Pathway

Lore & Background

Pathway is a followup to Robotality's previous tactical RPG, Halfway. The German studio developed the game, which was released for Linux, macOS, and Windows on April 11, 2019, and later for Nintendo Switch on May 27, 2021. Limited Run Games produced a physical edition in 2021. A post-release free update added hardcore mode, introducing permadeath.

In each session, players explore a procedurally generated map in a vehicle with a random amount of fuel. Fuel can be spent to find merchants, recruit mercenaries, and interact with non-player characters, which may lead to missions. Choices in missions can result in skill checks or combat against enemies such as Nazis. Combat is turn-based, with each character receiving two actions per turn for moving, attacking, or using special abilities. Cover offers limited protection. Defeating enemies allows character customization through skill trees, and progress and items are saved between sessions, but defeat in battle ends that adventure.

On release, Steam reviews were mixed. Developer Simon Bachmann attributed this to an earlier-than-desired release due to budget issues, leading to more negative reviews than expected. Players found the content repetitive and grindy, and had expected a game more similar to XCOM. In response, Robotality changed how they described the game, rebalanced mechanics, and made player choices more meaningful and interesting, eventually shifting user response to positive.

Reader's Guide

Pathway received mixed reviews on Metacritic. PC Gamer described its combat as crisp but let down by boring enemies, repetitive missions, and a disconnected story. GameSpot praised the writing and its capture of 1940s pulp adventure tone, but criticized a lack of depth in tactical combat, insufficient differentiation between characters, and a colonialist view of non-Europeans. IGN noted the game starts well but lacks depth, inhibiting replayability. Nintendo Life called it competent but overly repetitive, limiting its appeal on the Switch, which has many tactics games. RPGFan described it as a worthwhile excursion with unrealized potential that could be improved post-release with more variety and depth. The game's significance lies in its attempt to blend tactical turn-based combat with pulp adventure storytelling, though its reception highlighted a gap between player expectations and the delivered experience. The developer's post-release adjustments, including rebalancing and clearer communication, eventually improved user reception, demonstrating the impact of community feedback and iterative updates on a game's legacy.

Did You Know?

• Limited Run Games manufactured a physical edition in 2021.
• Developer Simon Bachmann attributed mixed Steam reviews partly to an earlier-than-desired release due to budget issues.