Exciting Sequel to Popular Horror Open-World RPG, Pathologic, Announced

Pathologic 3 has officially been announced, marking the continuation of the acclaimed open-world horror RPG series. This highly anticipated sequel aims to expand the unique catalog of surreal games available on PC and console platforms.

Created by the Russian development team Ice-Pick Lodge, the original Pathologic debuted in 2005 and quickly garnered a devoted fanbase. Its haunting atmosphere, intricate narrative, and distinct premise—centered around the task of saving a town afflicted by a deadly disease—captivated players. The game originally utilized a proprietary engine but was later remade in Unity with additional features and some notable omissions, re-released as Pathologic 2 by publisher TinyBuild in 2019.

Pathologic 3 Set for a 2025 Release

The beloved horror RPG series is set to continue with Pathologic 3, which was officially revealed in early October 2024. While the same development team is behind this third installment, it will be published by the Cyprus-based company HypeTrain Digital. The game is targeting a release in 2025 and has been confirmed for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.

The Return of the Bachelor

In contrast to the first Pathologic, which allowed players to choose from three playable characters, Pathologic 2 focused exclusively on one character, the Haruspex. In Pathologic 3, however, players will step into the shoes of another character from the original trio: the Bachelor. This installment can be viewed as a continuation of Ice-Pick Lodge's vision to complete the narrative from Pathologic 2, which aimed to recreate all three character stories from the first game.

By presenting the Bachelor's campaign as a standalone title rather than as paid DLC, Ice-Pick Lodge can deliver significant graphical enhancements, as showcased in the game’s reveal trailer.

New Gameplay Mechanics and Time Travel

In terms of gameplay, Pathologic 3 will introduce a time travel mechanic, a concept the developers previously explored in Marble Nest, a DLC for Pathologic 2 released in late 2019. This mechanic will serve as the Bachelor’s primary tool in combating the epidemic that plagues the mysterious town where the game unfolds, enabling him to revisit crucial events and manipulate them to his advantage.

This addition not only deepens the classic time management aspect of Pathologic but also enhances the survival horror's surreal themes. Ice-Pick Lodge founder Nikolay Dybowski stated, "Our goal is to give the player a sense that time is more complex than we typically perceive it—as a linear path." Given that Pathologic 2 is celebrated as one of the finest nonlinear horror games ever created, the news of an even more intricate sequel is bound to thrill fans of the genre.