From Press Release:
Prague, Czechia – October 2nd, 2026 – There are no more stations, no more destinations, and on October 16th, it will finally be time to board.
Publisher Shoreline Games and developer David Konecny have announced that Dreadline Express, the first-person psychological horror “metroidbrainia” set aboard the last human train slicing through a scorched Earth, will launch for PC via Steam on October 16th, 2026.
The news was revealed during Insider Gaming’s 28 Games Later horror showcase last night, with the game’s brand new trailer offering an unnerving glimpse aboard a train carrying what remains of humanity through the scars of a world that is no longer ours, marred by Lovecraftian themes and undertones.
Part mystery, part exploration-driven horror, and intentionally full of riddles rather than telling players where they should go next, Dreadline Express puts you aboard the last remnant of a now collapsed civilisation – a steam train populated by a handful of colourful and frankly ominous survivors.
Inside every carriage hides another piece of the puzzle. Each passenger has their own story, their own motives and, perhaps, something they would rather keep hidden, buried deep down in their psyche. Some doors upon this train, it appears, may be better left closed.
“Dreadline Express is about giving players the freedom to be curious,” offers David Konecny, developer of Dreadline Express. “I wanted to make a horror game where making it through comes from paying attention, making connections, and understanding the people and places around you, rather than simply following a trail of objectives. It’s strange, unsettling, and sometimes deliberately obtuse, and I’m incredibly excited that people will finally be able to board the train on October 16th.”
At the centre of it all is Dreadline Express’ card-based narrative system. Discoveries, encounters and achievements become cards stored within an evolving album, allowing players to uncover connections, formulate new plans and open paths that previously appeared impossible. The more you understand about the train, its passengers and the world outside, the more options you have for deciding what happens next.
“Dreadline Express is exactly the kind of game we love working with at Shoreline,” says Keith Kawamura, CEO of Shoreline Games. “It has a completely distinct identity, a brilliant central idea, and the confidence to trust players to work things out for themselves. David has created something that feels genuinely unlike anything else we’ve ever played, and we’re incredibly proud to be helping bring his wonderfully weird, unsettling train journey to players this October.”
Dreadline Express features: –
- Unravel the mysteries of the last human train – Explore the final moving relic of a devastated civilisation, where every carriage hides new secrets, and every passenger has their own story to tell.
- Choose your own way forward – Explore freely, decide who becomes an ally or enemy, and overcome obstacles through force, tactics, or careful deduction. There is never only one solution.
- Piece together a fragmented story – Pay attention, gather clues, and connect the pieces of a larger narrative puzzle before everything that remains is lost forever.
- Master a unique card-based narrative system – Turn discoveries and achievements into cards, then use your growing collection to uncover connections, plan your next move, and open new possibilities.
- Complete the album, understand the truth – Every new card brings you closer to understanding the melancholy story behind the last human train and the fate of those aboard it.
- Remember: you are being watched – Your choices, relationships, and discoveries all shape how your journey through the train unfolds.
Dreadline Express launches on Steam on October 16th, 2026. Players can board early through the Dreadline Express Demo, available for a very limited period right now, and wishlist the full game ahead of launch.
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About David Konecny
Dreadline Express is a first-person psychological horror metroidbrainia developed by David Konecny and published by Shoreline Games.Aboard the last human train, players must explore the remnants of a fallen civilisation, investigate its increasingly strange passengers, and piece together a mystery before everything that remains disappears forever.
About Shoreline Games
Shoreline Games is an independent publisher, focusing on unique, eye-catching narrative-driven games developed by talented studios worldwide. Their catalog of indie titles ranges from the academia-inspired Sanatorium: A Mental Asylum Simulator, early 2000s-inspired action-adventure Onirism, and most recently, Cyberpunk-Noir Narrative RPG Celestial Return. For more information, please visit www.shorelinegames.com.
