WARDOGS
WARDOGS
Game
Game2021
The Pathless
Developer Giant Squid
The Pathless is an action-adventure video game developed by Giant Squid and published by Annapurna Interactive. Players control a nameless character, referred to as The Hunter, who travels to a mythical island shrouded in a supernatural curse. Instead of relying on traditional objective markers, the game focuses on intuitive exploration, archery-based movement and fluid traversal across forests, plains and ruins.… From Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
343 reactions from 4 sources (Steam reviews, Bluesky, Mastodon, Lemmy) · newest Nov 5, 2026 · last updated Nov 6, 2026 · How this works
Audience score
83
LovedLoved
176 positive · 35 negative
95% range 78–88%
| Source | + | − | = |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steam reviews | 176 | 35 | 0 |
| Bluesky * | 54 | 1 | 60 |
| Mastodon * | 2 | 0 | 10 |
| Lemmy * | 2 | 0 | 3 |
* shown, not counted in the score (label accuracy below our 85% bar or not yet audited).
Steam's own rating
Very Positive
1,301 of 1,443 reviews positive (all languages, per Valve)
What players are saying
84% recommend · 164 yes, 31 no
Counted from the reviewers’ own thumbs up/down on the 195 English Steam reviews we collected, not by the AI. Valve’s all-language rating: Very Positive (2,016 of 2,229 positive).
Players praise the beautiful visuals, music, and fluid movement. [1][2][3] Some find the gameplay repetitive and the world barren. [4][5][6] Many recommend buying on sale due to short length and performance issues. [2][7][8]
Liked
Representative posts
- [4]
There's barely any exploration or discovery - you just move from puzzle area to puzzle area across some empty spaces and those puzzles are of Skyrim variety. The world feels barren and artificial, it's open world just for the sake of it. Story is barely there. Movement could have been nice but eagle gliding reduces your speed and breaks the flow. The graphics/artstyle are both nice, but there's unreal engine …
- [1]
Overall: 7.5/10 Story: The narrative being told is a pretty simple and straightforward one that's visually driven and values environmental storytelling over dialogue-heavy cutscenes, and despite the minimalist nature it's presented with, I still think it's a pretty well-told story with a genuinely meaningful underlying message. The broad goal is obviously to restore serenity to the mystical island you've been sent …
- [10]
criminally underrated imo, though probably not the game for you if you want complex, difficult combat that requires practice and a great deal of effort - it's fairly casual in that regard (auto-aim; you just have to pull back the arrow long enough to make the shot and be careful not to fall off any cliffs when pulling back and moving at the same time). i do think it more than makes up for the more simplistic combat …
- [3]
This game is a stunning accomplishment — from its captivating movement to its gorgeous visuals and immersive sound design, every element feels thoughtfully crafted. The joy of discovery and the sublime movement mechanics kept me coming back. This is why It’s the first game where I’ve unlocked 100% of the achievements. Absolutely worth your time.
- [2]
A good game with a heavy focus on self-paced exploration and light puzzle solving. It's a good "zen" experience with a handful of dramatic sequences throughout. It's probably not worth full price, but definitely a good buy on a sale. The environments are the main appeal in my opinion. However, that does go hand-in-hand with the main issue: performance. This is a late-state UE4 app, with everything turned up, which …
Summarised from 34 of the 312 public posts collected about this game; every point cites the posts behind it ([n] opens the post) and the split is counted from the posts’ own ratings. Updated Oct 12, 2026. How summaries are made
RottenBot@rottenbot · automated account
84% of the 195 Steam reviewers we collected recommend The Pathless. The complaint that keeps coming up: repetitive gameplay loop. Deal-breaker or nitpick?
Critics, per Wikipedia
According to review aggregator Metacritic, The Pathless received "generally favorable reviews" upon release. Fellow review aggregator OpenCritic assessed that the game received strong approval, being recommended by 78% of critics. Chris Carter of Destructoid praised the dashing mechanic of The Pathless, in which the player would shoot at targets to keep their momentum, writing "It not only looks amazing in practice, but it's fun to keep running and jumping". Carter criticized some parts of the gameplay, feeling that the world and some puzzles were simplistic. He also thought the game could be repetitive at points, "While The Pathless looks great, in some sections I felt like I was going…
From the “Reception” section of Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. Critic context only — not part of the audience score.
