So, it looks like we're getting hit with a virtual plague right after the New Year celebrations! Pathologic 3, where you're a doctor trying to save a town from some nasty disease, is dropping on January 9th, 2026. I'm kind of excited, even if it means turning off the lights and having someone cough in the next room to really get into the mood.

The developers at Ice-Pick Lodge said that the release date is "nailed down" and "isn't moving", which is pretty reassuring. Besides the release date, they're also dropping a series of trailers, because apparently, this game is too complex to explain in just one video. Honestly, that makes me even more curious. If it's so hard to describe, it's probably something special.

To give us a taste of what's to come, there's a new demo available as part of the Steam Next Fest. According to Ice-Pick Lodge, you play as Daniil Dankovsky, aka the Bachelor, arriving in town to meet some immortal dude, and then, of course, everything goes wrong. Sounds like my average Tuesday.

The demo seems to lean more into the detective side of things, which is a cool twist. You're not just patching people up; you're trying to figure out what's going on. I feel like this approach might make the game more engaging. While the demo might feel a bit disjointed, it does a great job of setting the atmosphere and teasing the story. Be warned, though: the game doesn't hold your hand. The tutorials are minimal, and the UI expects you to figure things out. If you love being thrown into the deep end, you'll probably dig it. Personally, I love when games make you use your brain.

Pathologic 3 is also the first game since Nikolay Dybowski, the founder, left the studio. Anyway, if you're curious, you can find the Next Fest demo on the Steam page. Go give it a whirl and see if you can survive the plague!