Dustborn

Dustborn

Released Aug 2024

Ragtag crew? Check. Musical gear? Check. Tour bus and robot driver? Check. Stolen package? Check! Embark on a perilous road-trip across a Divided States of America. Use the power of words to shape relationships with your crew, get out of trouble and reach your final destination.

65% positive · 785 reviews
Not yet
Released, active development but status unclear
Low confidence
Active Development
Development Uncertain
Not yet
Released, active development but status unclear
Low confidence
Active Development
Development Uncertain

Where to buy

Steam $29.99 IndieGala Steam key $29.99
Can't confirm — worth a look
We couldn't confirm these stores carry this game.
Green Man Gaming Steam key Search
Prices in USD, as listed by each store.
Buying through an affiliate store helps support the site

Evaluation

Dustborn launched on August 20, 2024 and quickly entered an active post-launch update cycle. Red Thread Games shipped a series of substantial content updates: v1.8 on November 1, 2024 (combat overhaul, new story content, new gameplay modes), v1.10 on December 13, 2024 (new scenes, gameplay enhancements), v1.12 in April 2025 (new Herald scenes, radio broadcasts, story additions), and v1.14 on June 6, 2025 (the studio's largest update yet, adding new enemy types, a new cut-scene, deeper crew systems, and 78 bug fixes). A macOS version launched on July 8, 2025, bundling all prior improvements. In the v1.14 post on June 6, 2025, the developer explicitly stated: "We'll continue to listen, build, and share — with even more updates planned for the second half of 2025." The developer also made a public Trello roadmap available for community input. These are clear commitments to further content. However, as of October 8, 2026, the last developer communication of any kind was the macOS launch post on July 8, 2025 — over 14 months ago. The established update cadence was roughly every 2–3 months. Fourteen months of silence is nearly five times that cadence, and the promised "second half of 2025" updates have not materialized with any public announcement. The developer has not explained the silence, and there is no indication the Trello roadmap commitments have been fulfilled. Outstanding promises remain unresolved, making the current development status uncertain.
Evidence
macOS version launches, described as the best version of the game, incorporating all post-launch improvements. This is the last developer communication on record.
news post · Jul 8, 2025 source content shipped
high
v1.14 ships as the largest update yet, with new enemy types, a new cut-scene, improved crew systems, and 78 bug fixes — part of a sustained cadence of major updates roughly every 2–3 months since launch.
news post · Jun 6, 2025 source content shipped
high

Content

2 of 2 released · no outstanding content

Media

Details

Publisher
Spotlight by Quantic Dream
Achievements
26
Platform
Windows, macOS
Controller
full support
Steam Deck
Verified
Players
Single-player

About this game

Dustborn is a single-player, story-driven action-adventure game about hope, love, friendships, robots…and the power of words.

You play Pax: exile, con-artist — Anomal. Looking for a way out and a new life, Pax has been hired to transport an important package from Pacifica to Nova Scotia, across the Justice-controlled American Republic.

Explore the stunning Neo-Western landscapes of an alternate history America on a robot-driven tour bus, and stop at a dozen locations along the road to build your crew, manage relationships, complete missions, and face increasingly difficult challenges.

But the people you stole the package from want it back, and Justice is hot on your heels, so don’t forget to pack your baseball bat!

At the end of the road lies salvation…but to get there, you need to cross an entire continent.

Words have power. Like, actual power. Fight with Shouts and use your Vox in conversations to manipulate people and talk your way out of hairy situations. Craft new words, and learn to wield a lingual arsenal against enemies...and friends.

On the road across an alternate history America, you’ll stop at iconic locations, take on unexpected assignments, meet a colorful cast of characters, enlist new crew members, and evade (or fight) your pursuers. See beautiful sights along the highway, rendered in a colorful graphic-novel-inspired art style that brings stunning 2D illustrations to 3D life.

Your crew is your (found) family. Round up, manage and lean on a motley mob of misfits with peculiar powers, compelling stories and clashing personalities. Branching dialogues lead to choices that shape relationships and change how your crew feels about themselves and others.

In each location you’ll explore, investigate and chat with the people you meet, use the crew to overcome challenges, craft new Shouts and Vox, and rehearse with your band. You might also find yourself throwing Molotov cocktails from a motorbike, swing a baseball bat to take down helicopters…and more. You know, just normal everyday stuff.

Last evaluated Oct 8, 2026
Something about this evaluation looks wrong Report illegal or harmful content