Reactions
60 of 343 · most liked firstCurrently, I am working on my next game: Sword of the Sea. It will remind you of Journey, ABZÛ, The Pathless, and even nostalgic skating/snowboarding games- but it will take you to a new mysterious world made of moving waves. Please stay tuned to bsky.app/profile/gian... for updates. Thank you!
neutral · AI labelView post →Extra: Since shipping Journey, I started my own small game studio, Giant Squid. I created/directed ABZÛ and The Pathless, two more atmospheric adventure games. They wouldn't have been possible without the incredible team we managed to put together. If you liked Journey, you may like them as well.
neutral · AI labelView post →The next game from the studio behind ABZÛ and The Pathless, Sword of the Sea is out today and receiving rave reviews. "An atmospheric surfing adventure with fast movement inspired by classic skateboarding and snowboarding games."
neutral · AI labelView post →Movement, meaning and mindfulness combine in Sword of the Sea, a game of free-form expression and flow from Abzû and The Pathless developer Giant Squid. Our review: eurogamer.net/sword-of-the...
neutral · AI labelView post →My most anticipated game: Sword of the Sea from @giantsquidstudios.com Journey changed my life the first time I played it. I went on to play ABZU and The Pathless and I cannot stress how incredible these games are, from the stories and visuals to the score composed by Austin Wintory. Play them! 💜
neutral · AI labelView post →What a great game. I've had The Pathless for a while now, but just decided to give it a go. I'm so glad I did. Not quite Journey, but very Journey-esque. A beautiful story, beautiful meaning. I need more games like this in my life
positive · AI labelView post →Grammy-winning composer @awintory.bsky.social and actor Troy Baker are teaming up for a special live show at the Game Music Festival in London. Joined by the renowned London Mozart Players, they’ll perform music from ABZÛ, The Pathless, Sword of the Sea, and more!
neutral · AI labelView post →**Tunic** is a solid 10-15 hour adventure game, and I highly recommend playing without spoilers as several experiences are information-locked like Outer Wilds. It's an isometric adventure game heavily inspired by Zelda with some Souls influence bleeding into the lore, mechanics, and boss fights. Replayability is limited to speedrunning and challenge runs. **Bastion** is a wonderful adventure game with a heavy focus on combat. It's a precursor to Hades from the same developer, and shares the…
neutral · AI labelView post →I took a mental day for myself yesterday but we are BACK with the FINAL day of Easley’s medical donothon. Every donation no matter the amount gets a temporary tattoo! I’m playing The Pathless, the last game of the Giant Squidathon before Sword of the Sea. Come hang! twitch.tv/ridezeshoopuf
neutral · AI labelView post →The Pathless is an atmospheric adventure, not a horror game, but it does have its spooky moments like this gift from beyond the grave 💀 to get you in the Halloween Spirit 🎃
neutral · AI labelView post →There's barely any exploration or discovery - you just move from puzzle area to puzzle area across some empty spaces and those puzzles are of Skyrim variety. The world feels barren and artificial, it's open world just for the sake of it. Story is barely there. Movement could have been nice but eagle gliding reduces your speed and breaks the flow. The graphics/artstyle are both nice, but there's unreal engine stutter, as usual. Ultimately - it's nice to look at, there are some cool set pieces,…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This is your cue to recommend me an underrated indie game. It doesn't matter the genre, if you think it's worth playing, then throw it my way! (The GIF is from The Pathless, and I recommend it to everyone, it's a wonderful game)
positive · AI labelView post →And if you are interested in playing The Pathless, check out store links, trailers, and more about the game here. Thank you! thepathless.com
neutral · AI labelView post →We finished playing The Pathless from @giantsquidstudios.com It was a lovely game, beautiful scenery, lots of fun mini puzzles, no handholding, and a sweet bird friend. The power of friendship saved the day and I loved it 😊✨🏹 I hope you'll consider checking this game out~
positive · AI labelView post →I'm Bre Melvin, and I'm currently a lead animator working on an unannounced game project at SpryFox. Previously, I was the cinematics animator for The Pathless. I also like to draw fan art and paint landscapes. Latest demo reel at https://vimeo.com/453174930
neutral · AI labelView post →BROKEN ON RTX 50-SERIES WITH NVIDIA 610-SERIES DRIVERS Not recommended until this compatibility issue is fixed. On an RTX 50-series GPU, The Pathless crashes or fails to launch when using NVIDIA’s 610-series driver branch. The temporary solutions are to roll back the entire PC to an older 500-series driver, such as 591.86, or use an unofficial workaround like DXVK. This is not isolated to one game. Similar 610-series driver problems also affect A Plague Tale: Innocence and Life is Strange:…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The next game I'm playing is The Pathless! This is a unique release that can get you into a good flow state through its momentum based traversal. There's no artbook for this one, but check out some art below from @cindyliuart.bsky.social!
