Pathologic 3 emphasizes using unique gameplay mechanics to tell different stories. Can you share a concrete example of how a mechanic changes the way players perceive or interpret the world?

You are very right saying that Pathologic uses game design as a way to convey the protagonist’s feelings. We don’t have many ways to influence the player’s emotions. Movement speed is one of the few such tools, but it’s an extremely noticeable and very powerful one. Dankovsky, in a state of apathy, is a very slow creature, and it is an intentionally very irritating movement speed. It’s agonizing because this apathetic-depressive state should genuinely be agonizing for the player. The aim is to create a desire to get rid of it, not because it penalises numerical stats, but simply because it’s so frustrating. Accordingly, mania is inspiration and a very fast movement, but it’s also a thriller. I’m running and my health is burning up from this run. Will I be able to run away from the rioters and find a bottle of medicine, or will I run into a dead end and die there in 14 seconds? We evoke similar feelings with the new travel system. We look at the map. We choose a district. We decide on a route. The Town breaks down into separate districts because Dankovsky perceives the Town as a set of separate locations with their own functions. He’s a stranger here, it’s just logistics that need to be solved in the most optimal way.

"Will I be able to run away from the rioters and find a bottle of medicine, or will I run into a dead end and die there in 14 seconds?"

If a player consistently makes the wrong calls, like botching every medical diagnosis, can they still reach a meaningful conclusion or “ending,” even if it’s a bad one?

On one hand, we wanted to allow the player to make mistakes, move through the story, and reach a story ending. Most games assume that the player must follow the designers’ instructions, leaving freedom perhaps only in the order of completing those instructions. For example, I must defeat this helicopter boss, maybe not right now, but after some time, but I must defeat it. Furthermore, most games forbid the player from dying, or rather, pretend the player is immortal – if a boss kills the player, then you just need to jump back in time, i.e., load a save, and continue. In Pathologic 3, we allow death by mistake.If Dankovsky commits suicide or has a heart attack, that’s part of the experience. If the player loses all time – that is, spends all the amalgam – then the game deletes all saves, and that is also part of the experience. It’s an official way to complete the game. As for diagnoses – as long as the player manages the epidemic by other means (for example, by eliminating the Shabnak, or resolving issues through administrative decrees), then making diagnoses isn’t even necessary. It’s just one way to play through the game, and all these methods can be combined (issuing quarantine and deratization decrees, creating a vaccine, eliminating the Shabnak). Obviously, not all endings can be called “positive”. Some are quite grim, but they are still endings.

To what extent will the Powers That Be shape or steer events throughout the game?

We’re treading on dangerous spoiler territory here. You mention ‘The Powers That Be’, which is a Plot Concept, so we can’t discuss it without a spoiler alert. But I would say: in this instalment of the series, we are precisely allowing the player to be a figure of power. The decrees issued by Bachelor Dankovsky are, among other things, a simulator of a medical dictator. Some decrees are intentionally absurd, some even harmful. But the Town carries out these orders, albeit in its own way. The game tries to show this gap between a conceptually correct order and the complete uselessness of that order because people create informational noise when conveying the concept to the executors.

"In this instalment of the series, we are precisely allowing the player to be a figure of power."

How much agency will players have in responding to, or pushing back against, the influence of the Powers That Be?

Again, spoilers here, of course. Let’s put it this way: if you look at the structure of events in Pathologic 3 as the notation of a chess game, there will be several aggressive moves from powerful pieces (these are strange chess, with several queens) – but the player will be able to use the conflict between these powerful pieces and make their own moves. Furthermore, in this game, moves can be replayed. I would say that a dedicated player who remembers to manage their time expenditure will be able to play this game as they wish and nothing will stop them. But you must keep the clock in mind.

Looking back on Pathologic 2, what were the biggest lessons from its development and release that directly informed how you approached Pathologic 3?

