Pathologic, the acclaimed plague-themed horror series from developer Ice-Pick Lodge, returns for a third installment, this time incorporating time travel into its grueling, emotionally draining mix of intentionally daunting survival and unsettling theater.
The recently announced Pathologic 3 is somewhat strange in that it is technically, more or less, the second part of Pathologic 2: itself a half sequel and half (much improved) remake of Ice's original 2005 cult classic. Pick Lodge. Pathological 1, which, like all entries in the series, chronicles the sudden decline of a strange small town on the edge of the Russian steppe as it slowly succumbs to a mysterious plague, had three playable characters and three distinct routes through its history. 12 days of increasing misery: that of Artemy Burakh (the Scryer), Daniil Dankovsky (the Batchelor) and Clara (the Changeling).
However, due to financial concerns, only Haruspex's path made it into Pathologic 2, and although Dankovsky appeared as a protagonist in a short standalone episode, titled The Marble Nest, his full path will now be the focus of Pathologic 3, albeit significantly. . expanded.
Dankovsky is a young doctor and thanatology expert who travels to the mysterious city of Pathologic at the beginning of the outbreak to advance his investigation into death. Just like in the path of the Scryer, Dankovsky has 12 days to stop the plague, using all the tools of his medical trade. You can, Pathologic 3's Steam page explains, examine potions and diagnose illnesses, check symptoms and prescribe treatments, impose quarantines and curfews, confiscate medications, vaccinate the population, deploy patrols, and more.
Most importantly, however, Dankovsky now also wields the power of time and can travel forward to witness the future or backward to correct past mistakes. “Anything you see can tell a story and become a part of your mental map of the world,” explains Ice-Pick. “Explore the city in search of new knowledge, observe details and connect dots. Discover the secrets of the city's inhabitants. Shape their stories, decide their destinies and speak with their shadows.”
And that's pretty much all we know about Pathologic 3 at the moment, but current plans are to release it on PC next year.