Macclesfield, UK – 8 October 2026
After the world ends, love is all that remains to keep the dark away. Painted Black Games and Silver Lining Interactive are thrilled to announce that their highly anticipated pixel-art indie hit, The Road Of Dust And Sorrow, will officially launch 3 December 2026 on Steam, PlayStation 5, XBOX Series X/S, Nintendo Switch & Nintendo Switch 2.
Following a massive surge of community support, the title has officially crossed the major milestone of 150,000 Steam wishlists, cementing its position as a defining title for the emerging “cozy horror” subgenre. To celebrate the launch date reveal and milestone, a brand-new story trailer has been unveiled today during the Convergence Showcase, giving players a glimpse into the dynamic between the game’s main characters – Katherine and Ava.
Heartbreak, Hope, and the Bonds That Endure
Focusing on the soulful bond between a parent and child, players navigate a ruined world as Katherine, guiding and protecting her daughter, Ava, from monsters driven by a primal hunger. By trading mindless carnage for story-driven survival, The Road Of Dust And Sorrow blurs the line between necessity and cruelty, forcing players to ask how far they will go to protect the only light left in the dark.
“Crossing 150,000 wishlists is completely overwhelming,” says Roman, Developer at Painted Black Games. “We set out to build a game that felt close to our hearts. Seeing so many players connect with Katherine and Ava’s journey shows us that there’s a real hunger for stories that represent deeply human experiences.”
###
About The Road of Dust and Sorrow
The Road of Dust and Sorrow is a tense, story-driven pixel art horror inspired by ’90s classics. Survive a world gone wrong and protect what matters most: your daughter.
Dive into a story-driven cozy horror adventure inspired by classics like Resident Evil and Silent Hill. A miracle crop designed to end famine became humanity’s ruin. It twisted people into feral creatures called Dusters, hollowed out by a chemical addiction and driven by primal hunger. Katherine and her daughter Ava roam the remnants of civilization, searching for a safe haven. But their journey draws the attention of the Pastor and his mysterious following. He sees remaining humans not as people, but as fertile soil for his plans.
A FALLEN WORLD
Streets lie abandoned, buildings rot from the inside out, and strange vegetation reclaims the earth at an accelerated rate. Traces of the past linger in barricaded homes, ransacked offices with scattered supplies, and stores picked clean of basic goods. In a world shaped by desperation, how far will you go to survive?
FIGHT FOR YOUR LIFE
Claw your way through decaying streets, bloodthirsty monsters, locked rooms, and forgotten corridors. Solve environmental puzzles, uncover hidden paths, and survive encounters with feral Dusters for a chance to reach safety. Proceed with caution: every door can lead to salvation… or devastation.
PROTECT WHAT MATTERS MOST
Protect Ava at all costs. The world can die, but she must live. Every step draws you deeper into a hostile wilderness that wants you gone. No one is coming to save you, but you can fight. You can run. You can try to get her to safety.
COZY HORROR AT HEART
Experience a new unique blend of tension and comfort. The Road of Dust and Sorrow establishes a new cozy horror genre: focusing on cozy, atmospheric pixel art, rich narrative and subtle dread. It offers a haunting, dystopian world built for both horror veterans and casual players.
KEY FEATURES
- Story-Driven Linear Experience
- Cozy Horror Gameplay
- Exploration and Puzzles
- Beautiful Pixel Art
###
About Silver Lining Interactive
Silver Lining Interactive is a collaborative video games publishing house based in the North of England. Founded by seasoned industry professionals with one goal: make games publishing feel like a partnership. With a passion for fostering creative talent and great games, the team is committed to bringing innovative, high-quality games to players worldwide, physically and digitally.
About Painted Black Games
Painted Black Games is an independent studio born in Ukraine and spread across the globe. United by a passion for video games and meaningful storytelling, they craft worlds where atmosphere matters, emotions lead the way, and every detail is crafted with purpose.
