The Pathless

The Pathless knows where its biggest strengths lie, and it constantly leverages those strengths to craft a hypnotic, rhythmic, beautiful, and captivating adventure.

85%Game Brain Score

gameplay, story

grinding, optimization

91% User Score Based on 1,660 reviews

Critic Score 77%Based on 40 reviews

Platforms

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About

The Pathless is a single player open world role playing shooter game with fantasy and mystery themes. It was developed by Giant Squid and was released on November 12, 2020. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

In "The Pathless," you play as the Hunter, a skilled archer on a mission to lift a curse from a mystical island. Solve puzzles, outrun beasts, and explore the open world to discover hidden secrets and unlock new abilities. With elegant motion-based controls and a breathtaking original soundtrack, this game offers a unique and immersive adventure.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

91%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,660 reviews

gameplay236 positive mentions

grinding54 negative mentions

Stunning visuals and art style that create a captivating atmosphere.
Fluid movement mechanics that make traversal enjoyable and engaging.
Engaging boss fights that are visually impressive and provide a sense of excitement.

Repetitive gameplay loop with similar puzzles and tasks across different areas.
Lack of challenge as there are no fail states, making the game feel less impactful.
The story is simplistic and lacks depth, which may not resonate with all players.

gameplay
644 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
57%
6%
The gameplay in "The Pathless" is characterized by its fun and fluid movement mechanics, primarily involving exploration, puzzle-solving, and engaging boss battles. While many players appreciate the simplicity and relaxing nature of the gameplay, some find it repetitive and lacking in challenge, with a core loop that can become stale over time. Overall, the game offers a visually stunning experience with intuitive mechanics, though it may not satisfy those seeking deeper gameplay complexity.
- “The pathless is one of the great adventures that captivates with its breathtaking semi-open worlds and fun gameplay.”
- “Beautiful, atmospheric, amazing flow-state gameplay and a surprisingly enjoyable story with lore told through the environment and exploration.”
- “The gameplay is crafted by carefully mixing the puzzle elements with action and platforming resulting in a unique experience.”
- “I really wish I could say the game was better, but it's pretty one-note, and it kinda got stale, with little to spice up the gameplay, especially when going for all achievements.”
- “This game looks great and I wanted to like it, but sadly I cannot recommend it as the game feels very tedious the way its gameplay and puzzles are designed.”
- “The gameplay is very basic and repetitive.”
story
506 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
55%
4%
The story of "The Pathless" is generally described as simple yet engaging, focusing on an archer and her eagle on a quest to restore balance to a corrupted world. While some reviewers appreciate the environmental storytelling and the emotional connection to the characters, others find the narrative predictable and lacking depth, often relying on familiar tropes. Overall, the game is praised for its beautiful visuals and atmospheric presentation, though opinions vary on the effectiveness and originality of its story.
- “For as you progress, you gain enhanced ways of traversing the lands, and the environmental storytelling is very interesting. I found myself deeply engaged with the unfolding story from start to finish.”
- “This captivating game follows an archer and her loyal eagle as they embark on a quest to restore balance to the world of the tall ones.”
- “With its stunning visuals, engaging gameplay, and powerful storytelling, this title is a true masterpiece that is sure to stay with you long after the credits roll.”
- “So yeah, lore isn't even great, not much story at all, minimal dialogue from the bird mother... everything is pretty linear and lackluster in my opinion, and it gets repetitive and boring really quick.”
- “The story is also nothing to write home about and is bog standard, tropey, hero's journey through and through.”
- “It's incredibly short (I've 100%ed it in 11 hours) which isn't necessarily a bad thing, but I struggle to see how the Pathless can justify its price for such a short playtime coupled with its incredibly shallow story and repetitive puzzles.”
music
416 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
66%
33%
1%
The music in the game, composed by Austin Wintory, is widely praised for its beauty and ability to enhance the overall experience, seamlessly blending with the stunning visuals and gameplay. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack's emotional depth, atmospheric qualities, and its dynamic adaptation to various gameplay situations, making it a standout feature that elevates the game's artistic presentation. While some find the music less memorable in isolation, the consensus is that it significantly contributes to the game's enchanting and immersive world.
- “Every element—from the enchanting story to the breathtaking graphics and mesmerizing soundtrack—feels like a true work of art.”
