorous narrator that adds depth to the experience.
Simple yet satisfying combat mechanics that become more enjoyable as you progress.

Repetitive gameplay due to limited enemy variety and the need to replay the same levels multiple times.
Unskippable cutscenes and dialogue can become tedious, especially when trying to unlock all endings.
Combat can feel simplistic and lacks depth, making it easy to become overpowered quickly.

story
3,185 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
61%
3%
The story in "Stories: The Path of Destinies" is a central highlight, featuring a branching narrative that allows players to make choices that significantly impact the outcome. While the storytelling is engaging and often humorous, with a charming narrator, many players find the repetitive gameplay and unskippable cutscenes detract from the overall experience. Despite its flaws, the game offers a unique approach to storytelling, encouraging multiple playthroughs to uncover all possible endings and truths, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of narrative-driven games.
- “It's an amazing story, and one I would recommend heartily to anyone who needs a reminder of the simple joy life has to offer.”
- “The game’s storytelling is enhanced by its witty narration, voiced by Julian Casey, whose tone strikes a balance between charming and sardonic.”
- “The narrative structure of 'Stories: The Path of Destinies' is its most distinctive feature, providing a branching story with dozens of potential outcomes based on player choices.”
- “It can be frustrating at times when you're trying to get into the story but there are opportunities for continuity that are missing all over the place.”
- “The narrator is a constant distracting reminder that they never bothered to get voice actors to imbue its characters with a distinctive personal element that makes them believable as actors within its world and story.”
- “The story is simple but fine.”
gameplay
1,080 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
35%
56%
9%
The gameplay in "Stories: The Path of Destinies" is characterized by its simple hack-and-slash mechanics, reminiscent of the Batman Arkham series, which some players find enjoyable but ultimately repetitive. While the game features a unique narrative structure that encourages multiple playthroughs to explore different story paths, many reviewers noted that the combat lacks depth and variety, leading to a grindy experience as players revisit the same levels and encounters. Overall, the game is praised for its charming storytelling and humor, but the gameplay is often seen as a secondary element that doesn't quite match the quality of the narrative.
- “Ultimately, 'Stories: The Path of Destinies' is a unique and entertaining experience that combines story-driven gameplay with action-packed combat and a branching narrative structure.”
- “With its blend of story-driven gameplay, tactical combat, and a unique narrative structure, 'Stories' is a refreshing twist on the choose-your-own-adventure format.”
- “The gameplay is smooth and easy to grasp, with simple yet effective combat and overall gameplay, making this a very fun game.”
- “The story is neat in spite of its gameplay, because what you get is generic brawling between story beats where the stuff you do during the gameplay has no impact on the story itself, and that generic brawling isn't even that fun.”
- “The gameplay is very repetitive, but the story, landscape, humor, and sense of adventure are nice.”
- “The gameplay is utterly simplistic to the point you simply need to mash your 'attack' button to win.”
graphics
646 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
43%
3%
The graphics of "Stories: The Path of Destinies" are widely praised for their vibrant, stylized art style and colorful environments, which create an immersive experience. While some players note that the visuals may feel dated or simplistic compared to modern standards, the overall aesthetic is considered charming and well-executed, particularly for an indie title. Despite occasional performance issues and limited graphical options, the game's artistic design and smooth animations contribute positively to its appeal.
- “Visually, 'Stories: The Path of Destinies' has a vibrant and stylized art style, featuring colorful, isometric environments filled with detail.”
- “The graphics are vibrant and detailed, creating a wonderful atmosphere for the world around you.”
- “The graphics are stunning, the music is beautiful to listen to, and the characters are lovable, making the game a joy to play.”
- “The graphics look dated for a modern PC game, the music is not memorable, but appropriate for the environments, the voice-over is great, but the fact that you can't skip him is really annoying because he tends to repeat the same things, and none of the menus react to ESC as a way to close them.”
- “The graphics are a bit intensive for an indie game.”
- “The graphics are clean as hell and the possibilities are as good as me being on Tinder if I were a hot chick.”
humor
339 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
99%
1%
The humor in the game is widely praised for its clever writing, engaging narration, and a mix of pop culture references that resonate with both younger and older audiences. Players appreciate the narrator's ability to deliver funny commentary that enhances the storytelling experience, often blending lighthearted moments with darker themes. While some find the humor hit-or-miss, the overall consensus is that it adds significant charm and enjoyment to the gameplay, making it a standout feature of the title.
- “The biggest highlight is the humor, which is actually pretty funny; it's a lot of pop culture references to games, events, and celebrities.”
- “The narrator brings the story to life with humorous commentary on Reynardo’s actions and the absurdity of certain choices, while also reacting to the player's decisions in real-time.”
- “The humor was refreshing, the narrator was really good, and the overall world was just neat.”
- “After I had unlocked three of the four major 'realizations' of the story -- an attempt by the developers to gate off the 'real' ending of the game until you have played certain story branches that makes the main character 'realize' something -- what I found was a tedious and unfunny game with too much dead time between the stuff that at that point actually mattered to me.”