neutral · AI labelView post →The next game I’m playing this week is going to be Sword Of The Sea. This was made by the same developer as Abzǔ and The Pathless which are 2 games I heavily enjoyed, so I hope I like this one too.
neutral · AI labelView post →A streamer I watch called Mapocolops spins a wheel to play a random game each week! I wanna do an art piece for most game days I can, as it means I also am not in control of what i draw! And that's fun. 🤣 This week was the Pathless
neutral · AI labelView post →Overall: 7.5/10 Story: The narrative being told is a pretty simple and straightforward one that's visually driven and values environmental storytelling over dialogue-heavy cutscenes, and despite the minimalist nature it's presented with, I still think it's a pretty well-told story with a genuinely meaningful underlying message. The broad goal is obviously to restore serenity to the mystical island you've been sent to, but I really appreciated how most of the finer details of the narrative…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →My goal to work through my indie backlog is going great so far! I think I've got one more in me before I move on to a bigger game. Which is what I said after The Pathless so we'll see what I decide!
neutral · AI labelView post →The timing mechanic gives archery in The Pathless a unique, satisfying rhythm-game like feel and makes it simple for all players to become the skilled Hunter. We hope you will give it a try!
neutral · AI labelView post →Hold left trigger to run. press right trigger to hit targets. repeat. repeat. repeat. I can’t understand how this game has positive reviews, as I don’t believe it to be a game. It’s a mildly interactive, repetitive experience. Probably one of the laziest attempts at a sudo walking simulator I’ve ever seen what utter crap. I was frantically asking ai if there was more gameplay to come or some enemies or if the difficulty of puzzles would become of Interest. Sadly no. This game is sadly a…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Man alive this is looking incredible. The Pathless is an all-time “moving the character feels good” game so I’ve got high hopes for Sword of the Sea.
neutral · AI labelView post →I really enjoyed this game, but I do get that it wouldn't be for everyone. Pathless is beautiful. It feels great getting around. The connection between the eagle gameplay and story is great. It's also really, really easy, which was fine for me because I was wanting a breezy, artful experience. This will not challenge you, but I do think it's worthwhile.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →If your favorite part of certain open world games is roaming alone in the wilderness, spotting odd things and wondering if they're anything and then having the game say "that is indeed a thing, good job finding that!" then you'll probably enjoy this a lot. I know I do.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Really enjoying The Pathless as my morning coffee in bed game
positive · AI labelView post →A good game with a heavy focus on self-paced exploration and light puzzle solving. It's a good "zen" experience with a handful of dramatic sequences throughout. It's probably not worth full price, but definitely a good buy on a sale. The environments are the main appeal in my opinion. However, that does go hand-in-hand with the main issue: performance. This is a late-state UE4 app, with everything turned up, which makes it very demanding game, and unfortunately I cannot recommend running it…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Classic bird commander Soraya the Falconer from Homelands reimagined in the Kamigawa ninja card frame as the Hunter from the video game, The Pathless. Have you played it? 🦅🥷 Falconer ninja is pretty cool. #mtg #magicthegathering #proxy #EDH #mtgproxy #proxymtg
neutral · AI labelView post →criminally underrated imo, though probably not the game for you if you want complex, difficult combat that requires practice and a great deal of effort - it's fairly casual in that regard (auto-aim; you just have to pull back the arrow long enough to make the shot and be careful not to fall off any cliffs when pulling back and moving at the same time). i do think it more than makes up for the more simplistic combat with the sheer fluidity and fun of the movement and flight mechanics. the boss…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →hawk petting simulator 10/10 game (THE PATHLESS) twitch.tv/hazardseal 🔴 LIVE
positive · AI labelView post →I've finally finished Sword of the Sea, and it continued to deliver all the way through. It's from Giant Squid (the ABZU and The Pathless studio) and it's easily one of the most beautiful games I've ever played. The game surprised and delighted me all the way through.
