The Pathless

 PlayStation 4
Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 17 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 17
  3. Negative: 1 out of 17
  1. DarkStation
    Nov 16, 2020
    100
    It’s hard to say when the games overall strayed into paths so unfortunately tainted by violence and blood, but to me, The Pathless is what video games are essentially about; flights into fantastical worlds like no other media could do. It is meditative escapism at its finest. Not all games need to be motion captured tragedies or realistic violence simulations. Of course, I enjoy those games now and then, too, but to detox all their pain and suffering I need something like The Pathless.
  2. GameCrate
    Nov 20, 2020
    93
    The Pathless is as majestic as it is haunting. It’s ruminative and captivating. Above all, it’s one of the most incredible meditative adventures ever created.
  3. GamingBolt
    Nov 16, 2020
    90
    The Pathless knows where its biggest strengths lie, and it constantly leverages those strengths to craft a hypnotic, rhythmic, beautiful, and captivating adventure.
  5. Cultured Vultures
    Nov 16, 2020
    90
    The Pathless is a fantastic game full of rewarding exploration and moment-to-moment gameplay that gets right at the heart of what makes open world games fun.
  6. PlayStation Universe
    Nov 15, 2020
    90
    In a world of icon-strewn maps and point to point gameplay, The Pathless encourages discovery through environmental clues and great design, setting you free of modern game shackles. It's beautiful, touching and the fast-paced gameplay is brilliant. There is nothing like The Pathless on the market at the minute and I think most people will find something about it to love. I certainly did.
  7. GAMINGbible
    Nov 10, 2020
    90
    In a year that has already provided its fair share of surprises, The Pathless might just be the best one yet. I knew this was a game I'd enjoy after seeing its debut trailer, but the way it manages to twist the well-worn open-world formula into something new and genuinely intimate is one of the most unexpected delights of 2020. I truly believe this is one game everybody needs to check out at their earliest convenience.
  8. TheSixthAxis
    Nov 10, 2020
    90
    A larger more ambitious game from Giant Squid that shares influences with Breath of the Wild only to subvert it in clever ways: retooling a bow as an ingenious mode of traversal and puzzle solving, an open world with no map, and a shooter where you don’t have to aim. It’s an accessible and streamlined approach making for an unmissable adventure to lose yourself in.
  9. Hobby Consolas
    Nov 10, 2020
    87
    The Pathless picks ideas from some of the greatest adventures and adapts them to create something new, with its own identity. Maybe it's not the longest, but its one of those titles that you will remember for long time, for its wonderful aesthetic, sound, bosses or the way you move by its world (a mechanic that is highly enjoyable).
  10. BaziCenter
    Nov 22, 2020
    85
    The Pathless is yet another brilliant game from Giant Squid, one with great harmony between almost all of its elements that sends you on a short adventure in its unknown and strange world.
  11. Noisy Pixel
    Nov 19, 2020
    80
    The Pathless is a gorgeous adventure with an entertaining traversal mechanic and a subtle but effective narrative. Running, jumping, and gliding around with your eagle friend while solving enigmatic puzzles is a real joy. While some lackluster stealth sections and difficulty maneuvering during some boss sections are present, it doesn’t take away from the overall experience. Whatever direction you decide to travel, The Pathless leads you to some special gaming moments.
  12. Eurogamer Italy
    Nov 10, 2020
    80
    Quotation forthcoming.
  13. DualShockers
    Nov 10, 2020
    80
    At the end of the day, the traversal alone is enough for me to recommend The Pathless. It’s just fun to get from place to place using your bow; everything else is just a bonus. The overall story is good with performances from Laura Bailey and Troy Baker, the different environments are vast and beautiful, and while the puzzles have a wide range of difficulty, they’re still fun to figure out. It’s just a shame that there’s no synergy between each individual gameplay loop. The Pathless is absolutely worth your time if you’re looking for a game with a sense of adventure and a rich atmosphere.
  14. VideoGamer
    Dec 3, 2020
    70
    I would prescribe The Pathless to anyone feeling numbed and locked by our days of inanition; it’s perfect if you feel your home becoming an isle on the edge of the world.
  15. Slant Magazine
    Nov 20, 2020
    60
    The Pathless ultimately buries anything it might have to say in a stupefying level of cliché, grasping for profundity in the shadow of the things that inspired it.
  16. Malditos Nerds
    Nov 18, 2020
    60
    The Pathless isn't necessarily a bad game, but it's hard to recommend. What really stands out are its puzzles and their variants, but the journey from one to the other lacks momentum. Those who have never played a similar game may find it interesting, but in general it feels a sloppy copy of previous games.
  17. Screen Rant
    Nov 10, 2020
    60
    The Pathless may have a bit of an identity crisis, with its disconnected segments never really combining to their full potential, but its impressive presentation and exhilarating speed make it worth a try nonetheless.
  18. Guardian
    Nov 11, 2020
    40
    There just isn’t very much to do in The Pathless: you run across empty fields for a while, before solving a small variety of puzzles. Boss battles, with their blend of dashing, fighting and light brainwork, drive home that the Giant Squid formula works best in small doses. The score is reduced to sparse percussion in the open field, and the world itself doesn’t offer much in terms of visual variety or secrets to uncover. The problem isn’t the rudimentary gameplay itself, but how The Pathless tries to stretch its few puzzles across several hours. I was bored after the first hour, and no new ideas or clever twists arrived to rescue me from torpor.

Awards & Rankings

87
#87 Best PS4 Game of 2020

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 52 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 37 out of 52
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 52
  3. Negative: 8 out of 52
  1. Sokop
    Nov 19, 2020
    8
    Loved the art direction.
    Loved the puzzles.
    Loved the traversal. Loved the eagle. Loved the game. If you liked Journey, you'll like The    Loved the art direction.
    Loved the puzzles.
    Loved the traversal.
    Loved the eagle.
    Loved the game.

    If you liked Journey, you'll like The Pathless.    … Full Review »
  2. TomasLacerda
    Nov 14, 2020
    8
    The game is good.
    I was a bit surprised that they didn't used more moments in the game to make us feel stronger, in moments where we were    The game is good.
    I was a bit surprised that they didn't used more moments in the game to make us feel stronger, in moments where we were supposed to. On that regard, I felt quite often underwhelmed with the progress of my character.
    Story wise, it's interesting, although I was expecting a more polished end.
    Overall it's an interesting game, with a calm vibe with refreshing mechanics.    … Full Review »
  3. Puntendo64
    Jun 8, 2021
    5
    Movement is fun but the more you progress in the game, the worse it gets. Upgrades mostly get you more jumps and after a while you don't evenMovement is fun but the more you progress in the game, the worse it gets. Upgrades mostly get you more jumps and after a while you don't even need to bother with the dashes.
    Puzzles are too simple. BOTW at least had wacky physics interactions. So basically all the side content in the game is bad.
    You'll probably have fun the first few hours but you'll wish that you had refunded the game after that.    … Full Review »
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