- “I couldn't care less about the characters; they proved themselves to be so unfunny, so shallow, and so dull that after about two or three hours I turned the dialogue volume to 0% and the subtitles off.”
- “It seems the game aims for something between the silly irreverence of Trine and the context-driven narration of Bastion, but it tries too hard to force unfunny one-liners and it has no poignancy, so it fails at both.”
music
236 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
38%
3%
The music in the game is generally well-received, with many praising its orchestral and atmospheric qualities that enhance the overall experience. While some players find the soundtrack memorable and fitting for the game's themes, others note that it can be repetitive or not particularly standout. Overall, the music effectively complements the visuals and narrative, contributing to an engaging gameplay atmosphere.
- “The soundtrack and sound design complement the visual presentation beautifully.”
- “The music is orchestral and atmospheric, capturing both the epic and whimsical tones of Reynardo’s journey.”
- “The music is fitting with the scenes being presented and empowers those scenes.”
- “The music provides you with a rather basic level of expectation, being satisfactory yet nothing above that, and you will most likely not remember any of it afterwards.”
- “The aesthetic is a very Unreal Engine terrain swap; the music is forgettable.”
- “I've been told that there was supposed to be some kind of special mechanic about the music dynamically changing as the story went on, but I've never noticed because the music itself was not particularly memorable.”
grinding
188 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
1%
97%
The reviews indicate that the game features significant grinding, particularly for completionists aiming to unlock all endings and achievements. Players frequently mention the repetitiveness of replaying levels, unskippable dialogue, and tedious combat, which detracts from the overall enjoyment. While the initial gameplay can be engaging, the grind becomes a chore, especially towards the end, leading many to recommend caution for those who dislike repetitive tasks.
- “While the combat and navigation can be clunky at times, the choices keep you interested in what could have gone differently in an overall compelling story, and the small areas make backtracking not too tedious.”
- “Cool storylines with good replayability potential—there are many ways to beat a level, so playing through the same one several times as you unlock different story routes isn't as tedious as it may seem.”
- “There is a minimal resource gathering and crafting element to the game, but honestly, it isn't too grindy. You can focus on the story and still gather the resources you need, even if it is a bit slower than going through every nook and cranny of every area.”
- “However, after having unlocked 3 out of I don't know 20 or so stories in this game that basically revolves around you trialing and erroring your way through different story variations to eventually find the 'true' one, I must say that a certain degree of tediousness starts to set in.”
- “Grinding out paths or achievements for this game is boring as a result.”
- “Unfortunately, the combat system is pretty one-note, and in order to obtain a different ending, you must start the story all the way back to your first decision point, which is somewhat tedious.”
replayability
180 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
54%
3%
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with many players appreciating the multiple branching paths and endings that encourage exploration and repeated playthroughs. However, some reviewers noted that the necessity to replay levels and the lack of options to skip repetitive dialogue can make the experience feel tedious over time. Overall, while the game offers significant replay value, it may become monotonous for those seeking to unlock every ending.
- “While the game is relatively short, it offers replayability through its multiple branching paths and alternate endings.”
- “Great humor, high replayability (the whole gameplay is based around replayability) and surprisingly challenging combat, especially at the later stages of the playthrough.”
- “The choose your own adventure style gameplay makes the replayability factor great, as each choice you make yields multiple endings.”
- “This ends up hurting the game's replayability as the player is no longer incentivized to explore stages and look for chests.”
- “The game's central conceit—replayability via 4 different choices per run—is not supported by its actual content.”
- “The one issue I have with it is after you actually beat the game there is little to no replayability.”
optimization
113 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
53%
31%
The game's optimization has received significant criticism, with many players reporting frequent frame drops, long load times, and overall poor performance across various hardware configurations. While some updates have improved stability, numerous users still experience unresponsive controls and inconsistent frame rates, particularly in combat-heavy scenarios. Overall, the optimization issues detract from an otherwise enjoyable gameplay experience.
- “The gaming experience on the Steam Deck is quite impressive, as the game runs smoothly with high graphics settings and a stable 60fps framerate without any need for adjustments.”
- “I'd recommend it, especially after the latest patch (patch #4, October 2018) that fixed a lot of bugs and improved performance significantly.”
- “Optimization was good for me despite negative reviews on optimization and bugs.”
- “Since the game is very combat heavy, it is annoying that the game is poorly optimized with frame drops and cannot keep a very consistent frame rate, and sometimes your moves choose not to work.”
- “The game is badly optimized but it is still fun to play with the combat.”
- “Bad optimization: load times take ages, and the game suffers from frequent FPS drops, even on a higher-end configuration.”
stability
112 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
4%
96%
