4.5/5 ★ – fantastic_clap's review of The Pathless.

It’s so great to have a game take the glorious winding narrative tendencies of Journey and Abzu and insert a big dose of actual gameplay like Rime does, but unlike Rime, the Pathless has satisfying movement tactics and a very free feel instead of just “push button forwards, do occasional unskipable puzzle”. This game feels orgasmic to play, the arrow boosts are so fucking sweet, the camera work is impeccable, and the boss fights are punishing but never gruelling. And let’s not forget the man himself, our king Austin Wintory, who is at his best here since Journey, using some instruments I’ve never even heard of, but keeping in those chilly, beautiful strings he’s so good at. Though at times I felt the world to be slightly lacking in character (especially these flat lore sections that dragged the game to a halt by just appearing as popups to read), and I felt like, despite being huge and beautiful, could have had something more to interact with other than puzzles, like other small animals or some shit. However this is still fantastic and truly one of the best new games I’ve played in years.