From the very beginning, we thought about game optimization. That is the main lesson we learned after the release of the previous Pathologic. The game must function as stable code, otherwise it will not even be considered a narrative or visual work.

The Pathologic 3 demo was described as featuring “entirely unique content” that hadn’t been seen before. Will that content appear in the full game as well, perhaps reframed, expanded, or experienced from another perspective?

The full version of the game contains slightly more scenes in the Capital; we will visit the Thanatica laboratory several times, where Dankovsky and his assistants are trying to find a cure for death. There will also be a certain chess episode (the theme of chess is actually quite pronounced in the game).

"There will also be a certain chess episode (the theme of chess is actually quite pronounced in the game)."

Beyond shared themes and the broader setting, will Pathologic 3 include any more direct connections to the earlier games (returning characters, events, locations, or narrative threads)?

We generally relied on the plot developments that were already outlined in the very first Pathologic in 2005. Of course, they are seen through the eyes of a different character. It’s their interpretation, but those who are very familiar with the series may see many references to past games in the series.

Now that Pathologic 3 is out, are there plans for expansions, updates, or additional content post-launch?

We are currently very actively delivering fixes for the bugs that were present at release, but there are also discussions about what we can add to the game besides fixes. Not all content made it into the final version, and not all stories were told, and not even all game features made it into the release. I think once polishing and bug fixing are complete, we will make a plan specifically for content additions.

There is going to be a Pathologic 4, surely, right?

I will say cautiously – we have some IDEAS on that matter.

As a developer, what are your thoughts on the PS5 Pro? How does boost in GPU help in developing your game compared to the base PS5?

To be honest, we simply targeted the base PS5 because after the not entirely successful console release of Pathologic 2, with the third Pathologic, we primarily wanted to achieve stability. Therefore, our main PS5 version was created specifically for the base version of the console.

"It’s very hard to beat ML-based temporal anti-aliasing (AA) with software-written heuristics"

What are your thoughts on PSSR? What kind of opportunities will this open for the game?

We do not support PSSR when running on the PS5 Pro. However, we would have loved to try it out to see if it could provide better anti-aliasing (AA) than what we shipped. It’s very hard to beat ML-based temporal anti-aliasing (AA) with software-written heuristics, as it’s a kind of supercharged heuristic in itself. While I think temporal-based AA, such as PSSR, will remain in the industry due to its upscaling, multisampling and denoising capabilities, I would like to see purely spatial ML-based alternatives for cases where temporal solutions are not suitable. If vendors won’t provide something like that, hopefully it could be achieved using self-trained cooperative vectors in modern graphics APIs and, fingers crossed, the next generation of consoles.

What resolution and frame rates will the game target on PS5, Xbox Series S, Xbox Series X, and PS5 Pro?

The PS5 and Xbox Series X both run with a dynamic resolution that targets 4K at 30 FPS. 4K is achieved most of the time. The PS5 Pro is expected to achieve this more consistently due to its increased GPU performance. The Xbox Series S runs with dynamic resolution, targeting 1080p at 30 FPS and never dropping below this in our tests. Initially, we targeted 1440p, but reduced it to 1080p to improve stability and texture quality on the Xbox Series S.

Do you have plans to launch the game on Nintendo Switch 2?

We have such ambitions!

Grand Theft Auto VI

Numerous leaks and delays – plus a sprinkling of studio controversy – has made the thirteen-year gap between GTA V’s eternal sunset and Rockstar’s return to Vice City feel more agonising than it arguably should. Bottom line: Grand Theft Auto VI is coming, and while the November 26 window doesn’t feel airtight, one thing you can be sure of is GTA VI’s release will be a seismic cultural event, matched only by the developer’s determination to unleash the most ambitious open world game ever.