The game's stability has been widely criticized, with numerous players reporting a variety of bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, such as getting stuck in level geometry, unresponsive controls, and issues with item detection. While some players find the minor glitches bearable, others have experienced game-breaking issues that necessitate restarting levels or even the game itself. Overall, the consensus suggests that the game is significantly hindered by its instability, impacting the overall enjoyment and playability.
- “Runs great on Linux.”
- “Combat is simple and effective; all in all, a nice little game that runs great and is worth a playthrough.”
- “My first playthrough was bug-free, but I did encounter optimization issues in some places, though nothing really bad.”
- “This game has so many glitches and bugs that - and I'm not overdramatizing - you can't go and play this game for a minute without experiencing some sort of issue.”
- “The game is so buggy that it just ruined my experience to the point where I don't want to play anymore.”
- “There are some glitches where you get stuck in the ground which forces you to restart the whole level.”
atmosphere
33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
61%
30%
9%
The atmosphere in the game is widely praised for its distinctiveness across various locations, enhanced by an orchestral soundtrack that captures both epic and whimsical tones. Players appreciate the immersive and charming environment created by the graphics and art direction, which contribute to a relaxing and enjoyable experience. Overall, the combination of vibrant visuals, engaging music, and thoughtful worldbuilding fosters a captivating atmosphere that keeps players invested in their adventure.
- “Each location has its own distinct atmosphere, giving players a sense of adventure as they traverse the world of Boreas.”
- “The audiovisual presentation is not technically astounding, but the chosen art direction meshes superbly with the overall atmosphere, helping create it and being a part of it at the same time.”
- “The atmosphere, colors, graphics, and freedom to choose your own storyline make this game just great!”
- “Obviously, I like that kind of thing, or else I wouldn't keep playing it, but I think I was beginning to forget that a game's atmosphere could be something other than lonely, miserable, or spooky.”
- “You'll need atmosphere and visual design to lure players in.”
- “An interesting art style lends an air of a children’s novel while the narration lends a humorous atmosphere that keeps the mood light and fresh.”
emotional
29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
97%
10%
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a mix of heartwarming moments and darker undertones, with standout scenes that resonate deeply, particularly the bond between the protagonist and his love interest. While some emotional scenes may feel underwhelming, the overall narrative is engaging, with solid writing and excellent voice acting that evoke genuine feelings, making for a rewarding experience. Players appreciate the balance of humor and emotion, creating a fairy tale-like journey that leaves a lasting impact.
- “A few in particular about the bond between the hero Reynard and his love interest were really touching.”
- “This was such a tremendous experience playing through it, one of the few games that had an emotional journey that made me tear up.”
- “Fantastic writing and excellent voice acting from the narrator combine for a story that is both surprisingly dark, laugh-out-loud funny, and occasionally touching.”
- “The cutscene featuring the ravens was dull, with a boring story and secrets that required no effort to uncover. The character was uninteresting, which was disappointing despite the intriguing concept of returning to alter events in a different timeline.”
- “The emotional depth of the narrative fell flat, leaving me disconnected from the characters and their struggles. I expected more engagement but was met with a lackluster experience.”
- “I found the emotional moments to be forced and unconvincing, making it hard to care about the outcomes or the characters involved.”
character development
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
45%
14%
Overall, the character development in the game is met with mixed reviews; while the character design and voice acting are praised for their charm and originality, some players feel that the depth of character development is lacking. The unique and visually appealing character designs contribute positively to the game's aesthetic, but the narrative's resolution is criticized for undermining the character arcs. Players recommend the game for its engaging visuals and storytelling, but note that character growth could be improved.
- “The character designs are equally charming, with anthropomorphic animals that add a fairytale quality to the story.”
- “Character design, voice work, and of course, the story and how it evolves.”
- “I highly recommend this game if you're into character development and storytelling.”
- “Crafting and character development could be better though.”
- “Also the supposed 'true' ending completely blows all the character development under the rug and just 'wraps' everything up.”
- “I disliked a lot about the characters and character development but that would be a massive spoiler.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
The monetization aspect of the game has been criticized for its poor optimization and long loading times, which detract from the overall experience, especially for players with mid-range PCs. Users feel that the game's demands are excessive given its advertising and performance issues.
- “The monetization strategy feels overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending extra money.”
- “I find the in-game purchases to be excessive and they detract from the overall experience.”
- “The constant push for microtransactions ruins the immersion and makes it feel like a cash grab.”

74%Critics’ scoreBased on 18 critic reviews

Buy Stories: The Path of Destinies

5h Median play time

6h Average play time

5h Main story

20h Completionist

5-10h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 30 analyzed playthroughs

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