neutral · AI labelView post →for the algorithm! 🤍 Hi! I'm a student and game design tutor pursuing degrees in both CS and Digital Media interests: [video games / games] Dungeons and Dragons Baldur's Gate 3 Kingdom Hearts Okami Abzu Journey The Pathless Shadow of the Colossus Ico [animanga] Tokyo Ghoul Jujutsu Kaisen #promosky
neutral · AI labelView post →What are you playing this weekend? (2023.08.18). This past week I found myself with some unexpected extra gaming time and boy did I take advantage of it. I finally beat **Uncharted: Lost Legacy**, I beat **The Pathless**, and I beat **Bleak Sword DX** (on PC). ### Uncharted: Lost Legacy (PS5 upgrade) #### Pros: * Outstanding environmental details * Great character chemistry and backstory * More Uncharted #### Cons: * Gameplay is a bit dated with what we have come to expect from Naughty Dog *…
neutral · AI labelView post →I had a lot of fun with Journey, ABZÛ and The Pathless, so let's go check out the next game from the same artists, Sword of the Sea! I'm mostly used to flying but I can be persuaded to try a hoversword! Live at 9 PM GMT+2 (in about 15 mins) at twitch.tv/jaybirbgames! CAW!
neutral · AI labelView post →Disclaimer: Get on sale With a sale I only paid ~$10. Well worth it in my opinion. The puzzles are the right amount of difficulty, not too easy and not too hard. I did not have to look up anything for game guidance. The controls are really fun in this game. Smooth running and eagle gliding. Each boss battle has different gimmicks so fights don't become repetitive. Besides the boss battles, a very relaxing game with a gorgeous soundtrack. For the time the game takes, $39.99? A bit pricy for…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I can't bring myself to play beyond the first area with it just being rinse and repeat of the same loop multiple times. Neither the gameplay or exploration are strong enough to hold it up for any longer for me.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →5. The Pathless Another beautiful game from Giant Squid. Really enjoyed the movement in this one and the music is reallllly good. store.steampowered.com/app/1492680/...
positive · AI labelView post →Platinum #43: The Pathless Gorgeous game with great music, movement, boss fights, spectacle, and unexpected Laura Bailey/Troy Baker voice acting. Had this on my list for a long while and glad I finally picked it up!
positive · AI labelView post →Finished The Pathless. 8.5/10 it has some great puzzles and really good boss fights. It’s like a smaller BOTW I really enjoyed it. Catch it on sale though not sure if it’s worth $40 that steam is asking, mostly because it’s a 4 year old game. Great rec @blessingjr.bsky.social puzzle papi
positive · AI labelView post →So I guess now that I have this account, I might as well share my art. Here it is. This is the Eagle from the video game The Pathless, from Giant Squid. #thepathless #fanart #illustration
neutral · AI labelView post →Game 004: The Pathless This game is gorgeous. A short, but unforgettable adventure featuring a bunch of cleaver environment puzzles, beautiful scenarios and a protagonist that is a joy to control. One of the most relaxing, yet thrilling games I've ever played.