Resident Evil: Requiem

The latest instalment in the survival horror series plucks you out of Village’s folkloric nightmare and into the ruinous Raccoon City as strange deaths linked to the original outbreak begin surfacing. Eschewing the action of recent entries for shuffling dread, you’ll command FBI analyst Grace Ashcroft, using brainpower to counteract her vulnerability and stay out the clutches of a terrifying, wall-scrambling stalker. Accompanying her investigation is everybody’s favourite rookie cop Leon Kennedy, further suggesting RE: Requiem will honour its roots as much as lean into modern sensibilities.

Nioh 3

Shaking up the dark fantasy action-RPG series in meaningful ways, Nioh 3 is much more than a continuation of its predecessor’s success. Dual Samurai and Ninja playstyles headline the threequel’s innovations, but expansive build identity, open-ended exploration, and a suite of new weapons and abilities ensure player choice is firmly the focus. Balancing surgical combat precision with Ki management and an overstuffed inventory still prevail, yet this time there’re opportunities for self-expression unlike anything the series has seen before.

Forza Horizon 6

The Horizon community’s most-requested locale is finally happening – Forza Horizon 6 is primed to burn rubber in the land of the rising sun. From twisting metropolises of Tokyo, to cherry blossom serenity of coastal and mountain passes, Horizon 6 might well end up as the most visually arresting entry in the open-world racing series to date. Chuck in authentic JDM car culture, multi-timbral sound design, and Playground’s knack for mixing realistic car handling with arcade-style accessibility, and the horizon’s bright for Forza fans.

Pathologic 3

Dr Daniil Dankovsky returns in the conclusion to Ice-Pick Lodge’s surreal, disturbing trilogy, where sickness, superstition, and moral compromise permeates the fog of a plague-ridden town. If you’re not yet a fan, Pathologic 3’s blend of survival, medical simulation, time travel, and mayoral management might be too dense to parse, but for veterans: this is the appeal. The series’ dream logic is its signature, with Pathologic 3 set to lean harder into oppression, atmosphere, and philosophical identity than ever before.

Control Resonant

Remedy’s Control Resonant expands the Federal Bureau of Control’s strange universe with more mind-warping, paranormal, architecture-shifting action. Compared to 2019’s original, Resonant promises larger-scale encounters, deeper powers, and a more labyrinthine narrative to showcase Remedy’s story-telling prowess in the wake of, uh, Alan Wake 2. Expectations here are huge. If Control laid the foundation, Resonant looks ready to build an entire supernatural mythology on top of it.

Subnautica 2

Prepare to plunge back into the depths of an alien ocean world in Subnautica 2, where open-world survival, subaquatic base-building, and creature discovery return alongside expanded co-op features. Still, the slow, bubbling dread of an unexplored, oceanic expanse is the main draw, where risk burdens every expedition. However, while slated for 2026 this sequel has been surrounded by controversy, with messy legal drama between publisher and original developers clouding what is undeniably a solid vision.

Warhammer 40k: Dawn of War 4

Dawn of War 4 marks the long-awaited return of one of RTS gaming’s biggest names. Expect strategic depth to be reinstated, with renewed focus on base building, resource control, and the same brutal, large-scale warfare on which DoW 1 and 2 were renowned. The challenge for King Art Games will be to balance Dawn of War’s classic identity with modern, strategy-sim expectations. If Warhammer 40k: Dawn of War 4 can recapture the series’ intensity whilst usurping 3’s experiments, then this could end up a flagship RTS title for years to come.

RIDE 6

RIDE 6 continues Milestone’s push towards authentic superbike racing, yet this time the two-wheel arcade-sim speeds beyond asphalt to take in off-road riding. With an expanded roster of real-world machines, improved handling models, and a focus on mechanical accuracy bordering on obsessiveness, RIDE 6 is well-placed to continue the series’ recent trend of meaningful iteration.   

Code Vein II

Code Vein II revives Bandai Namco’s anime-infused Soulslike, with newfound combat fluidity and opportunity for self-expression layering over the original’s deep character customisation and build flexibility. The sequel’s big change is the switch to AI companions in place of real-life co-op partners, but the developers have been careful to ensure this deviation lands with impact – picking your AI partner is set to be as critical for success as choosing your favourite blade.

