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The Road of Dust and Sorrow is scheduled to launch on December 3, 2026, according to developer Painted Black Games. Publisher Silver Lining Interactive has announced Steam, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2 as platforms. These are announced platforms; the announcement does not confirm that every store listing is live.
When does The Road of Dust and Sorrow come out?
Painted Black Games announced December 3, 2026 as the launch date in an October 2026 Steam Community post. The date is scheduled, not a guarantee that it cannot change; check the official Steam page near launch for updates.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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Merchants of the Dark Road: Patron's Provisions Mini Expansion | New Heroes, Commissions & Deluxe... | $13.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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The Road | $12.28 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Blurder | $1.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
Checkers | $2.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
Glass Slippers | Buy on Amazon |
In the same announcement, the developer reported reaching 150,000 wishlists. It also said an updated demo was coming soon, but did not give a date for it.
What platforms will it be on?
Silver Lining Interactive announced the following platforms:
#1 Best Overall
- EXPAND YOUR JOURNEY ON THE DARK ROAD – Add new content and fresh strategic choices to every game of Merchants of the Dark Road with this mini-expansion packed with heroes, commissions, companions, and travel upgrades.
- NEW PRIEST HEROES & COMMISSIONS – Recruit 6 unique Priest Heroes and complete 6 Watchers' Words Commission Tiles, introducing new ways to earn rewards and plan your routes.
- DELUXE STEEDS & COMPANIONS – Enhance your travels with 8 Deluxe Steed Tiles, the legendary Rimefrost steed card, and Frost Squirrel companion cards that add variety and replayability.
- SEAMLESSLY INTEGRATES WITH THE BASE GAME – Designed to blend naturally into existing gameplay while adding meaningful choices for both experienced merchants and returning adventurers.
- REQUIRES MERCHANTS OF THE DARK ROAD – This is an expansion and is not a standalone game. For 1–4 players, ages 12+, with a playtime of approximately 60–120 minutes.
- Steam
- PlayStation 5
- Xbox Series X|S
- Nintendo Switch
- Nintendo Switch 2
The platform announcement establishes the announced list, not whether each storefront has a live listing or whether availability will be the same in every region. It does not state pricing, preorder details, or whether a physical edition is planned.
What kind of game is it?
Painted Black Games describes The Road of Dust and Sorrow as a story-driven, pixel-art survival-horror game inspired by 1990s classics, including Resident Evil and Silent Hill. Its official description presents a linear story with dystopian survival, exploration, environmental puzzles, and dangerous encounters. These are the developer’s descriptions rather than independent gameplay findings.
Rank #2
- fiction
- Cormac McCarthy
- first edition
Premise
A failed experiment meant to create a cure for famine transforms people into feral creatures called Dusters. Katherine and her daughter Ava travel through the remains of civilization in search of safety, while also confronting a mysterious Preacher and his cult. The developer’s demo announcement sums up Katherine’s motivation: “Protect Ava at all cost. The world can die but she must live.”
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Exploration and encounters
The developer describes abandoned streets and decaying buildings, environmental puzzles, hidden paths, and encounters that players can fight or avoid. Its demo announcement is available on Steam.
Rank #3
Where can you follow the release?
For the date and the developer’s demo updates, check the official Steam Community page. The developer encourages interested players to wishlist the game on Steam; console store pages, regional availability, and pricing are not established by the announcements cited here.
Quick Recap
Best Value
Rank #4
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