- “The game's ethereal music and minimalist visuals weave together, creating an enchanting tapestry that lures you into a captivating embrace.”
- “The music is absolutely beautiful and captivating the entire time, and the gameplay makes something as simple as walking through the map an exciting experience.”
- “The music in 'The Pathless' just doesn't resonate with me.”
- “The most baffling decision for me was the choice to stop playing the music in each plateau after you've cleansed them of the curse and beat the boss in each area.”
- “With little reason to explore the world already, no music just made it even worse, and I fail to see any reason why it shouldn't continue to play the music given how good it is (unless my game was bugged somehow?)”
graphics
372 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
62%
37%
1%
The graphics of "The Pathless" are widely praised for their stunning, vibrant art style and immersive environments, reminiscent of titles like "Journey" and "Abzu." Players appreciate the game's unique aesthetic, which combines bright colors and minimalist design, creating a visually captivating experience that enhances exploration and gameplay. However, some critiques mention minor graphical glitches and camera handling issues, but overall, the visuals are considered a standout feature that significantly contributes to the game's charm.
- “Every element—from the enchanting story to the breathtaking graphics and mesmerizing soundtrack—feels like a true work of art.”
- “The game's art style is simply gorgeous, with a vibrant color palette and beautifully detailed environments that truly transport you to another world.”
- “The visuals are absolutely the game's most striking and defining feature and I applaud the style and scale.”
- “Only 5 minutes in and I was already sure this game is not for me; control, camera handling, graphics, storytelling all feel like this is just an alpha build.”
- “The visuals, movement, and music are absolutely enjoyable, but that's really all the meat there is to it - and really rather lean at that.”
- “The visuals are striking and help the game stand out, but I believe the base price is too high for what’s offered.”
atmosphere
84 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
71%
25%
4%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its stunning visuals, immersive sound design, and fluid gameplay that creates a captivating experience. Reviewers highlight the beautiful art direction and music, which enhance the mythical and serene environments, making exploration feel meaningful and engaging. Overall, the game successfully combines a rich ambiance with a compelling narrative, drawing players into its world.
- “The pathless envelops you in a mythical atmosphere, where every step flows like a dance, effortlessly guiding you through a world of boundless wonder.”
- “The atmosphere, the ambiance, the sound design, and the art style, it's all wonderfully made.”
- “A beautiful and atmospheric exploration-puzzle game which plays like a love child of Shadow of the Colossus and the puzzle sections of Breath of the Wild.”
- “The only thing I can really nitpick is the collisions of objects in boss fights and cutscenes: again, I understand that this is an indie game, but when in a pre-rendered cutscene up-close you see how the character’s bandana is fluttering through the bow, it kind of breaks the atmosphere and perception of the world.”
- “The lack of any failure state undermines the stakes and atmosphere the game painstakingly establishes.”
- “Now, the atmosphere in The Pathless is not always as calming as in Abzû.”
grinding
62 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
3%
10%
87%
The reviews highlight a mixed experience with grinding in the game, where some players find the exploration and puzzle-solving enjoyable initially, but ultimately tedious due to repetitive tasks and lack of meaningful rewards. While the movement mechanics are praised for making traversal fun, many feel that the need to grind for collectibles and complete puzzles detracts from the overall enjoyment, leading to a drawn-out experience. Overall, the game is seen as cozy and relaxing, but the grinding elements can become frustrating and monotonous.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “A bit grindy sometimes.”
- “The problem is that within each major area of the world, there's no reason to go for any completion of extra content unless you complete 100% of it, which is a major issue because it creates a high incentive to commit to the least fun part of the game (grinding puzzle completion for extra powers).”
- “If it were a 2-hour game, it might offer a better experience, but the developers decided to add unnecessary hours to the game by forcing the player to engage in tedious walks and fights, stretching the gameplay to 6 hours.”
- “The gameplay consists of nothing more than tedious token-finding and puzzle-solving.”
emotional
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
94%
6%
The emotional aspect of the game is highly praised, with many players noting its ability to evoke strong feelings, including tears and joy, through its compelling narrative and touching relationships, particularly with the eagle companion. The game's beautiful visuals and ambient music further enhance the emotional experience, drawing comparisons to other emotionally resonant titles like "Journey" and "Gris." While some found the story less impactful than expected, the overall emotional depth and connection to the characters remain a standout feature.
