Last Updated on Sep 1, 2026 @ 14:11:12 PM.
If you haven’t heard about Dreadline Express, then you are missing out, as I was able to try out this unique blend of horror, deckbuilding, and puzzles at Gamescom, and it is safe to say that I am very excited for this game to come out.
While I was at Gamescom, I was able to get my hands on Dreadline Express and experience the beginning of the game and its deckbuilding gameplay as I searched through the final train and solved puzzles related to the people that were on the train and the eldritch horror that was lurking outside.
Dreadline Express Reminded Me That Horror Doesn’t Have to Be Jumpscares but Can Also Be a Haunting Atmosphere
From the beginning you start the game with no knowledge of who you are, why you are there, or what is going on and have to uncover what is actually taking place around you by investigating the area around you and finding key information that will eventually turn into the cards that will fill your deck throughout the game.
When it comes to this explorative gameplay, it was really interesting, as everything around you felt like a clue that you needed to search for, whether it was a light that you could use to see things that you couldn’t before, your suitcase to find your own name, and so much more. Each item was its own clue to your story and the story around you, but they weren’t just clues; they were also solutions.
Throughout the game you are tasked with using the cards you collect in order to solve the puzzles around you and to uncover information that was already missing, so for example you would have to use the card regarding you and your name to introduce yourself to the other characters within the train, or you would have to use the card for light to illuminate a table surface so you can read it.
Each of these actions may sound like something incredibly simple, but it does get more complicated as some puzzles require multiple cards to answer them, while some require deeper investigation. Because of this, the game can get a rather unique atmosphere to it that I can only describe as overwhelming but in less of a stressful kind of way, but more in a way that is very Lovecraftian in the sense that it will drive you insane to find the answer that is staring you right in the face, which is very clearly the way the game is designed due to it being set in the universe of H.P. Lovecraft.
While I played Dreadline Express, I found that this atmosphere was done really well and worked with the way the game played, as it wasn’t leaning into a jumpscare horror experience but instead the gloomy world outside, the depressing characters, the lack of clear direction, and so much more leaned into the psychological horror that Lovecraftian stories are popular for, and this game fits that bill perfectly, as even a horror fan like me felt the oppressive atmosphere slowly whittle me down to a sense of dread.
A key thing I would also like to mention is the overall art design for the game, as this is something that I felt lent itself to the Lovecraftian horror it was trying to embody, as the rather dead eyes of the passengers, the rather empty train, the abandoned outside world, and the actual card designs were all so beautifully done that I could stare at them all day.
Dreadline Express currently has no set release date but is scheduled to release sometime within 2026 on PC.
For your next read, why not check out, our article that talks about Guns and Dragons and our experience with it at Gamescom, or our article regarding Valor Mortis and how we enjoyed it during our hands-on experience.
Liam is a Senior Editor, Writer, and Critic for Thumb Wars and has been working with the team since day one. Liam is a big fan of all things gaming, as you will catch him playing all of the new releases from every genre you can imagine. Whether you find Liam gaming just for fun or spending his free time streaming, you will always find a smile on his face when it comes to all things gaming.
