The Path
The Path is a unique game inspired by the tale of Little Red Riding Hood, set in a contemporary setting. Players control one of six sisters sent to visit their sick grandmother, each with their own journey and encounters. As players explore, they must decide whether to stay on the path or wander off, encountering various items and potentially encountering a wolf. The gameplay shifts upon entering Grandmother's house, with different outcomes depending on the player's actions. Special thanks to GamePhobias for pulling together a lot of the information below.
- Release date: 03-18-2009
- Developer: Tale of Tales
- Publisher: Tale of Tales
- Platforms: MacOS, Windows PC
- Not rated by: PEGI
Triggers for this game
Animals & Wildlife
Arachnids
There is a spider web but no spiders
- Can't be avoided
- Can't be avoided
Rodents
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Rose has a rabbit that remains alive throughout
- Can't be avoided
Wolves
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During Robin's story, she encounters a werewolf.
- Can't be avoided
Crime
Being Held Against Will
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Ginger gets trapped in barbed wire
- Can't be avoided
Hangings
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Quite a few images of Scarlet seem to show/reference her hanging, though they're shown more abstractly
- Can't be avoided
Road-Related Violence
Car accident
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Ruby & Charming. Within Ruby's secret rooms, there is a visual of a car crashed into the side of a school gymnasium and her broken leg is result of such incident
- Can't be avoided
Death & Loss
Drowning
Implied
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Although never explicitly shown on-screen, Rose’s incarnation of Grandmother’s House is heavily influenced by water and involves swimming through areas. Some have interpreted this to mean she drowned.
- Can't be avoided
Suicide
Attempts
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Ruby and Charming's car accident may have been purposeful to end both of their lives. Scarlet is heavily implied to have hung herself (or at least attempted to).
- Can't be avoided
Disturbing Sounds & Sound Design
Misc. Eerie Noises
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During Carmen’s story, while she’s in Grandmother’s House, there is an ongoing ambient track. It contains the sounds of sawing as well as a woman’s moans and it is extremely unnerving. It can be heard on the soundtrack, under the track title “Woodsman Wolf”, beginning around the 1:30 mark.
- Can't be avoided
Drugs & Alcohol
Alcohol Consumption
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When Carmen encounters her Wolf, she begins drinking beer, later being described as a "hard drinking party girl." At one point, she is given alcohol by a much older & balding man who preys on her before it's implied that she's assaulted.
- Can't be avoided
Misc. Drugs & Alcohol Content
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A hypodermic needle is on the ground in the forest in which multiple characters make drug references about
- Can't be avoided
Tobacco & Smoking
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Ruby smokes cigarettes in a cutscene
- Can't be avoided
Gore
Blood
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Blood sometimes appears, especially in Carmen’s story.
- Can't be avoided
Body Horror
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One image of Robin shows her legs seemingly pulled out of shape and disfigured
- Can't be avoided
Hate & Discrimination
Dehumanization & Objectification
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Carmen struggles a lot with being objectified by her peers and herself. She also makes reference to boys sexually objectifying Rose and Ruby.
- Can't be avoided
Horror Themes
Ghosts & Hauntings
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Rose’s Wolf may be a ghost.
- Can't be avoided
Jump Scares
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During some of the visits to Grandmother’s House, the player character’s shadow may suddenly appear and startle the player.
- Is avoidable
- Can't be avoided
Mental Health
Grief
Carmen
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Carmen's ending revolves around the emotional trauma that being SA'd gives her and has imagery referential of the assault.
- Can't be avoided
Hallucinations
Unreality
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Many visits to the Grandmother’s House involve shifting or suddenly changing environments. This is especially true in the case of Scarlet.
- Can't be avoided
Panic Attack
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If you stand still characters will begin hyperventilating with increasing fear.
- Can't be avoided
Suicidal Ideation
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Ruby makes comments that suggest she struggles with suicidal ideation.
- Can't be avoided
Non-Sexual Abuse & Violence
Child Endangerment
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No parent makes an appearance in the game but some dialogue suggests the girls may have a neglectful mother.
- Can't be avoided
Mutilation
Self
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There is in text references to self harm but no actions. Some interpret Ginger’s encounter with her Wolf to end in mutilation.
- Can't be avoided
Stalking
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You get followed around and sometimes spied on by a girl in the forest
- Can't be avoided
Phobias
Acrophobia
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During Ruby’s story, the player falls from a great height.
- Can't be avoided
Arachnophobia
There is a spider web but no spiders
- Can't be avoided
Claustrophobia
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Grandmothers house has incredibly tight hallways you have to walk through.
- Can't be avoided
Hemophobia
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Blood sometimes appears, especially in Carmen’s story.
- Can't be avoided
Necrophobia
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You come across a dead and mutilated bird
- Can't be avoided
Nyctophobia
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Some incarnations of Grandmother’s House are very dark.
Ommetaphobia
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There's an image of Scarlet with a string inserted in her eyes
- Can't be avoided
Trypanophobia
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A hypodermic needle is on the ground in the forest in which multiple characters make drug references about
- Can't be avoided
Physical Health & Body Issues
Pain & Physical Suffering
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The running interpretation of Robin's storyline is that her ending she becomes bed ridden and breaks her legs in the wolf attack, as the game is mostly portrayed through metaphor this may not be everyone's interpretation and it's barely on screen but it is aided by flashing images at the end of her section of her legs warped and twisted Grandmother, Rose, and Ruby are all implied to have chronic illnesses.
- Can't be avoided
Sexual Abuse
Child Sexual Assault
Overtones
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Carmen’s story has overtones of pedophilia. Carmen is given alcohol by a much older & balding man who preys on her before it's implied that she's assaulted.
- Can't be avoided
- Can't be avoided
Sexual Assault
Threats
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Carmen’s story seems to explicitly revolve around the threat of sexual assault.
- Can't be avoided
Traumatic Events
Accidents
Car
- Can't be avoided
Structure Fire
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The last hallway in Carmen’s incarnation of Grandmother’s House is lined in fire.
- Can't be avoided
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