# Pathway (video game) > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Pathway_(video_game) > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Pathway_(video_game).md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pathway_(video_game) > Source revision: 1333130190 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) 2019 video game Pathway Developer Robotality Publisher Chucklefish Designers Simon Bachmann Stephan Naujoks Daniel Ludwig Stefan Bachmann Programmers Daniel Ludwig Stefan Bachmann Artists Simon Bachmann Midio Phil Giarrusso Andreas Illenseer Composer Gavin Harrison Platforms Linux macOS Windows Nintendo Switch Release WW: April 11, 2019 (PCs) WW: May 27, 2021 (NS) Genre Tactical role-playing Mode Single-player Not to be confused with [Pathways (video game)](/source/Pathways_(video_game)). ***Pathway*** is [tactical role playing video game](/source/Tactical_role_playing_video_game) developed by Robotality and published by [Chucklefish](/source/Chucklefish) in 2019. Players fight Nazis in tactical combat to recover occult artifacts in an [Indiana Jones](/source/Indiana_Jones)-style scenario. ## Gameplay Players control a band of mercenaries in the mid-1930s who attempt to defeat Nazis before they can recover powerful occult artifacts. Missions are based on modern [pulp adventure](/source/Pulp_adventure) stories, such as *[Indiana Jones](/source/Indiana_Jones)* and *[The Mummy](/source/The_Mummy_(1999_film))*. In each session, players explore a [procedurally generated](/source/Procedurally_generated) map in a vehicle with a random amount of fuel. Players expend can expend fuel finding merchants, recruiting mercenaries, and interacting with various [non-player characters](/source/Non-player_characters), which can result in [missions](/source/Quest_(video_games)). Choices made in these missions can lead to [skill checks](/source/Skill_(role-playing_games)) or fighting enemies, such as Nazis. Combat is [turn-based and tactical](/source/Turn-based_tactics). Each character is given two actions per turn, which can be used moving, attacking, or using a special ability. Cover provides limited protection from attacks. Upon defeating enemies, players can customize their characters through [skill trees](/source/Skill_tree).[1] Character progress and items recovered are saved between sessions, but if the mercenaries are defeated in battle, players lose that adventure.[2] A post-release free update added hardcore mode, which introduces [permadeath](/source/Permadeath).[3] ## Development *Robotality* is a German studio. *Pathway* is a followup to their previous tactical RPG, *[Halfway](/source/Halfway_(video_game))*.[4] [Chucklefish](/source/Chucklefish) released it for Linux, macOS, and Windows on April 11, 2019,[5] and on Nintendo Switch on May 27, 2021.[6] [Limited Run Games](/source/Limited_Run_Games) manufactured a physical edition in 2021.[7] ## Reception *Pathway* received mixed reviews on [Metacritic](/source/Metacritic).[8][9] *[PC Gamer](/source/PC_Gamer)* described it as having "crisp combat let down by boring enemies, repetitive missions and a disconnected story".[2] *[GameSpot](/source/GameSpot)* said it is well-written and captures the tone of 1940s [pulp adventures](/source/Pulp_adventure), but they criticized what they felt was a lack of depth in the tactical combat, lack of differentiation in characters, and a [colonialist](/source/Colonialist) view of non-Europeans.[1] Though they said it starts off well, *[IGN](/source/IGN)* said its lack of depth inhibits its replayability.[10] *[Nintendo Life](/source/Nintendo_Life)* said it is a competent but overly repetitive game, which they felt limited its appeal on the Switch, which has many tactics games.[11] *RPGFan* called it a "worthwhile excursion" with "unrealized potential" that could potentially be fixed post-release by adding more variety and depth.[12] On release, the reviews on [Steam](/source/Steam_(service)) were mixed. Developer Simon Bachmann attributed this to several factors. The game had to be released earlier than they would have liked because of budget issues, and they picked up more negative reviews than anticipated because of this. Players perceived the game's content as repetitive and [grindy](/source/Grinding_(video_games)), and they were expecting more of an [XCOM](/source/XCOM) clone. When Robotality realized this, they changed how they described the game, rebalanced many mechanics, and said they made players' choices "more meaningful and interesting". The resulting updates pushed the game back to a positive user response.[13] ## References 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-gs_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-gs_1-1) Wildgoose, David (2019-04-16). ["*Pathway* Review – Pulp Friction"](https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/pathway-review-pulp-friction/1900-6417124/). *[GameSpot](/source/GameSpot)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230528070953/https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/pathway-review-pulp-friction/1900-6417124/) from the original on 2023-05-28. Retrieved 2023-06-02. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-pcgamer_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-pcgamer_2-1) Horti, Samuel (2019-04-15). ["*Pathway* review"](https://www.pcgamer.com/pathway-review/). *[PC Gamer](/source/PC_Gamer)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230528022604/https://www.pcgamer.com/pathway-review/) from the original on 2023-05-28. Retrieved 2023-06-02. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Craddock, Ryan (2021-05-11). [""The Best Version" Of Turn-Based Strategy Adventure Pathway Comes To Switch This Month"](https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2021/05/the_best_version_of_turn-based_strategy_adventure_pathway_comes_to_switch_this_month). *[Nintendo Life](/source/Nintendo_Life)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230602171115/https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2021/05/the_best_version_of_turn-based_strategy_adventure_pathway_comes_to_switch_this_month) from the original on 2023-06-02. Retrieved 2023-06-02. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** LeClair, Kyle (2018-03-17). ["Turn-Based Pulp Adventure *Pathway* Receives First Gameplay Trailer"](https://hardcoregamer.com/videos/turn-based-pulp-adventure-pathway-receives-first-gameplay-trailer/293718/). *Hardcore Gamer*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230602181310/https://hardcoregamer.com/videos/turn-based-pulp-adventure-pathway-receives-first-gameplay-trailer/293718/) from the original on 2023-06-02. Retrieved 2023-06-02. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["*Pathway*"](https://www.rpgfan.com/game/pathway/). *RPGFan*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230602171114/https://www.rpgfan.com/game/pathway/) from the original on 2023-06-02. Retrieved 2023-06-02. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** Romano, Sal (2021-05-11). ["Turn-based strategy game *Pathway* coming to Switch on May 27"](https://www.gematsu.com/2021/05/turn-based-strategy-game-pathway-coming-to-switch-on-may-27). *Gematsu*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230602171114/https://www.gematsu.com/2021/05/turn-based-strategy-game-pathway-coming-to-switch-on-may-27) from the original on 2023-06-02. Retrieved 2023-06-02. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** Gray, Kate (2021-10-08). ["Tomb-Raiding Pixel Art Game *Pathway* Is Getting A Physical Edition"](https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2021/10/tomb-raiding-pixel-art-game-pathway-is-getting-a-physical-edition). *[Nintendo Life](/source/Nintendo_Life)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230602171114/https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2021/10/tomb-raiding-pixel-art-game-pathway-is-getting-a-physical-edition) from the original on 2023-06-02. Retrieved 2023-06-02. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["*Pathway* (PC)"](https://www.metacritic.com/game/pathway/critic-reviews/?platform=pc). *[Metacritic](/source/Metacritic)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230602171114/https://www.metacritic.com/game/pc/pathway) from the original on 2023-06-02. Retrieved 2023-06-02. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["*Pathway* (NS)"](https://www.metacritic.com/game/pathway/critic-reviews/?platform=nintendo-switch). *[Metacritic](/source/Metacritic)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230602171114/https://www.metacritic.com/game/switch/pathway) from the original on 2023-06-02. Retrieved 2023-06-02. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Epstein, Mike (2019-04-17). ["*Pathway* Review"](https://www.ign.com/articles/2019/04/17/pathway-review). *[IGN](/source/IGN)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230528022808/https://www.ign.com/articles/2019/04/17/pathway-review) from the original on 2023-05-28. Retrieved 2023-06-02. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Vogel, Mitch (2021-05-27). ["*Pathway* Review (Switch eShop)"](https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/switch-eshop/pathway). *[Nintendo Life](/source/Nintendo_Life)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230602171116/https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/switch-eshop/pathway) from the original on 2023-06-02. Retrieved 2023-06-02. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Richardson, Bob (2019-04-16). ["*Pathway*"](https://www.rpgfan.com/review/pathway/). *RPGFan*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230602171119/https://www.rpgfan.com/review/pathway/) from the original on 2023-06-02. Retrieved 2023-06-02. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** Carless, Simon (2022-02-16). ["Deep dive: Turning around your game's reviews post-launch"](https://www.gamesindustry.biz/deep-dive-turning-around-your-games-reviews-post-launch). *[Gamesindustry.biz](/source/Gamesindustry.biz)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20230531203609/https://www.gamesindustry.biz/deep-dive-turning-around-your-games-reviews-post-launch) from the original on 2023-05-31. Retrieved 2023-06-02. ## External links - [Official website](http://pathway-game.com/) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Pathway (video game)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pathway_(video_game)) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pathway_(video_game)?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.