Outward 2

Outward 2 is shaping up to build on the “no easy mode” challenge that made its predecessor a cult favourite. You’ll once again juggle hunger, fatigue, inclement weather, and gear condition in a harsh world that refuses to bend. And, for this sequel, you should expect a smoother, more fluid combat system with expanded arsenal of weaponry, more deliberate animations and combat manoeuvres, and a higher production value story. Through exploration without map markers, RPG-like character backgrounds, and refreshed lore, Outward 2 promises immersion far beyond the achievements of its forebearer too.

Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve

Ace Combat 8: Wings of Theve brings the long-running aerial combat series back to the skies, with cinematic storytelling, high-octane dogfights, and a new geopolitical drama set in the Strangereal universe to unpack. Be prepared for realistic cloudscapes and missile-dodging acrobatics, all fed through a seamless mix of arcade-style accessibility and flight-sim-like nuance. Elsewhere, narrative has always been a major appeal in the Ace Combat series; here, flying as a symbol of hope – the eponymous “Wings of Theve” – means that, in 8, the stakes will be higher than ever.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails Beyond the Horizon

The next entry in Falcom’s legendary RPG series serves up a climactic finale for the Zemurian continent arc, bringing together a large cast of characters from the Trails universe to prove once again the series has the most inter-connected universe in all of gaming. Long-time devotees can expect deep turn-based battling, multi-layered character development, and dense world-building, while soaking in new regions and political intrigue. Newcomers could feel overwhelmed, but for veterans this is unmissable.

Styx: Blades of Greed

The stealth-action series is returning, once again putting you in command of sarcastic goblin thief Styx as he navigates dark fantasy kingdoms designed with newfound verticality, wields new mind control and time-shifting powers, and builds a crew ready to infiltrate a range of strongholds. The goal here is creativity; with an expanded toolkit of gadgets, traps, and manoeuvres, Blades of Greed pushes you to improvise on your path to evasion.

Planet of Lana II: Children of the Leaf

Planet of Lana II follows the picturesque puzzle-platformer with another hand-painted odyssey through alien-infested verdance. The original’s gentle pacing, serene environments, and companion-based puzzling struck a chord with players which the sequel is set to expand upon, all while retaining the emotional, cinematic tone. With artistry at the forefront of the experience, Planet of Lana II’s more diverse biomes, more impactful narrative, and evolved abilities for your cute companion Mui ensure Children of the Leaf will be a hit.

Of course, of the many riddles that Pathologic 3 presents, that’s probably the least immediate, especially when the sickness comes rolling in. Much like its predecessors, Ice-Pick Lodge sends you off into Town-On Gorkhon, a mysterious place where the Earth feels as alive as it does malevolent, and where survival may as well be theater, one where you’re the audience, director and editor. More inviting yet still deceptively luring you into its many systems and nuances, you’re continuously kept off-base, each new development adding a further wrinkle to this canvas of death.

"The fact that districts are now separate areas that you have to plan routes through is also an interesting twist over Pathologic 2, even if the number of loading screens, as quick as they may be, can feel a tad excessive."

Not that Dankovsky is any stranger to the deceased or any less morbidly fascinated by the same. As the lead of Thanatica in the Capital, he’s constantly on the lookout for ways to circumvent death. So when he’s informed of an individual named Simon Kain who seemingly did just that, Dankovsky packs his bags and ventures to the town for a meeting. Things seem innocent enough at first – the local children stealing his tools, the local adults debating with a Herb Bride about taking away a corpse – but it’s not long before you’re suddenly in an interrogation room.

