80
The graphical representation of the individual characters must also be highlighted. The game is not perfect, but it is chillingly captivating in places. [Issue#326]
50
This game is pretty and it’s interesting in the way it presents a dangerous situation through a well-written story. The gameplay is nothing to be celebrated, however, and there are some genuine design mistakes sprinkled in.
80
It’s rare these days for a survival game to put narrative and resource management mechanics on the same level, and do both very well. Overall, I think The Pale Beyond tells a captivating story while torturing players into finding the best solutions for keeping their crew alive. The first playthroughs will always be frustrating, but that’s because the game doesn’t prepare players for what’s coming. When all is said and done, The Pale Beyond is an enjoyable experience if you love survival games, but if you’re looking for a purely narrative experience, look elsewhere.
7
Fascinating group of people with good stories to tell. Beautiful music and sounds. Exciting setting and gameplay.
8
The icey expedition to the south is a passionate indie project, griping you just as the cold to the crew, whom you keep building an intimate emotional relationship to in a worker placement game. Unfortunately the decisions and events aren't enough, the gameplay keeps thinning out towards the end, which is itself not quite the payoff I hoped for. The writing was well worth my playtime in total though. The dev team looked a bit inexperienced, but hoping for more from this studio.
8
This game has stunning artwork andThe storytelling is equally impressive, blending emotional depth with well-crafted dialogue.
The Pale Beyond
Released On:
Feb 24, 2023
Metascore
Generally Favorable
77
User score
Mixed or Average
7.0
My Score
Drag or tap to give a rating
Hover and click to give a rating
All Platforms
Metascore
Generally Favorable
78% Positive
7 Reviews
7 Reviews
22% Mixed
2 Reviews
2 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Feb 23, 2023
90
The Pale Beyond is a masterclass in tone and atmosphere informing gameplay. As Captain Robin Shaw, you’ll need to make tough decisions constantly, but this stressful journey is well worth seeing through to the end.
Mar 7, 2023
85
If you’re a frostbite-loving freak like me, The Pale Beyond is the game for you. It makes me optimistic about the future of this niche genre. The amount of research and care is apparent as you play. The opaque gameplay systems draw you into the narrative, but leave you in suspense. If you’ve made it this far in the review, I have to assume one of those things is appealing to you. Play The Pale Beyond; it might just be the best novel you read this year.
User score
Mixed or Average
56% Positive
14 Ratings
14 Ratings
28% Mixed
7 Ratings
7 Ratings
16% Negative
4 Ratings
4 Ratings
Jan 3, 2024
10
The game feels like a more personal Frostpunk, so you get to know and care about the people that you could lead to their demise, this makes it emotionally much more impactful.
The games difficulty is pretty high, it's highly unlikely that you make it through the game on your first try without having to step back on a save a few times, but after getting to the end(s), I have to say, the story and characters are well worth the effort to reload a few times to fix a few mistakes you might have made along the way.
All in all this game is a hidden gem that should get more attention and acclaim, but probably never will.
Sep 7, 2023
10
Love the artstyle, the characters all look distinct despite being similar, the writing is so natural, the managment systems are the weakest part in the game, although somewhat repetitive they still are fun since mistakes pile up and affect the story greatly!
Mar 9, 2023
80
It’s rare these days for a survival game to put narrative and resource management mechanics on the same level, and do both very well. Overall, I think The Pale Beyond tells a captivating story while torturing players into finding the best solutions for keeping their crew alive. The first playthroughs will always be frustrating, but that’s because the game doesn’t prepare players for what’s coming. When all is said and done, The Pale Beyond is an enjoyable experience if you love survival games, but if you’re looking for a purely narrative experience, look elsewhere.
Feb 23, 2023
80
For a weaker game, dealing with even minor issues might be a deal-breaker, but The Pale Beyond offers more than enough to overcome these quirks. The difficulty is well-honed, forcing players to stay on their toes without verging on frustrating, and the unanswered questions that arise in the story remain engaging until the final revelations. Although the interpersonal component isn't dialed up to draw out tears, solid character writing makes tough choices and failures fall heavy. The Pale Beyond's expedition might encounter a few rough seas, but players willing to brave them can find a journey that is abundantly worthwhile.
Mar 7, 2023
62
The Pale Beyond has a nice art style and tries to balance an intriguing story and survival gameplay, but the two elements never find common ground, and the technical issues eventually drag the whole experience into the icy waters.
Apr 17, 2023
50
This game is pretty and it’s interesting in the way it presents a dangerous situation through a well-written story. The gameplay is nothing to be celebrated, however, and there are some genuine design mistakes sprinkled in.
Feb 26, 2023
10
Amazing game! Great atmosphere, setting, art design, characters and writing! if you liked Pentiment, pick this up asap. Underrated smaller games that really go at there setting and time period so well. And also do great characters and writing. Love the game! Get it people!
Dec 18, 2025
7
Fascinating group of people with good stories to tell. Beautiful music and sounds. Exciting setting and gameplay.
Mar 3, 2023
7
Excellent writing, as the gameplay began to become repetitive the story ramped up into a fantastic buildup towards the end. There is no release... An ending but no resolution and no epilogue. It feels like such an empty victory carefully navigating choices to keep everyone alive and happy to not find out what happens to anyone afterwards. Nor a satisfying conclusion to round out the story. TLDR: Despite the fantastic storytelling and branching options, the story has no ACTUAL ending. We can only hope they complete the story in the future.
Dec 3, 2023
5
The game is atmospheric and the writing is decent. The gameplay is barebones and repetitive. Very little resources to actually manage. The majority of the choices are just good or bad and the results are not that interesting. The game starts of great but halfway really starts to drag. Not worth the asking price of 20usd, try to get it on sale.
SummaryFive years ago, The Viscount and its crew set sail through The Pale Passage in search of absolute magnetic South. The ship and its crew were tragically lost to the ice, never to be seen again. Her sister ship, The Temperance shall follow in her path, hoping to find answers where The Viscount failed. You didn't ask to lead this expeditio... Read More
Platforms:
- PC
- Nintendo Switch
Initial Release Date:Feb 24, 2023
Developer:
- Bellular Studios
Publisher:
