Pathologic 3 Announced with Time Travel Mechanics – Ready to Mess with Your Head in 2025

I opened my inbox this morning to find a dead rat—and upon closer inspection, its entrails spelled out a cryptic message: PaThoLoGiC 3 aNnOuNcEd. Ah yes, Ice Pick Lodge is at it again, dragging us back into the harrowing world of plague, death, and desperate survival. This time, though, the devs are throwing a twist into the mix: time travel.

That’s right—Pathologic 3 is officially in the works, and it’s set to warp your perception of choices even more. You’ll play as the Bachelor, a well-dressed, Latin-quoting physician who’s all about quarantining towns and studying pathogens. The new time-travel mechanic promises to let players revisit their decisions and watch how they alter the lives (or deaths) of the townspeople. Will you fix past mistakes, or just create new ones? Either way, there’s a lot of fresh misery to look forward to when the game releases sometime in 2025.

What's New in Pathologic 3?

For starters, you’re taking on the role of the Bachelor this time—a slick, academic doctor with a fondness for lab coats and microscopes. Unlike the rough-around-the-edges Haruspex from Pathologic 2, the Bachelor is more of a methodical thinker, and you’ll be using a microscope and lab equipment to “research pathogens.” According to the devs, there’s also some management-style gameplay. Expect to be issuing quarantines, deploying patrols, and locking down areas of town to try (and probably fail) to contain the epidemic.

The time-travel element isn’t your typical sci-fi fare; Ice Pick Lodge is keeping things mysterious, hinting at more of a “Rashomon-style” retelling of events rather than a DeLorean-fueled trip through timelines. The idea is to revisit your choices and explore alternative outcomes, reshaping how the narrative unfolds in the plague-ridden town. But, just like the previous games, you’ll still only have 12 days to make your mark, so don’t expect too many second chances.

Pathologic Timeline Explained (Sort Of)

In case you’re wondering where this fits into the Pathologic saga: Pathologic 2 was not actually a sequel, despite the number in its name. It was more of a remake of the original Pathologic, with players assuming the role of one of three characters—Bachelor, Changeling, or Haruspex. The devs initially made the Haruspex the default protagonist for Pathologic 2 with the promise that the Bachelor and Changeling would come later as playable characters. Well, it seems like plans have changed, and Ice Pick Lodge is slapping a shiny new number on the series with Pathologic 3 to bring the Bachelor’s story to the forefront.

But does that mean you’ll need to fork over more cash for Pathologic 4 to experience the Changeling’s perspective? Who knows. Ice Pick Lodge loves playing with your expectations (and your wallet).

How Does It Stack Up?

Now, you might be wondering, "Do I really want to suffer through another Pathologic game?" Well, if you’re a fan of bleak, soul-crushing atmospheres, then yes. Pathologic 2 was divisive, to say the least. While I found its world deeply immersive, I was frustrated by survival mechanics that seemed more punishing than necessary—hunger meters, exhaustion meters, pretty much everything trying to kill you at once. But after later updates allowed for difficulty tweaks, my experience improved dramatically, and I began to appreciate the game’s dark charm. The creepy vibes on the derelict train tracks? Unmatched.

Many Pathologic fans, however, embrace the brutality of the game’s systems. You might’ve seen YouTuber Hbomberguy’s deep-dive video essay, where he praises the game for its oppressive bleakness (and calls me a Big Poo Poo Head in the process). Will Pathologic 3 continue this love-hate relationship with its audience? Probably.

Looking Ahead to 2025

With time-travel mechanics, quarantine patrols, and a reimagined focus on the Bachelor’s story, Pathologic 3 is shaping up to be another brain-melting adventure from Ice Pick Lodge. Whether you loved or hated the previous entries, one thing’s for sure—this sequel will have plenty of grim surprises in store.

So, sharpen your syringes, grab your microscope, and prepare for another round of pandemic-fueled chaos in 2025. Just be ready to regret every decision you make.