Once upon a time, there were six girls who had to visit their sick grandmother. No, wait, there were actually seven. In order to get to their grandmother's house, the Red Girls had to travel through a nearby forest to get there; it was a quick and safe journey, as long as they stayed on the path leading through the woods. But if they stayed on the path and made it to the house safe and sound, then their stories ended in failure. Confused yet? Don't worry, that's a common feeling when playing Tale of Tales' newest horror/adventure game, The Path.

Title The Path Developer Tale of Tales Publisher Tale of Tales Price $9.99 Platform PC

The Path is perhaps one of the strangest games you'll ever play. It's an eerie adventure game based on Little Red Riding Hood that takes place in both third and first-person perspectives, telling the story of a group of sisters who go to visit their grandmother's house, one at a time. If the sisters make it to the house without deviating from the path that winds through the woods, though, the house is safe but their respective chapters end in failure. In order to succeed, players have to wander off the path and explore the "Endless Forest" until they encounter The Wolf. The Wolf appears as a different being for each girl, and dealing with this creature unlocks more items and rooms to find in Grandma's House. Finally, in order for a chapter to be considered successful, the girl must die at the end of the section. Why this has to be isn't really explained, and it's something that you'll find yourself wondering about for quite some time.

While wandering through the forest, the game is a third-person adventure, but once inside the house the perspective switches to a first-person viewpoint. These two sequences feel like totally separate games, with visuals that don't actually mesh smoothly: the third-person parts actually look rather nice, especially when you discover unlockable areas, but the first-person parts feel like they're out of a first-generation Myst clone.

It's a shame, because the exploratory portions of the game do such a great job of presenting a world that is simultaneously beautiful and eerie, with messages and images appearing on the screen as you wander through the woods. As a result, you'll find yourself wanting to explore more of this strange environment, though the final portions of each chapter will most likely leave you confused and frustrated at the game's abstract nature.

Meanwhile, the game contains some lovely music, but the sound effects are often disconcerting and bizarre. This, combined with the visuals, serves to create a world that is truly unique. Nothing feels stable; instead, everything comes across as discordant and dynamic, thus having the potential to shift into something dangerous at the drop of a hat.

The game's story may not make a lot of sense, but it resonated with me for a good while after I had stopped playing. I found myself analyzing the different chapters and trying to figure out how they tied together, as well as trying to untangle the symbolism contained in the different items that the characters find during their travels. It's not often that a game stays with a player after they walk away from it, but the problem is that The Path remains as inscrutable as ever even after it's been the subject of a great deal of consideration.

So is The Path a good game? Well, yes and no. On one hand, the story doesn't make much sense, and it's not exactly a lot of fun to play. On the other hand, the game's art style is enchanting, the world is fascinating and makes you want to keep exploring its contents, and it sticks with you long after you stop playing. It's definitely different from anything else you're likely to play; it might not be a game many people will like, but it is something to be respected and admired.

The game is available for download via Steam or through Tale of Tales' website for $9.99. If you're interested in a game that will stick with you for quite some time after you invest some time in it, then pick this one up. If, however, you prefer your gameplay experiences to be rather straightforward, you should look elsewhere.