Pathologic 3 Releases to Strong Early Praise: Ice-Pick Lodge’s Ambitious Sequel Arrives on PC and PS5

Ice-Pick Lodge, the acclaimed Russian studio behind the cult classic survival horror series, has officially launched Pathologic 3 on PC via Steam, GOG and PlayStation 5, marking the latest chapter in its plague-ravaged narrative universe.

The game arrived on January 9, 2026, with an Xbox Series X/S version slated for January 23. Priced at $34.99 (currently 20% off at $27.99 as a launch discount), it has quickly garnered a “Very Positive” rating on Steam from over 970 user reviews, with 81% positive feedback.

Players step into the shoes of Daniil Dankovsky, a young physician and researcher known as “The Bachelor” from the original 2005 Pathologic. Tasked with eradicating a mysterious plague engulfing the remote Town-on-Gorkhon in just 12 days, the game blends psychological horror, RPG elements, and town management. Unlike its predecessors’ grueling survival mechanics, Pathologic 3 introduces time manipulation: rewind the clock to correct mistakes, balance mental states between apathy and mania, and reshape events through branching choices.

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Pathologic 3 Is Out Now on Steam!

“Every minute counts. Save them all, discover the secrets of immortality… don’t go mad in the process,” reads the Steam description, capturing the game’s tense atmosphere of moral dilemmas, patient diagnostics, quarantines, and riots. Developer Ice-Pick Lodge emphasizes ruthless decision-making: enforce curfews, deploy patrols, or suppress uprisings, all while your psychological state warps your perception of reality.

The studio has already rolled out two hotfixes addressing issues like trader functionality, character models, and map markers, showcasing rapid post-launch support via Steam and Discord.

Adding to the eerie vibe, legendary Silent Hill composer Akira Yamaoka contributed an original track about the Town-on-Gorkhon, released just days before launch.

This entry reimagines the Bachelor’s storyline from the original Pathologic, following Pathologic 2‘s 2019 Haruspex-focused remake. Critics and fans alike have praised its narrative depth. Polygon called it “brilliant, beautiful, and most importantly, approachable,” ideal for newcomers and veterans alike. Early impressions highlight its poetic storytelling, optimization, and medical investigation mechanics.

Published by HypeTrain Digital, Pathologic 3 supports full controller compatibility and accessibility options like camera adjustments. Minimum specs are modest (GTX 960, 8GB RAM), making it accessible on a wide range of hardware.

Ice-Pick Lodge announced the title in late 2024 with a planned 2025 release, but stuck to the confirmed January 9 window after a Steam demo whetted appetites. Bundles like the Supporter Edition and crossovers with other titles offer extra value for series fans.

As the first major release of 2026, Pathologic 3 cements Ice-Pick Lodge’s reputation for unflinching, choice-driven horror. Whether you’re drawn to its time-bending twists or the haunting question of “can you save them all?”, the plague waits for no one.