The Pale Beyond Reviews

The Pale Beyond is ranked in the 75th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
Polygon
Top Critic
Unscored
Feb 23, 2023

The Pale Beyond, for all its flaws and frustrations, still manages to retain a desolate sort of charm, rough edges and all. It isn’t afraid to put Shaw in horrendously painful situations where there’s no good outcome — there’s one exceptionally bleak scenario where you can practically feel the game gleefully milking what’s left of your serotonin. Coming off the ice and making land after nearly 40 weeks of hell really feels like moving between two worlds; the background art and environments are positively unearthly when shrouded in ominous fog and hazy light. The ocean scenes with icebergs awash in pinks and oranges are truly gorgeous, as are the dark, roiling storms. If only the internal logic of the overall plot was a little more cohesive, and a little less patched together, I feel like I would actually return to the Temperance and give it another whirl. As it stands, I’m still choosing the ending where I get to head home and eat a civilized meal.

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8 / 10.0
Feb 23, 2023

The Pale Beyond is bleak and miserable in all the right ways, with a fantastic setting for a survival game.

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Unscored
Feb 23, 2023

The Pale Beyond has the same inner workings as its survival sim counterparts, but its gripping tale of underdog sailors clawing at survival in hopes of returning home will fuel you to its thrilling end.

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90 / 100
Feb 23, 2023

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.

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85 / 100
Mar 7, 2023

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.

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7 / 10
Feb 23, 2023

A tough game that's sometimes a little too harsh for its own good, but if you're up for the challenge, there's a wonderfully touching gaming experience to be had here.

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8 / 10.0
Mar 9, 2023

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.

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62 / 100
Mar 6, 2023

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.

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8.4 / 10.0
Oct 19, 2023

While certainly quite text heavy, this sea-faring survival adventure sports strong character development and moral quandaries aplenty

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8.5 / 10.0
Oct 5, 2023

The Pale Beyond is an immersive experience about the effort for a crew to survive on the ice. With an instigating narrative and a gameplay that constantly puts the player's skills to the test, it's an excellent choice for those looking for a serious limited resources management game that at the same time offers a touching experience about people.

Review in Portuguese | Read full review

8 / 10.0
May 18, 2023

The Pale Beyond is a unique game, driven by a great survival concept that makes good use of both narrative RPG and simulation elements.

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68 / 100
Mar 5, 2023

The Pale Beyond sends you to the infinite ice for a deadly mission. It's an exciting concept and it's really a big task to keep your crew alive. It's even more tricky due to a few technical issues.

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8 / 10.0
Mar 1, 2023

The Pale Beyond from Bellular Studios finds the perfect balance between tension and calm. With a unique take on survival, gorgeous visuals and relaxing music, The Pale Beyond tells a memorable story about exploration.

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Feb 23, 2023

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.

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4.2 / 5.0
Feb 25, 2023

The Pale Beyond is a game definitely worth checking out. Its writing does justice to the tragic story of the events on which its story is based and features characters that feel unique and are incredibly fleshed out, though your objective isn't always clear. Its story and music will have you enthralled.

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85 / 100
Feb 24, 2023

The Pale Beyond is a fantastic game. From the intense and methodical gameplay, stunning art style, and fantastic characters. Everything about this game is meticulous and shows in every aspect of the title. The gameplay can become repetitive, especially during longer playing sessions, but the depth of the characters and the marvelous atmosphere that this title manages to conjure seems to grip you as you attempt to survive the horrifying cold of the arctic.

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