The Pathless is a mythic adventure about an archer and an eagle in a vast forest. You use timed button presses to use your bow and discover the open world, unlock a mystical island and dispel a curse of darkness that grips the world.

It's unusual because movement and shooting are super simple. Rather than precise targeting the game focuses on timing and fluidity of movement, drawing on the developer's previous game, Abzu. Similar to the connection to underwater creatures in that game, here you also forge a close bond with your eagle companion as you hunt corrupted spirits.

The game stays committed to the focus on character and exploration throughout. There is no map to the large world, so you must gain knowledge and "sight" of the land by reaching vantage points. There's also no game over. Instead of the frustration about losing your progress if the cursed spirits get the better of you, they will knock your crystals out of you, hampering your progress towards future flap upgrades.