The Pale Beyond

 PC
Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 9 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 9
  3. Negative: 0 out of 9
  1. New Game Network
    Mar 7, 2023
    62
    The Pale Beyond has a nice art style and tries to balance an intriguing story and survival gameplay, but the two elements never find common ground, and the technical issues eventually drag the whole experience into the icy waters.
  2. 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.
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  1. Polygon
    Feb 23, 2023
    The Pale Beyond, for all its flaws and frustrations, still manages to retain a desolate sort of charm, rough edges and all. It isn’t afraid to put Shaw in horrendously painful situations where there’s no good outcome — there’s one exceptionally bleak scenario where you can practically feel the game gleefully milking what’s left of your serotonin. Coming off the ice and making land after nearly 40 weeks of hell really feels like moving between two worlds; the background art and environments are positively unearthly when shrouded in ominous fog and hazy light. The ocean scenes with icebergs awash in pinks and oranges are truly gorgeous, as are the dark, roiling storms. If only the internal logic of the overall plot was a little more cohesive, and a little less patched together, I feel like I would actually return to the Temperance and give it another whirl. As it stands, I’m still choosing the ending where I get to head home and eat a civilized meal.
  2. Rock, Paper, Shotgun
    Feb 23, 2023
    With those bugs squashed, The Pale Beyond would be a stonking survival game. I love the attention to detail in the story and characters, which makes you want to hang in there not for the sake of beating the campaign, but because you genuinely want to spend more time with the crew - and find out the bigger mystery behind the missing ship. Next time I'm going to try and save every single person, and not just barely make it through with half my crew dead and the other half frostbitten and starving. I think it's going to take me a while, though.

Awards & Rankings

100
#100 Most Discussed PC Game of 2023

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
5.7

Mixed or average reviews- based on 17 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 17
  3. Negative: 6 out of 17
  1. 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.    … Full Review »
  2. 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.… Full Review »
  3. 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!… Full Review »
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