positive · AI labelView post →Really simple but fun. The game looks beautiful, and the soundtrack is great. Gameplay consists mostly of pressing 3 buttons, but getting the hang of the movement is really enjoyable and rewarding. The puzzles are pretty easy. The boss fights are also not that hard, but they look fantastic. I enjoyed my time with it. I would say get it on sale.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Yes, the graphics are nice, and the soundtrack is quite good, but the gameplay isn't. 95% of the time you run around and collect items, solving puzzles along the way. Those puzzles all follow the same pattern and are all quite easy. All in all, no real feeling of achievement. The other 5% are combat against the area bosses. Not impressed, got bored very quickly.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →A very fun and relaxing game with Mongolia meets Princess Mononoke and The Last Airbender vibes. The entire gameplay loop revolves around moving quickly around the map by shooting talismans that replenish your rapidly depleting stamina bar. There is always assist when aiming and you cannot die or fail (except one achievement), so it's very low stress. UI is minimalistic and immersive, but you can always use the spirit mask to guide you towards points of interest. In each area you need to…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The Pathless is a very average game personally. The art style is undeniably gorgeous and the world is visually striking, but that’s about where the positives end. Once you get past the presentation, there’s really nothing underneath to keep you engaged. The gameplay is extremely simple, and it gets old fast. The movement gimmick is neat for the first 20 minutes, but after a couple of hours it feels like you’re doing the exact same thing over and over again with no evolution. The puzzles are…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This game is a stunning accomplishment — from its captivating movement to its gorgeous visuals and immersive sound design, every element feels thoughtfully crafted. The joy of discovery and the sublime movement mechanics kept me coming back. This is why It’s the first game where I’ve unlocked 100% of the achievements. Absolutely worth your time.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →The Pathless was a fun game
positive · AI labelView post →Giant Squid's most "traditional" video game. Drops you into a world where you need to solve puzzles to get keys that unlock the boss fight for that area. Has a very unique and fun traversal mechanic where you shoot targets to get a speed boost and recharge your stamina. Beautiful artistry and sound effects accompanied by big set piece bosses. Vibes of Breath of the Wild and Shadow of the Colossus, highly recommend.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Finished my first boss battle in The Pathless and it was an incredible experience. The scale of the battle and how fluid it was was just perfection. Looking forward to seeing more of this amazing game.
positive · AI labelView post →The truth is a pathless land Game: The Pathless #vtuberen #thepathless #twitch #Vtuber #shorts
neutral · AI labelView post →top games? This is pretty old but the only game missing that I can recall is The Pathless
neutral · AI labelView post →Wow, Austin Wintory (Journey, Banner Saga, The Pathless, etc.) was doing music for the canceled Mass Effect game youtu.be/dBO8s_McKjU?...
neutral · AI labelView post →It's crazy beautiful, it's much more a game about how it feels to play it vs the gameplay itself. The puzzles are generally simple and it's basically impossible to 'die' in this game. It's very accessible but less game'ish. The camera work when you start running is out of this world! You could say it has the delight of MONUMENT VALLEY.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →This game does not run on RTX 50 series graphic cards - current gen hardware. It immediately crashes upon start up. Rather then fix the problem themselves, the Devs would rather blame Nvidia's drivers and have you resort to a community fix to fix the problem. I was able to play it on a Steam Deck and the game content is fine. However, most gamers may not have access to a secondary device to play a game. The Devs show no interest in fixing the problem so I have to give it a negative review.
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →Lovely experience, a Zelda light with modest combat requirements and a wonderful landscap to explore. Its the sort of gameplay experience we used to get, devoid of modern cash grab and fomo DLC mechanics. Its not super long, but thats because its not overstaying its welcome, do the puzzles, get the upgrades and story pieces and enjoy what has been crafted here.
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I loved this game!! The story was great, the graphics are very pretty, the music is absolutely epic (Austin Wintory). It is rather short because I beat it within 10 hours but I will be playing through it again so I can get all the achievements. I also know there are some secrets I need to find as well. The boss fights are challenging but I like the fact that you don't have to start the whole battle over again if you "die" because you get knocked out of the area instead. I give this 9/10, only…
positive · reviewer's own thumbsView post →I was really expecting to enjoy this game but I can't finish it and it is definitely not worth the selling price. Once you've played the first hour or so, you've seen everything. You've unlocked all the abilities and nothing else is introduced thereafter, as far as I can tell. The puzzles are fun but moving between them is a slog - the world is pointlessly large and empty and moving around with the archery running mechanic does not feel nearly as good as the trailer makes it look. It's fun for…
negative · reviewer's own thumbsView post →They should make a god of war game that looks less like every other photorealistic AAAA game and looks more like The Pathless or something like that
neutral · AI labelView post →I’m enjoying this game so much ❤️ as I did with The Pathless and ABZÛ 🗡️🌊
positive · AI labelView post →
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