You are Daniil Dankovsky, a brilliant young physician from the capital, driven by an obsession to conquer humanity's oldest enemy: death itself. Your quest has led you to a remote steppe town shrouded in ancient rituals and whispered legends of an immortal man.
But as you arrive, fate twists cruelly. A mysterious plague erupts—sentient, merciless, and unstoppable. Your first attempt to save the town ends in catastrophic failure. Yet through shattered mirrors and the strange substance called Amalgama, you are granted a second chance: 12 days to rewrite destiny.
Will you diagnose the disease, impose brutal quarantines, and manage the chaos of riots and despair? Or will the town—and its secrets—consume you whole?
From the visionary minds at Ice-Pick Lodge, the acclaimed Russian studio behind the original Pathologic series, comes the definitive entry in this haunting franchise. Published by HypeTrain Digital, Pathologic 3 is a first-person psychological horror RPG that plunges you into the Bachelor's route—a narrative of ambition, failure, and the terrible cost of playing god.
"A love letter to creeps and the sentient plague. The best in the series—complex, unforgiving, and utterly unique." — Polygon
Core Gameplay Features
⏳ Time Rewind Mechanics
Shatter mirrors to collect Amalgama and rewind time itself. Fix your mistakes, but beware—every rewind creates ripples with unforeseen consequences. Your choices echo across timelines.
🩺 Diagnosis & Hospital Management
Examine patients up close, interrogate them, and investigate their lies. Not every illness is the plague—misdiagnose, and innocent lives are lost. Your medical expertise is your greatest weapon.
🧠 Apathy vs. Mania
Forget hunger and thirst. Track Apathy (passivity leads to death) versus Mania (hyperactivity risks collapse). Your sanity warps perception—trust nothing, question everything.
⚖️ Dictatorial Decrees
Wield absolute power: mandate vaccinations, enforce curfews, patrol infected districts, confiscate medicine. Shape the fate of entire neighborhoods—but watch for riots and rebellion.
🗺️ Mind Map & Investigation
Navigate a web-like journal that tracks clues by day. Connect evidence, unravel conspiracies, and piece together the truth behind the plague's origins.
🌫️ The Prototype Device
Deploy experimental technology to blast away plague clouds. Science battles superstition in this clash between rationality and the supernatural.
A Town Steeped in Mystery
The Town-on-Gorkhon is a character unto itself—a haunting blend of pre-revolutionary Russian architecture and ancient steppe mysticism. Its inhabitants are caught between old superstitions and the brutal reality of a modern plague. Navigate restricted districts, fast-travel between key locations, or venture on foot through infected zones teeming with looters and danger.
Every corner hides secrets. Every conversation could be a lie. The town breathes with an otherworldly presence, and the plague itself seems to watch your every move.
Critical Acclaim & Community Response
86%
Very Positive on Steam
5,300+
Peak Concurrent Players
12 Days
To Save or Doom the Town
"The mad bastards did it again. 10/10." — Early Players
Featuring haunting music by Akira Yamaoka (Silent Hill), Pathologic 3 delivers an audiovisual experience that lingers long after you've left the Town-on-Gorkhon.
Platform Availability
Available Now
PC (Steam/GOG) — Out now with 20% launch discount ($27.99 from $34.99, ends January 23)
PlayStation 5 — Available now
Free Demo — Try the 1-2 hour intro on Steam
Coming Soon
Xbox Series X|S — January 23, 2026
Supporter Bundle Available
Original Soundtrack
Exclusive Cosmetics (Magic Lantern Projector)
Additional Dialogue Content
$43.17 (Bundle Price)
System Requirements (PC)
Minimum: GTX 960, 8GB RAM, Intel i3
Recommended: GTX 2070, 16GB RAM, Intel i7
SSD Recommended for optimal performance
Your Duty Calls
The plague does not wait. The town does not forgive. Time is slipping away.
Experience the Bachelor's route. Conquer death—or become another victim.
Pathologic 3 is more approachable than previous entries—less survival grind, more detective simulation and narrative depth. However, the franchise remains brutally unforgiving with no hand-holding.
