The Path

The Path

Systems:

• Windows PC
• Mac OSX
• Releases:
  • Original Release: 2009
  • Japanese Release: 2010

Publisher:

• Tale of Tales (English, Dutch)
• TransGaming (Mac OSX)
• TopWare (Polish)
• 1 C Company (Russian)
• Zoo Corporation (Japanese)

Developer:

• Tale of Tales

ESRB Rating:

• Not available

The Path is a psychological horror game that centers around the psychological exploration of six young girls. The player can choose which girl to play as and explore her mind via a forest and eventually a house. Mysteries are slowly and cryptically revealed as the player obeys or does not obey the only instruction: "Go to Grandmother's house and stay on the path."

General Comments

This game is available in English, Dutch, Russian, Polish, and Japanese.

Incomplete Tags for This Page

• Avians
• Dolls
• Felines

Alcohol

When Carmen encounters her Wolf, she begins drinking beer.

Blood

Blood sometimes appears, especially in Carmen’s story.

Canines

During Robin's story, she encounters a werewolf.

Claustrophobia

Some hallways in Grandmother’s House are very narrow.

Darkness

Some incarnations of Grandmother’s House are very dark.

Drowning

Although never explicitly shown on-screen, Rose’s incarnation of Grandmother’s House is heavily influenced by water and involves swimming through areas. Some have interpreted this to mean she drowned.

Fire

The last hallway in Carmen’s incarnation of Grandmother’s House is lined in fire.

Ghosts

The Rose’s Wolf may be a ghost.

Heights

During Ruby’s story, the player falls from a great height.

Jump Scares

During some of the visits to Grandmother’s House, the player character’s shadow may suddenly appear and startle the player.

Murder

Many interpret the encounters that Carmen, Robin, and Ginger have with their Wolves to result in murder; Carmen’s is the most explicit.

Mutilation

Some interpret Ginger’s encounter with her Wolf to end in mutilation.

Psychological Horror

The game is meant to induce distress in the player.

During Carmen’s story, while she’s in Grandmother’s House, there is an ongoing ambient track. It contains the sounds of sawing as well as a woman’s moans and it is extremely unnerving. It can be heard on the soundtrack, under the track title “Woodsman Wolf”, beginning around the 1:30 mark.

Sexual Assault

Carmen’s story seems to explicitly revolve around the threat of sexual assault. Some have interpreted other or all of the stories to involve sexual assault.

Supernatural Evil

The Wolves may qualify as this.

Unreality

Many visits to the Grandmother’s House involve shifting or suddenly changing environments. This is especially true in the case of Scarlet.

Vehicular Trauma

During Ruby's story, she encounters a damaged car. This may be how she injured her leg.

Violence Against Children

Some interpret the entire game to be about violence against children. Carmen and Robin’s stories seem to be the most explicit.

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