The Pathless – PAX East 2020 Preview

Giant Squid did it again with another mysterious and visually beautiful exploration game.

The Pathless is about a hunter and their eagle. Corrupted spirits fill the world of The Pathless and you, the player, are tasked with cleaning them up. You and your eagle will need to rely on each other to survive. The game seems to really emphasize this. Adding this layer of companionship was something that really added to my experience. I found myself caring for this bird.

The game has a “cool down” mechanic that doesn’t let you overwork your bird. Luckily, spending quality time with (petting it) will return it to proper working form. Making the bird more than just a tool was perfectly executed. Something as simple as petting the bird made my interactions with it seem more meaningful. This gameplay loop of taking care of each other in different ways really something special.

Giant Squid is no stranger to games with beautiful art styles and The Pathless is no different. The neon targets spread across a dark forest really pop with color. Much like Giant Squid’s other title, Abzu, the shading is mesmerizing. The visuals are a huge part of this game and really need to be seen to understand.

The Pathless has intentionally simple controls. The game doesn’t want you to focus on the controls – it just wants you to experience the game. The gameplay loop of sliding and shooting constantly keeps you moving. You would think this would feel hectic, but it honestly is almost relaxing.

This game is definitely one to look out for and luckily we won’t have to wait long. The Pathless is coming out sometime in 2020 on PS4, Epic Store, and Apple Arcade.