The Pale Beyond

 PC
The Pale Beyond Image
Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 9 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
5.7

Mixed or average reviews- based on 17 Ratings

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  • Summary: Five years ago, The Viscount and its crew set sail through The Pale Passage in search of absolute magnetic South. The ship and its crew were tragically lost to the ice, never to be seen again. Her sister ship, The Temperance shall follow in her path, hoping to find answers where The ViscountFive years ago, The Viscount and its crew set sail through The Pale Passage in search of absolute magnetic South. The ship and its crew were tragically lost to the ice, never to be seen again. Her sister ship, The Temperance shall follow in her path, hoping to find answers where The Viscount failed.

    You didn't ask to lead this expedition, but here you are. Stuck in the ice, Captain missing, miles from civilisation. Someone has to take charge.

    Manage your meagre resources, balance safety and morale, make the hard calls, and head in the only direction you can - through The Pale Beyond.    … Expand

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 9
  3. Negative: 0 out of 9
  1. GamingTrend
    Feb 23, 2023
    90
    The Pale Beyond is a masterclass in tone and atmosphere informing gameplay. As Captain Robin Shaw, you’ll need to make tough decisions constantly, but this stressful journey is well worth seeing through to the end.
  2. COGconnected
    Mar 7, 2023
    85
    If you’re a frostbite-loving freak like me, The Pale Beyond is the game for you. It makes me optimistic about the future of this niche genre. The amount of research and care is apparent as you play. The opaque gameplay systems draw you into the narrative, but leave you in suspense. If you’ve made it this far in the review, I have to assume one of those things is appealing to you. Play The Pale Beyond; it might just be the best novel you read this year.
  3. Screen Rant
    Feb 23, 2023
    80
    For a weaker game, dealing with even minor issues might be a deal-breaker, but The Pale Beyond offers more than enough to overcome these quirks. The difficulty is well-honed, forcing players to stay on their toes without verging on frustrating, and the unanswered questions that arise in the story remain engaging until the final revelations. Although the interpersonal component isn't dialed up to draw out tears, solid character writing makes tough choices and failures fall heavy. The Pale Beyond's expedition might encounter a few rough seas, but players willing to brave them can find a journey that is abundantly worthwhile.
  4. God is a Geek
    Feb 23, 2023
    80
    The Pale Beyond is bleak and miserable in all the right ways, with a fantastic setting for a survival game.
  5. Edge Magazine
    Feb 24, 2023
    80
    Fascinating. [Issue#382, p.110]
    All this publication's reviews
  6. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Jan 23, 2024
    80
    The graphical representation of the individual characters must also be highlighted. The game is not perfect, but it is chillingly captivating in places. [Issue#326]
    All this publication's reviews
  7. Games.cz
    Apr 17, 2023
    50
    This game is pretty and it’s interesting in the way it presents a dangerous situation through a well-written story. The gameplay is nothing to be celebrated, however, and there are some genuine design mistakes sprinkled in.

See all 11 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 7
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 7
  3. Negative: 1 out of 7
  1. Feresoth
    Sep 7, 2023
    10
    Love the artstyle, the characters all look distinct despite being similar, the writing is so natural, the managment systems are the weakestLove the artstyle, the characters all look distinct despite being similar, the writing is so natural, the managment systems are the weakest part in the game, although somewhat repetitive they still are fun since mistakes pile up and affect the story greatly!… Expand
  2. kozzy420
    Feb 26, 2023
    10
    Amazing game!

    Great atmosphere, setting, art design, characters and writing! if you liked Pentiment, pick this up asap. Underrated smaller    Amazing game!

    Great atmosphere, setting, art design, characters and writing!
    if you liked Pentiment, pick this up asap. Underrated smaller games that really go at there setting and time period so well. And also do great characters and writing. Love the game! Get it people!    … Expand
  4. ggscv
    Sep 11, 2023
    9
    Awesome aesthetic, theme, story and writing. Has some bugs, which depending on your luck might pull this game down to an 8 or 7, but otherwiseAwesome aesthetic, theme, story and writing. Has some bugs, which depending on your luck might pull this game down to an 8 or 7, but otherwise is an engaging, well presented and well written game that fans of Frostpunk, Disco Elysium or This War of Mine will definitely enjoy.… Expand
  5. Sepherim
    Mar 29, 2023
    8
    The Pale Beyond es sin duda un buen juego, no uno perfecto pero si una experiencia distinta que vale la pena. Por un lado es un juegoThe Pale Beyond es sin duda un buen juego, no uno perfecto pero si una experiencia distinta que vale la pena. Por un lado es un juego narrativo, con buenos personajes, bien llevados y con muchas conversaciones y decisiones que ir tomando que marcan las muchas maneras en que la historia puede progresar. Me hubieran gustado más conversaciones, sin duda, pero al final siempre se quiere más. La otra cara de la moneda es un juego de gestión de recursos en el que asignar nuestra tripulación a distintas tareas para garantizar nuestra supervivencia en el hielo. Es una jugabilidad un poco sencilla de más, pero cumple bien con lo que pretende como complemento a la parte narrativa. Todo ello junto realmente nos transporta a una situación muy dura, en medio del polo sin prácticamente recursos y donde tomar muchas decisiones que determinan quienes viven o mueren. Hay momentos en que hasta se siente el frío.

    A nivel gráfico el juego no es excelente pero si tiene una ejecución muy eficaz y con mucha personalidad propia. El sonido es un apartado discreto en principio pero los efectos sonoros están bien hechos y la música cumple muy bien, apareciendo en momentos contados para aportar un extra de atmósfera que funciona. Es cierto que al principio tuvo unos cuantos bugs, aunque la verdad es que el equipo los ha ido puliendo y yo la verdad es que no me he tropezado con casi ninguno.

    Por todo ello, aunque no es perfecto, The Pale Beyond sí que es un juego especial y diferente. Podría haber sido más profundo en cada apartado, pero al final no importa tanto una vez te adentras en su historia, empiezas a tratar con los miembros de la tripulación y haces de la expedición tu responsabilidad. Un 8.    … Expand
  6. Krutonite
    Jun 13, 2023
    8
    I gave a negative/not-recommended review on Steam, but for an indie first-time effort this is a solid 8/10 and the future is bright for theseI gave a negative/not-recommended review on Steam, but for an indie first-time effort this is a solid 8/10 and the future is bright for these guys.

    My Steam review was more comprehensive but on here I will summarise with this:
    Great immersive writing, art style, music and characters. Clearly a labour of love, with all the attention to detail and atmosphere that comes with that.
    However, for me, there is an unsurmountable conflict between an interactive choice-based story and a survival game.
    In basic terms, the game wants you to replay it, but it's annoying to replay.    … Expand
  7. SkyTurtle
    Mar 3, 2023
    7
    Excellent writing, as the gameplay began to become repetitive the story ramped up into a fantastic buildup towards the end. There is noExcellent writing, as the gameplay began to become repetitive the story ramped up into a fantastic buildup towards the end. There is no release... An ending but no resolution and no epilogue. It feels like such an empty victory carefully navigating choices to keep everyone alive and happy to not find out what happens to anyone afterwards. Nor a satisfying conclusion to round out the story.

    TLDR: Despite the fantastic storytelling and branching options, the story has no ACTUAL ending. We can only hope they complete the story in the future.    … Expand
  8. dani3po
    Aug 9, 2023
    1
    Terrible graphics, bad optimization and boring gameplay. Also, very repetitive.

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100
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