For deeper context, explore Pathologic 2 (Haruspex route) or Pathologic Classic Edition—both currently available on franchise sale. Each route offers a unique perspective on the Town-on-Gorkhon's nightmarish secrets.
About Ice-Pick Lodge
Ice-Pick Lodge is a renowned Russian independent game studio founded in 2002, celebrated for creating deeply philosophical and unconventional narrative experiences. The studio gained international recognition with the original Pathologic (2005), a cult classic that challenged conventional game design with its uncompromising approach to survival horror and moral complexity.
With over 20 years of experience in psychological horror game development, Ice-Pick Lodge has established itself as an authority in the genre. The studio's previous works include The Void (2008) and Pathologic 2 (2019), both critically acclaimed for their artistic vision and narrative depth. The team's expertise in crafting atmospheric, story-driven experiences has earned them a dedicated global fanbase and critical recognition from major gaming publications including PC Gamer, Rock Paper Shotgun, and Polygon.
Pathologic 3 represents the culmination of the studio's vision for the Bachelor's route, originally conceived in the 2005 classic. This release demonstrates Ice-Pick Lodge's commitment to their artistic integrity and their deep understanding of psychological horror as a medium for exploring philosophical themes about death, duty, and the human condition.
Published by HypeTrain Digital, a leading independent game publisher known for supporting innovative narrative-driven titles, ensuring Pathologic 3 reaches a global audience while maintaining the developer's creative vision.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Pathologic 3?
Pathologic 3 is a first-person psychological horror RPG developed by Ice-Pick Lodge and published by HypeTrain Digital. The game follows the Bachelor route, where you play as Daniil Dankovsky, a brilliant doctor obsessed with conquering death. Set in a remote steppe town struck by a mysterious plague, you must use time rewind mechanics to diagnose the disease, impose quarantines, and make brutal choices that determine the town's fate over 12 in-game days.
When was Pathologic 3 released?
Pathologic 3 officially launched on January 9, 2026, on PC (via Steam and GOG) and PlayStation 5. The Xbox Series X|S version is scheduled to release on January 23, 2026. A free demo is available on Steam for players who want to try the game before purchasing.
What platforms is Pathologic 3 available on?
Pathologic 3 is available on PC (Windows) through Steam and GOG digital storefronts, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S (releasing January 23, 2026). The game requires minimum specifications of GTX 960, 8GB RAM, and Intel i3 processor for PC, with GTX 2070, 16GB RAM, and Intel i7 recommended for optimal performance. An SSD is strongly recommended for the best experience.
What are the core gameplay features of Pathologic 3?
Pathologic 3 features revolutionary time rewind mechanics using Amalgama, allowing you to restart days and fix mistakes with consequences. The game includes detailed patient diagnosis and hospital management systems, a unique Apathy vs Mania meter replacing traditional survival stats, dictatorial decree powers to control the town, a mind map investigation system for tracking clues, and the Prototype device for combating plague clouds. The game is more approachable than previous entries, focusing on detective simulation and narrative depth over survival grinding.
Do I need to play previous Pathologic games first?
No, Pathologic 3 is designed to be accessible to newcomers while rewarding series veterans. The game tells a standalone story following the Bachelor route. However, playing Pathologic 2 (Haruspex route) or Pathologic Classic Edition can provide additional context and deeper understanding of the Town-on-Gorkhon's lore. Both previous games are currently available on franchise sale alongside Pathologic 3.
How much does Pathologic 3 cost?
Pathologic 3 is currently available at a 20% launch discount for $27.99 USD (regular price $34.99), valid until January 23, 2026. A Supporter Bundle is available for $43.17, which includes the base game, original soundtrack featuring music by Akira Yamaoka (Silent Hill composer), exclusive cosmetic items like the magic lantern projector, and additional dialogue content. The free demo on Steam allows you to experience 1-2 hours of the game's intro.
Follow the Plague
Stay connected with Ice-Pick Lodge for updates, community events, and behind-the-scenes content: X/Twitter:@IcePickLodge
