The Path

 PC
User Score
6.7

Mixed or average reviews- based on 124 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 70 out of 124
  2. Mixed: 22 out of 124
  3. Negative: 32 out of 124

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  1. fartheststar
    Nov 15, 2015
    4
    Sorry, I just can't recommend this. I wondered around slowly in the forest for a while, picking up objects for no reason that I could discern, found locations triggering events that didn't make much sense. I understand from other reviews that there's likely a story here, but nothing compelled me to keep playing beyond my first couple of tries. Normally I like world exploration, but thisSorry, I just can't recommend this. I wondered around slowly in the forest for a while, picking up objects for no reason that I could discern, found locations triggering events that didn't make much sense. I understand from other reviews that there's likely a story here, but nothing compelled me to keep playing beyond my first couple of tries. Normally I like world exploration, but this was not rewarding.

    I'm glad I played through it a couple of times in effort to understand what folks were saying about the game, but I just found it slow and unengaging. I liked games like Dear Esther, Gone Home, and Lifeless Planet, so I thought I'd like this. The Path, however, just didn't do much for me.    … Expand
  2. BlueRaja
    Feb 17, 2013
    0
    Boring, slow, pretentious. You walk along a path, moving really really slowly. If you walk for long enough, you reach grandmother's house and the game starts over. If you walk off the path, some weird and completely arbitrary events are triggered (ex. I found a woman playing piano in a gazebo, and the game gave me some philosophical one-liners about living life the way I want to, orBoring, slow, pretentious. You walk along a path, moving really really slowly. If you walk for long enough, you reach grandmother's house and the game starts over. If you walk off the path, some weird and completely arbitrary events are triggered (ex. I found a woman playing piano in a gazebo, and the game gave me some philosophical one-liners about living life the way I want to, or something). There's no storyline or entertainment of any kind. Don't waste your time.… Expand
  3. [Anonymous]
    May 5, 2009
    0
    Wow, just wow. The game shipped without the ability to change resolution or refresh rate. What does this mean for the unfortunate among us who's monitor can't recognize whatever the default resolution is? No game. To add insult to injourney, on the game developer's own forum they explain that instead of fixing this problem immediately they are working on the Mac port. Talk Wow, just wow. The game shipped without the ability to change resolution or refresh rate. What does this mean for the unfortunate among us who's monitor can't recognize whatever the default resolution is? No game. To add insult to injourney, on the game developer's own forum they explain that instead of fixing this problem immediately they are working on the Mac port. Talk about horrible business decisions. The developer is saying that paying customers are less important than potential ones, ie as long as the customer has given them their money that's all they care about. Awful, simply awful.… Expand
  4. MartijnSlagman
    May 6, 2009
    2
    Poor game.

    It doesnt keep you into the game, after walking for half hour you will get extremely bored. There is nothing artistic about this game. With weird sound(Chains etc.) they try to create a horror scene with some macabre scenery.

    Yes it's only
  5. Centipede
    Jan 30, 2010
    1
    I give this game an extremely low rating for a number of reasons. The top of the list for why I'm giving it such a low rating is that it is advertised incorrectly. It's advertised as a horror game. While there certainly are some horror aspects to the software, it isn't a game in the traditional sense of the word. It's more like a toy, or interactive fiction. All games I give this game an extremely low rating for a number of reasons. The top of the list for why I'm giving it such a low rating is that it is advertised incorrectly. It's advertised as a horror game. While there certainly are some horror aspects to the software, it isn't a game in the traditional sense of the word. It's more like a toy, or interactive fiction. All games either have a goal, or something to work towards, this software does not. You will definitely be disappointed if you purchased this expecting a game. Once I understood that I was looking at an art piece, and not a game, it was better, but still far from good. The controls are intentionally bad, I understand the developers were trying to make a point with this, but bad controls never make anything more fun. Speaking of fun, 'The Path' never makes any effort to be fun in any way. Sometimes it tries (and fails) to be playful, there are some moments of horror, but a large majority of the time it's just watching a slow (even when running) girl getting lost in the woods. Boring.… Expand
  6. Vas
    Jun 29, 2014
    0
    I never, ever, rate a game a zero. I will likely never rate another game a zero again either. This game shouldn't even be available on steam. Freaking psychopaths made this game.

    The first time I played, I obeyed the rules, and stayed on the path. It takes an extremely long time to get to your objective, and then the game ends and you get an F for obeying the rules. The second    I never, ever, rate a game a zero. I will likely never rate another game a zero again either. This game shouldn't even be available on steam. Freaking psychopaths made this game.

    The first time I played, I obeyed the rules, and stayed on the path. It takes an extremely long time to get to your objective, and then the game ends and you get an F for obeying the rules.

    The second time I played, I went off the path, found a guy burying a dead guy, I think I got raped (a little kid girl got raped) but you didn't see that, you were knocked out. I got back to my objective point (grandmother's house) only to have this house turn all funky and then my head was smashed between a wall and a giant piece of metal. A little girl's head, smashed between 2 objects. Oh and I got a C+ that time. You get a better grade based on how horribly you kill these little girls? No. No.. This game isn't right. No.    … Expand
  7. MadIboughtThisT
    Jul 31, 2009
    0
    This seems like a bad game and the reviews I have read are using its artsy to cover up for it. This is NOT a game. If you like running around a forrest pretending you are looking at Art and want to run around aimlessly imagining all of the emotions its causing you, then you may like this game but there seems to be no point or even good story to the game. I wish I never bought it.
  8. IsaacV
    Jun 10, 2009
    3
    I can tell you now I haven't played the full game. I've played the demo, but surely the demo is meant to show the best of the game. The way I see it, it starts you off with the basic instruction stay on the path. So that's what I did. And it finished. After reading the reviews now I know I wasn't meant to stay on the path, but hey, when I went into the forest there was I can tell you now I haven't played the full game. I've played the demo, but surely the demo is meant to show the best of the game. The way I see it, it starts you off with the basic instruction stay on the path. So that's what I did. And it finished. After reading the reviews now I know I wasn't meant to stay on the path, but hey, when I went into the forest there was nothing there! I will have to ave another play through, but it just needed to show something early on to make me think there was something in the forest not in the house.… Expand
  9. MarcoTorelli
    May 7, 2009
    2
    I vividly remember "American McGee's Alice" which coupled storytelling, design and gameplay into something that might be called "art" without forcefully shoving it into your face.

    The designers behind "The Path" did just that and ended up with a pseudo-intellectual crapfest that along the way sells its design deficencies as part of the supposed "art".
  10. derp_derp
    Apr 8, 2013
    3
    This is pretty much an unintentional parody of indie games.

    If you're the most pretentious person at your Hop Topic and want to experience the most convoluted adventure game logic this side of Sierra and also hate yourself I strongly recommend this game.
  11. Osyron
    Dec 30, 2015
    2
    Clunky, unintuitive controls with poor animations and sounds make this a drawn out chore rather than an enjoyable experience. Its trying to be different and for innovation i give it 2 points but its just so tedious and poorly executed to be given any more.
  12. Funksatron
    May 29, 2013
    2
    Imagine that you're deaf and a complete stranger is trying to tell you about a series of dreams they had. Also, they'll only continue telling you about the dreams as long as you're jogging backwards on a treadmill in snow-shoes. That's about as confusing, frustrating, unfulfilling, unimpressive and cohesive as the experience known as "The Path" is. All that being said, it does give it aImagine that you're deaf and a complete stranger is trying to tell you about a series of dreams they had. Also, they'll only continue telling you about the dreams as long as you're jogging backwards on a treadmill in snow-shoes. That's about as confusing, frustrating, unfulfilling, unimpressive and cohesive as the experience known as "The Path" is. All that being said, it does give it a modicum of novelty and I suppose that's worth something.… Expand
  13. iseeall
    Apr 26, 2013
    2
    While being an absolutely amazing piece of art visually, this game doesn't provide any entertainment value. It's painfully slow (e.g. you even have to watch the same cutscene which can't be skipped at the beginning of each new game). Your character walks slowly, and when you attempt to run the camera gets positioned at an inconvenient angle, as if punishing you. This game makes anWhile being an absolutely amazing piece of art visually, this game doesn't provide any entertainment value. It's painfully slow (e.g. you even have to watch the same cutscene which can't be skipped at the beginning of each new game). Your character walks slowly, and when you attempt to run the camera gets positioned at an inconvenient angle, as if punishing you. This game makes an impression that it was done not for the players (who actually paid for the game) but for the devs themselves. Guys, it's not painting where you make some picture, put it up in an exhibition and wait for a rich guy to come and buy it. This is entertainment software. If it doesn't entertain, don't call it a game. Yes, the game is notable as a message in the lines of "we wanted to do it different" and I get this message, but the product itself is not playable.… Expand
  14. AWG
    Oct 31, 2013
    3
    Pretentiousness: The Movie: The Game
  15. Pinkpansylove
    Aug 18, 2018
    3
    The whole point of the game is to not follow the path (which is the only instruction the game gives you) which is an interesting concept. However there never feels like there is any reward for exploring the world and instead becomes a frustrating experience of being lost.

Awards & Rankings

43
#43 Best PC Game of 2009
59
#59 Most Discussed PC Game of 2009
39
#39 Most Shared PC Game of 2009

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 20 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 20
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 20
  3. Negative: 0 out of 20
  1. VideoGamer
    100
    It will be years before a game made by the big budget software houses like Ubisoft or EA is brave enough to attempt anything remotely similar, but The Path shows promising signs that gaming is starting to grow up.
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  2. Gamer.nl
    80
    The Path is not a game, it's art. And damn good art too. If you're open to it, try it and draw your own conclusion.
    Read full review
  3. IGN
    77
    One thing's for sure, regardless of whether you love or hate The Path, you won't forget it.
    Read full review
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