The Pale Beyond

Release Date: February 24, 2023

Strategy, isometric view, RPG elements, survival, ships, indie games, 19th century, singleplayer

Rate It!

The Pale Beyond is a game with elements of narrative RPG and survival strategy. The player takes on the role of a captain of a 19th century expedition to the North Pole.

Videos and Screens

[1:17] The Pale Beyond trailer #1

The Pale Beyond is a narrative RPG enriched with survival strategy elements. Game was developed by Bellular Studios team.

Plot

The action takes place in XIX century. Five years before the beginning of the game plot research vessel The Viscount goes on an expedition to Antarctica in search of magnetic south. The vessel is lost without a trace. Finally, a decision is made to send another sailing ship, named Temperance (or Restraint), whose purpose is to discover the fate of the previous expedition and complete its task.

Unfortunately, the second expedition also runs into big trouble. The ship becomes trapped in ice and the captain disappears under mysterious circumstances. As the next highest-ranking member of the crew, our hero takes command of the sailors, and his main goal becomes survival.

Mechanics

The Pale Beyond is a narrative RPG that focuses mainly on discovering the story and making decisions that affect the further development of the story. To this, elements of survival strategy have been added. The player has to carefully save resources, take care of the crew and complete tasks.

During the game we carry out an expedition in search of the ship The Viscount. We have to carefully choose the routes, so as to minimize the risk for the crew and the ship. Sooner or later, however, winter strikes and the ship is trapped in ice. Then the priority becomes surviving until the thaw. Then we have limited possibilities of replenishing supplies, so we have to manage them carefully. We can also set up camps and organize expeditions using dog sleds.

During the game the player must make difficult decisions every now and then. Our subordinates have their own AI and morale, and unpopular orders reduce support for our captain. Every now and then a vote is organized and if it does not go our way, a mutiny breaks out on board.

Game modes

The game offers only single player mode.

Technical aspects

The Pale Beyond features an attractive 2D graphics made in a comic book style. All of its elements were drawn and painted by hand, and the authors used paintings and sketches from the Victorian era showing early expeditions to the North Pole.