After playing the opening hour of The Pathless, the next game from developer Giant Squid, what really struck a chord with me was how much it emphasized the importance of its setting. Like the developer's previous game, Abzu (an underwater narrative-adventure game), The Pathless focuses on communing with nature and freeing it from the grasp of an evil force. However, it incorporates that idea into an open-world framework, pushing the need to connect and explore its luscious setting.

Coming to PC, iOS (and Apple Arcade), PS4, and to PS5 as a launch title on November 12, The Pathless has you guiding a nameless hunter across vast stretches of forest and within lost ruins to free ancient gods who have been corrupted. While I had the chance to play the first hour of the game, I also got to check out a quick presentation from creative director Matt Nava to learn more about the team's thoughts on making a more subdued, but still enticing adventure set in a large open landscape.

Compared to the likes of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Ghost of Tsushima, or Genshin Impact, The Pathless takes a more minimalist approach to its story and open-world gameplay. Taking cues from other pieces of fiction like Hayao Miyazaki's Princess Mononoke or the stories from Arthurian legend, The Pathless' main narrative is about the dichotomy of humanity and nature coming together. The core gameplay and premise of the lone hunter connecting with nature are the focus, and the mechanics surrounding that aims to highlight and elevate that narrative. Early on, the Hunter will partner up with an eagle who helps her reach high places, solve puzzles, and becomes a generally friendly companion on the journey. And yes, you can pet them at any time.

After playing the opening hour of The Pathless, the next game from developer Giant Squid, what really struck a chord with me was how much it emphasized the importance of its setting. Like the developer's previous game, Abzu (an underwater narrative-adventure game), The Pathless focuses on communing with nature and freeing it from the grasp of an evil force. However, it incorporates that idea into an open-world framework, pushing the need to connect and explore its luscious setting.

Coming to PC, iOS (and Apple Arcade), PS4, and to PS5 as a launch title on November 12, The Pathless has you guiding a nameless hunter across vast stretches of forest and within lost ruins to free ancient gods who have been corrupted. While I had the chance to play the first hour of the game, I also got to check out a quick presentation from creative director Matt Nava to learn more about the team's thoughts on making a more subdued, but still enticing adventure set in a large open landscape.

Compared to the likes of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Ghost of Tsushima, or Genshin Impact, The Pathless takes a more minimalist approach to its story and open-world gameplay. Taking cues from other pieces of fiction like Hayao Miyazaki's Princess Mononoke or the stories from Arthurian legend, The Pathless' main narrative is about the dichotomy of humanity and nature coming together. The core gameplay and premise of the lone hunter connecting with nature are the focus, and the mechanics surrounding that aims to highlight and elevate that narrative. Early on, the Hunter will partner up with an eagle who helps her reach high places, solve puzzles, and becomes a generally friendly companion on the journey. And yes, you can pet them at any time.