The town has fallen, and it’s all your fault. While retracing your steps unfolds various vital details on how that happened – Dankovsky apparently let many good folk down – it also leads to an inescapable dead end. That is, until a mysterious Shadow – those masked individuals in black bodysuits – teach Daniil about the fracturing of time, and returning to previous days to maybe, possibly, alter fate. Break a leg and some more mirrors, to fund those trips, Dankovsky.

By venturing through previous days, you can relive their events, perhaps prevent the deaths of those who may offer more information or assistance. A handy Mind Map is available to keep track of new threads and occurrences on each day, oftentimes pointing to key individuals (and their fate if you’re too late to intervene). What makes Pathologic 3’s plot so compelling is that it presents new mysteries even as you travel on well-worn ground.

Your first trip back, for example, has you encountering the mysterious Eva Yan, within the confines of the even stranger Stillwater, where you’ll prepare solutions for your Prototype – a tool used to ward away the miasma – among other things. From there, you can head to Town Hall – a relatively peaceful journey to its door, compared to the rushed escapade on Day 5, which saw you lighting bonfires while fighting off the plague. Alternatively, you can choose to venture to the southern part of town, currently in the midst of riots, to find a key character and save them. That’s after racing through an infected district where the plague made manifest, Shabnak, stalks you, by the way, though it’s worth it to find a flower that could help in studying the infection. The fact that districts are now separate areas that you have to plan routes through is also an interesting twist over Pathologic 2, even if the number of loading screens, as quick as they may be, can feel a tad excessive.

"The sheer variety of characters is incredible, from the disarming and quaint to the mischievous and manipulative. The fact that you can’t always tell at first glance makes them that much more interesting to talk to, if the fantastic dialogue wasn’t enough."

It’s a lot to take in, for sure, but Pathologic 3 dances around details as much as it pushes others to the foray. Heavily conversation-based, the paucity of voice acting can at times make these feel much more imposing than they actually are. But that’s one of the beautiful things about the game’s writing. Beyond each character having their own secrets to hide, you also need to consider Daniil’s mental state, represented by apathy and mania. So while it seems normal enough to admit that you failed and apologize, it can fuel the former – delve too much into the doldrums, and a self-inflicted gunshot wound awaits. However, getting too excited, too irritable, kicking things around, or even just messing with see-saws can result in Daniil giving up due to the sheer frenzy. But then again, it may be worth the movement speed buff, especially when trying to avoid the Shabnak.

As such, balancing both of these is as essential as taking the measure of a person to find an answer, which I appreciate. It means you need to be tactful or downright bizarre, even in times when you want to show sympathy, if only to not turn manic. There are various consumables available to help on that front, from coffee to morphine, but some can carry side effects. Each new day also means having to build out your inventory from scratch, yet I never found it especially punishing, thanks to paying close attention to your surroundings to loot more or trading walnuts with the kids.

The sheer variety of characters is incredible, from the disarming and quaint to the mischievous and manipulative. The fact that you can’t always tell at first glance makes them that much more interesting to talk to, if the fantastic dialogue wasn’t enough. Combat is also a factor, but more so the threat than the actual body count. Oftentimes, it can be as beneficial to threaten bystanders, especially if you’re low on ammo. You might want to be careful about taking too many lives, since it makes Daniil really apathetic to the concept of living.

This brings up the trial-and-error aspect of the Pathologic experience. At times, you can shrug off multiple attacks from the Shabnak, though that damage can build up over time (not to mention the plague raising your apathy). On the other hand, shooting two people is enough to pretty much end your life. The time-traveling aspect also factors in saves, and while I’m fine with this, venturing back to Stillwater, the starting area, after obtaining a plague flower in one district and subsequently giving up on life from shooting too many rioters in another, can feel annoying. Then again, trial and error. It’s the game’s way of teaching you that going in, guns blazing, isn’t the solution.

"While leaning on survival horror, the psychological aspects go far deeper, and trying to save the town alongside unravelling the core mystery, which presents its fair number of shocks, can be as disorienting as it is addictive."