- “Beautiful, extremely fluid, and made me cry at least five times.”
- “The game's narrative is both emotional and compelling, and the relationship between the player and their animal companion is truly touching.”
- “These games have the ability to emotionally connect with the player and use that connection to build more and more investment into the story and its characters.”
optimization
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
58%
21%
Overall, the game's optimization varies significantly across different platforms and hardware configurations. While it runs smoothly on PS5 with locked frame rates and high visual fidelity, users with certain PC setups, particularly those with AMD GPUs, report issues like stuttering and performance drops, especially at higher settings. Additionally, the Steam Deck experience is notably subpar, indicating that the game may not be universally optimized for all systems.
- “Overall, the game seems to be optimized really well and that's with the highest visual settings on.”
- “Current settings yield 80 to 100 fps without any significant or noticeable performance drops.”
- “It's very pretty and performance was great on my system.”
- “My experience with the game was marred by frequent stuttering, even on a system with a 5700 XT + 3700X setup.”
- “It appears that the game might not be well-optimized for my GPU.”
- “The game is not optimized very well, so expect to use high TDP to hit consistent FPS.”
humor
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is highlighted by its lighthearted mechanics, such as a forgiving gameplay style and an easy aim system, which contribute to a fun experience. Players find amusement in the quirky interactions, like a bird humorously landing on glowing talismans, and the choice of well-known voice actors, Laura Bailey and Troy Baker, adds an ironic twist to the game's unique identity. Overall, the humor is described as charming and entertaining, enhancing the overall enjoyment of the game.
- “The game is incredibly forgiving, with no death states and a hilariously easy-to-use aim system.”
- “The only two voice actors in the game are Laura Bailey and Troy Baker, which I think is funny because despite this game's unique identity, it still hired the most prolific and AAA voice actors ever.”
- “Landing shot after shot on talismans (the funny glowing squares with eyes on them) and practically (or literally sometimes) flying across the landscape.”
stability
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
86%
The game's stability at launch was criticized for buggy resolution issues, which could be resolved with minor adjustments. While some players reported occasional glitches and crashes, particularly during specific encounters, many others experienced no significant problems and found the gameplay enjoyable. Overall, stability seems to vary among players, with some encountering minor issues while others report a smooth experience.
- “No bugs, no glitches, no complaints from me.”
- “No bugs, no glitches, no complaints from me.”
- “A bit buggy, but other than that, highly recommend.”
- “It's a bit short and I did encounter some glitches, but the gameplay is pretty fun.”
- “Overall, the issues really depend more on the person playing it than the game, as I haven't seen any major glitches or bugs since I started (besides crashing in Nimue's fight, I think I saw somebody else get that too).”
character development
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
30%
10%
Character development in the game is marked by visually appealing designs and a compelling background lore, though the plot and character archetypes are described as simplistic, often relying on clear-cut good versus evil motifs. The overall artistic execution, including animations and sound, reflects a high level of professionalism and passion from the developers.
- “Besides the gameplay loop, the character designs and background lore are enticing enough.”
- “Every individual element, from the music to the art, the animations to the character design, the sound effects to the level design, feels masterfully done by veteran professionals who love what they do.”
- “Some things that really stood out to me about this game were just how visually beautiful and compelling the environment and character designs were.”
- “The plot and character designs are simplistic (red and black evil, blue and white good).”
replayability
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
37%
38%
Overall, opinions on replayability are mixed; some users feel there is little to no replay value, while others highlight the enjoyment of puzzles and the abundance of details to discover, suggesting that these elements enhance replayability. The game may cater to both casual players and speedrunners, with the latter potentially finding more incentive to replay.
- “It has high replayability, what with how fun the puzzles are and how many small details there are to find.”
- “There's pretty much no replay value, but the time I did spend with it, I enjoyed.”
- “Not much replay value.”
- “Sometimes the puzzles took away from the fast, flowy movement portion, but I kind of assume you're supposed to do the bare minimum number of puzzles to speed run, and the rest are for replayability.”