The Pathless

🎮 Steam ⏳ 10 hours ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)

Fluid Exploration Focus #

The Pathless is a visually striking action-adventure game, developed by the same studio behind Abzû, it emphasizes exploration and movement over traditional combat-heavy gameplay. The MC is Hunter, accompanied by an eagle companion, as they traverse a cursed island to restore its light. The game is built around fluid traversal mechanics, sprinting and gliding across vast landscapes while hitting targets with a bow to maintain momentum creates a unique sense of flow and freedom.

Atmospheric Presentation Strength #

One of the game’s strongest aspects is its presentation. The stylized art direction gives the world a painterly, almost mythical feel, and the OST adds emotional depth to both quiet exploration and intense boss encounters. The bond with the eagle companion also enhances the atmosphere, making traversal and puzzle-solving more engaging while adding a touch of warmth to an otherwise desolate world. It is clearly inspired by games such as Shadow of The Colossus when it comes to the MC and his companion animal, though not with the same level of depth.

Repetition and Limitations #

However, The Pathless does show its limitations over time, the core puzzles and activities, while elegant at first, repeat often and don’t evolve much as the game progresses. My biggest complain is the side-quests, which are just “side-puzzles”, they are too numerous, which can be somewhat tedious if you try to do them all like I did. The open world, though beautiful, can feel sparse and lacking in meaningful variety, this makes the journey feel less rewarding for people who prefer more intricate mechanics or denser environments, similar to what we can see with the already mentioned SOTC.

Movement-Driven Experience #

Overall, The Pathless succeeds as a meditative and graceful adventure, it’s strengths lie in movement, mood, and presentation rather than complexity or depth. At first, the standout for me was the OST and the visuals, but I stayed playing this until the end solely because of it’s amazing movement mechanics, it is truly one of the most satisfying ones I’ve ever experienced. For people seeking a short, atmospheric experience that blends exploration with light puzzle-solving, it offers a memorable journey even if it doesn’t quite sustain its magic throughout.