Other lessons could stand to be less harsh, though, like accidentally softlocking myself in a confined area with no way to escape – not a jump button for getting past the waist-high hedge. The prototype, which has limited uses, can also feel a bit weird at times. After dispelling the plague and then having to deal with the Shabnak, immediately prepping it again would have no effect while still consuming the use. Not the best feeling, especially when both threats can assail you as many times as they’d like until you leave the affected district.

Even with these caveats – and some stiff facial animation in some places – Pathologic 3 is a much better follow-up, and perhaps the best game in the series for fans to get into. While leaning on survival horror, the psychological aspects go far deeper, and trying to save the town alongside unravelling the core mystery, which presents its fair number of shocks, can be as disorienting as it is addictive. Just remember to stay patient throughout and value the lives of those around you, endlessly complex as they may be.

This game was reviewed on PC.

The story focuses on Daniil Dankovsky, a doctor swept up in a plague-ridden city. With only 12 days, the player must make numerous decisions, from quarantining citizens to forcefully administering injections, to ensure its survival. Of course, things won’t always go according to plan and solving the mystery of the plague is paramount.

As for the demo, it’s touted as “entirely unique content” that hasn’t been shown before, with Dankovsky investigating Town-on-Gorkhon and interacting with its characters. It’s a solid introduction to the series’ core gameplay mechanics and moral quandaries, and even features controller support (which is currently in beta).

Stay tuned for more details and updates on Pathologic 3, and check out our interview with the director here.

The story unfolds through the eyes of The Powers That Be, who look at Daniil’s actions. Like Pathologic 2, players must investigate and diagnose patients. Depending on your research, decrees may be issued, though you can’t save everyone. Maybe you’ll unravel the greater truth or fail and time travel to try again.

Pathologic 3: Quarantine promises “fragments” of the full game’s mechanics, overlapping with the latter’s intro and showcasing the Capital for the first time in the series. This is a standalone experience, though, so it’s not required to play.

As for Pathologic 3, it’s out later this year for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC. Like its predecessor, players must take steps to save a plague-ridden town. Check out our interview for more details.

"With Pathologic 3, we knew from the start that we wanted to make a different experience"

Pathologic 2 started development as a remake of the original before turning into what it became, but with Pathologic 3, it looks like you’re starting off with surer footing in terms of your vision for the game. How has that change impacted the game’s development in your view so far?

When we set out to make Pathologic 2, it took us a while to become bolder. We first began with a faithful step-by-step remake of the original game, but then slowly realized we were unhappy with certain choices. So we changed them, added new mechanics — and found a completely new game on our hands.

With Pathologic 3, we knew from the start that we wanted to make a different experience — i.e. tell the Bachelor’s story through mechanics that are different from the Haruspex’s. Subjective storytelling via not only quests but also mechanics is the core focus of Pathologic, so it was crucial for us to choose precisely the elements that would shape Bachelor’s worldview. For example, being respected by the town’s elites (unlike the Haruspex), he doesn’t need to bother about finding food or money. Instead, he may struggle with his own mind — and also needs to make decisions that shape the whole face of the town.

Pathologic 3 is adding a significant new mechanic with players now having the ability to go back in time. Can you talk about how the decision to introduce this mechanic came about?

It is first and foremost a tool of confused and unreliable storytelling — it seems that The Powers That Be are convinced that some events did not unfold the way Bachelor remembers them. …Or is it?

"This approach allows us to explore unhappy stories and let the player make mistakes"

Given Pathologic‘s emphasis on time management in general, how much of a challenge has it been to properly balance the new time travel mechanic? How many limits will it place on players in terms of what they can do with it?

It’s an absolute pain in the ass that makes both the story and the in-game economy very complicated. The things we do for love.

