View source for Pathologic 3

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{{Infobox video game
| title          = Pathologic 3
| image          = <!-- Leave empty for now. See note about images below. -->
| developer      = [[Ice-Pick Lodge]]
| publisher      = [[HypeTrain Digital]]
| director       =
| designer       =
| engine         = [[Unity (game engine)|Unity]]
| released       = {{Video game release| |9 January 2026}}
| genre          = [[Survival game|Survival]], [[adventure game|adventure]], [[psychological horror]]
| modes          = [[Single-player video game|Single-player]]
| platforms      = [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]], [[PlayStation 5]], [[Xbox Series X/S]]
}}

'''''Pathologic 3''''' is a [[survival game|survival]]-[[adventure game|adventure]] and [[psychological horror]] video game developed by the Russian studio [[Ice-Pick Lodge]] and published by [[HypeTrain Digital]]. It was released for [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]], [[PlayStation 5]], and [[Xbox Series X/S]] on 9 January 2026. The game follows physician Daniil Dankovsky (the Bachelor) as he attempts to save a remote town from a deadly plague over twelve days, introducing a time-travel mechanic as its central gameplay innovation.

== Gameplay ==
''Pathologic 3'' is a narrative-driven game that combines survival mechanics, detective work, and moral decision-making.{{Citation needed|date=January 2026}} The player controls the Bachelor, exploring the town, interacting with its inhabitants, and making complex choices to manage the plague. A defining new feature is a time-travel system that allows the player to rewind to earlier points in the story to alter decisions and their consequences.{{Citation needed|date=January 2026}} This mechanic is supported by a "Mind Map" interface that visualizes the causal connections between narrative choices. The game also features a unique "Apathy/Mania" mood meter that affects the protagonist's speed and health.{{Citation needed|date=January 2026}} Combat is de-emphasized in favor of using a gun to intimidate threats or sprinting through dangerous areas.

== Plot ==
The player character, physician Daniil Dankovsky, travels to a remote town on the steppe to investigate rumors of an immortal man. Upon arrival, a devastating plague breaks out, and the supposedly immortal man is found dead.{{Citation needed|date=January 2026}} With the town facing destruction in twelve days, Dankovsky gains the ability to travel back in time to correct his mistakes, uncover the truth behind the epidemic, and search for a cure.{{Citation needed|date=January 2026}}

== Development ==
The game was announced on 10 October 2024, with initial reports highlighting its new time-travel gameplay mechanic.{{Citation needed|date=January 2026}} A free prologue chapter, ''Pathologic 3: Quarantine'', was released on 17 March 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-03-17 |title=Pathologic 3: Quarantine - Pathologic 3: Quarantine is out! - Steam News |url=https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/3389330/view/825952834335802581 |access-date=2026-01-10 |website=store.steampowered.com |language=en}}</ref>

The project originally began as the Bachelor's campaign for the 2019 game ''[[Pathologic 2]]'' before evolving into a standalone sequel. Backers of the ''Pathologic 2'' Kickstarter and "Threads" crowdfunding campaigns received ''Pathologic 3'' for free.

The full game was released on 9 January 2026.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-01-09 |title=Pathologic 3 - Pathologic 3 is out! - Steam News |url=https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/3199650/view/490461848218371039 |access-date=2026-01-10 |website=store.steampowered.com |language=en}}</ref> Early user reviews on platforms like Steam were "Very Positive".{{Citation needed|date=January 2026}}

== Reception ==
Initial critical previews praised the game's atmosphere, narrative depth, and the new time-manipulation mechanics. A preview by ''Polygon'' was featured in promotional material, stating: "''Pathologic 3'' is brilliant, beautiful, and most importantly, approachable for both new players and those... who have been captivated by this world since the original game launched 20 years ago".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lewis |first=Claire |date=2026-01-07 |title=Pathologic 3 is a love letter to a town full of creeps and a sentient plague |url=https://www.polygon.com/pathologic-3-is-the-best-in-the-series/ |access-date=2026-01-10 |website=Polygon |language=en}}</ref> Criticisms in early coverage focused on the shift away from a fully open world to a zone-based structure and reports of technical bugs at launch.

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Ice-Pick Lodge}}
{{Video game-stub}}
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