$20 Game of the Week: The Path (PC, Mac)

Are you one of those people who think video games are, or can be art? Did you like Braid? If so, you’ll love The Path. The Path is one of those games which clearly isn’t for everyone, but it makes you think about what’s going on in ways that games such as Halo and Grand Theft Auto can’t. The Path is a retelling of the story of Little Red Riding Hood. After selecting one of several sisters, you are sent by your mother to visit your ailing grandmother. You are given one command: stay on the path. Indeed, doing so will get you to grandma’s house safe and sound, but you don’t want to do that. It’s by deviating from the path that you learn more about the game and find more of the forest’s secrets. You’ll also encounter the “wolf”. The game’s control system is simplistic, but it gets the job done as all you are doing is exploring and checking out objects. The game is very ambiguous, as you learn nothing of the girls besides their name. What’s the game’s point? Is there one? While the ambiguity will put off most players, others will enjoy trying to decipher the game’s meaning. If you want something different and have an open mind, check it out.