As for players’ freedom, they won’t be able to do just anything, of course, because permutations are endless for a sufficiently creative mind. But you will be able to move to different points of the story (in both future and past) and change how events unfold — given that the Town even exists at that point. Which is not guaranteed, so you’ll first have to find ways to stop all these people from destroying themselves.

This approach allows us to explore unhappy stories and let the player make mistakes — because they can then go back and “fix” things (or maybe break them differently).

Where the actual medical investigative mechanics are concerned, how is Pathologic 3 expanding on its predecessor’s gameplay? What kind of a toolset will players have at their disposal?

All protagonists of Pathologic are healers. But it’s a game about many things, so in the first installment their medical work was, surprisingly enough, implied — they dealt more with the Town’s social element, survival, and their personal quests. In Pathologic 2, hospital was added, but it was a series of unique mini-games.

In Pathologic 3, medical work is finally systematic. You get to interview and examine patients, diagnose them. But since Bachelor is more scientist and thinker than bleeding heart, he is often dissatisfied with just measuring someone’s temperature or examining their skin condition — he dives into their life stories to make sure ALL factors are accounted for. Because sometimes people lie, and bodies too, and a symptom can be a red herring.

Basically it’s like House MD gamified, except your patients are unusually fond of talking philosophy and weird.

"Gameplay-wise, time flows normally in Pathologic 3."

What can you tell us about Pathologic‘s choice and consequence mechanics? That’s obviously an area the series has always been known for, but particularly with time travel now thrown in, how much more complex will that side of the experience be?

You start in medias res, on Day 5 instead of Day 1, as a Daniil Dankovky who has failed all of his opportunities. The town is on the brink of death. But maybe that’s not how it went? Maybe someone’s trying to frame him? So he explains how things could have gone differently.

Gameplay-wise, time flows normally in Pathologic 3. But at any point in the game you can jump to another day — as long as you have the resources for it — and make different decisions, which of course have repercussions (often delayed and unexpected). When a certain part of the story is completed, it is locked and you don’t have to repeat it even as you jump back, but you can unlock it if you want to make different choices (again, if you have the resources to travel back).

We always enjoyed writing characters with hidden agendas, characters that lie to you, go on with their lives offscreen, and refuse to cooperate. With these mechanics we can explore this side of the human condition in even more detail because if Daniil is tricked, he can fix it now.

(Or rather break it differently.)

Roughly how long will an average playthrough of the game be?

It strongly depends on how fast you can read and how you choose to interact with certain elements (for example, you may try to avoid infected districts — or dive into the heart of the storm), but generally the scope is the same as Pathologic 2, so around 20-25 hours.

Though standalone like The Marble Nest for Pathologic 2, it provides “fragments” of the core gameplay for Pathologic 3. Furthermore, it’s meant to showcase the world and “set the stage for the story”, somewhat overlapping with the game’s intro. Pathologic 3: Quarantine will arrive sometime this year, with more details coming later.

As for the game, it stars Daniil Dankovsky, who visits a remote plague-ridden town like the previous game. He has 12 days to save it, but events can play out according to the player’s desires. Depending on your choices, people’s behavior will change unexpectedly.

While you can go back in time to change certain outcomes, it’s also possible to see how badly things turn out in the future. Pathologic 3 launches this year for PC, Xbox Series X/S, and PS5. Stay tuned for more updates in the meantime.

Pathologic 3 has been officially announced by Ice-Pick Lodge and publisher HypeTrain Digital. Set in a small, remote town, the horror title will see players stepping into the shoes of The Bachelor, who arrives in the game’s setting upon being invited by someone who’s no longer alive, following which it becomes your responsibility to unravel the mystery of a deadly disease ravaging the town, and trying to stop it before its too late. 

As per the developers, Pathologic 3 will introduce a major new feature in time travel mechanics. Players will have a total of 12 days to save the town, but manipulating time to change events and unlock new outcomes will be key. Check out the game’s announcement trailer below. 

Pathologic 3 is due out sometime in 2025 for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.