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Pathologic 2

Xbox One, PlayStation 4, PC (Microsoft Windows) • 2019

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Quick resume

Pathologic 2 is a groundbreaking open-world horror RPG. Resist the plague. Make medicine. Heal people. Perform an autopsy. Trade to get what you need. Fight and kill if necessary. Survive. Struggle with an outbreak in a secluded rural town that is rapidly turning into hell.

Global score

92/100

Genres

Adventure, Indie, Role-playing (RPG)

Pros

  • Deep and immersive narrative
  • Unique survival mechanics
  • Strong atmospheric audio-visual design
  • Meaningful player choices with consequences
  • High replayability with varied outcomes

Cons

  • Steep learning curve and difficulty
  • Slow pacing and extensive walking
  • Some technical issues and optimization problems
  • Limited combat and character customization
  • Large repetitive environments

Motivations

  • Autonomy
    4

    "Players make meaningful choices affecting story and survival; no handholding, freedom to prioritize objectives."

  • Competence
    3

    "Challenging survival mechanics require skillful resource management and decision making; failure is common but learning is key."

  • Competition
    -4

    "Focus is on personal survival and story progression without player-vs-player or leaderboard competition."

  • Continuation
    4

    "Players invest many hours, replaying multiple times to explore different outcomes and improve performance."

  • Cooperation
    -3

    "Gameplay centers on individual survival and choices; limited direct cooperation with other players."

  • Creativity
    2

    "Players experiment with survival strategies and resource management; limited creation or customization."

  • Domination
    -5

    "No evidence of exerting control or superiority over others; interactions emphasize survival and mutual respect."

  • Escapism
    4

    "Strong immersion in a surreal, oppressive world offers escape from reality through intense narrative and atmosphere."

  • Expectation
    -4

    "Players engage voluntarily driven by intrinsic interest and desire to experience the unique story and challenge."

  • Experimenting
    3

    "Players try different approaches to resource management, quest prioritization, and survival tactics."

  • Exploration
    2

    "Players explore a detailed town with some discovery of secrets and story elements, though large areas are repetitive."

  • Expression
    -3

    "Limited character customization; focus is on narrative and survival rather than self-expression."

  • Fantasy
    3

    "Surreal and mystical elements blend with realistic survival mechanics in a fictional plague-ridden town."

  • Fellowship
    -3

    "Primarily a solitary experience with minimal social interaction beyond NPCs; no multiplayer community focus."

  • Growth
    3

    "Players learn complex mechanics and improve survival skills through repeated play and experience."

  • Health
    -4

    "Gameplay involves managing hunger, exhaustion, and disease under stressful conditions; promotes tension over physical wellness."

  • Idle
    -4

    "Requires constant attention and active management of multiple survival stats; no casual or background play."

  • Intimacy
    -2

    "Player forms emotional connections with NPCs but limited to scripted interactions without deep relationship building."

  • Leadership
    -4

    "Player acts individually without leading or managing groups; focus on personal survival and decisions."

  • Progression
    3

    "Players accumulate resources, medicines, and upgrades to improve survival chances and story outcomes."

  • Relaxation
    -4

    "Game is tense, stressful, and emotionally taxing rather than relaxing or cathartic."

  • Sensation
    3

    "Atmospheric audio-visual design creates immersive, eerie, and emotionally intense sensory experience."

  • Status
    -4

    "No social recognition or popularity mechanics; focus is on individual survival and story."

  • Story
    5

    "Strong narrative immersion with complex characters, branching outcomes, and philosophical themes."

  • Strategy
    4

    "Requires careful planning, resource allocation, and problem solving to survive and progress."

  • Thrill
    4

    "High tension and suspense from survival challenges, time pressure, and uncertain outcomes."

  • Value
    4

    "Players perceive high value from deep narrative, unique experience, and replayability despite difficulty."

  • Violence
    -2

    "Combat exists but is limited and clumsy; focus is more on survival and healing than destruction."

  • Survival
    5

    "Core gameplay centers on managing threats, scarce resources, and avoiding death in a hostile environment."

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    Last update: 06/03/2026