Dreadline Express is heading into The Horror Game Awards with nominations for Best Narrative and Best Soundtrack. Developer David Konečný’s psychological horror adventure has been recognised in both categories, with the winners due to be announced on 20 November at 7pm UK time.
Set aboard the last train carrying the remnants of humanity, the game turns an already fairly unsettling journey into a puzzle about its passengers, their histories and the world outside. That is quite a bit more to worry about than whether the trolley will make it down the carriage.
Exploration and environmental puzzles are tied to a card-based narrative system. Discoveries become cards that help players make connections and uncover routes through the mystery, with progress depending on understanding the people and clues around you. Konečný wrote the story, while Karel Vaněk composed the original soundtrack recognised by the second nomination.
Publisher Shoreline Games announced the nominations in its latest media alert, but the developer had already shared the news on Steam. This is therefore a look ahead to the awards ceremony, rather than a fresh opportunity to enter the public vote: voting ran from 31 October to 11 November and has now closed.
The awards organisers say the top five public-voted entries in most categories go back to the juries for the final choice. A nomination is consequently worth celebrating without treating it as a win, and the result will have to wait until next Friday’s live show.
Dreadline Express has been available on Windows PC since 16 October, and its UK Steam listing currently prices it at £10.59. You can read the developer’s nomination announcement on Steam, while The Horror Game Awards’ official announcement sets out the voting process and ceremony time.