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Dustborn makes choices matter most through its people: dialogue decisions shape crew relationships, and some choices return in later conversations. That can make the journey feel responsive without proving that every major plot outcome is yours to rewrite.
What kind of game is Dustborn?
Dustborn is a single-player, story-driven action-adventure developed by Red Thread Games and published by Quantic Dream. It was released on 20 August 2024 for Windows, PlayStation 4 and 5, and Xbox One and Series consoles, according to the developer and publisher.
You play as Pax, a refugee, con artist and outcast who is hired to carry a mysterious package from Pacifica to Nova Scotia. The route crosses an authoritarian, alternate-history America controlled by Justice. The developer places the story in 2030, three decades after an event known as the Broadcast. Pax travels with a crew of outcasts, pursued both by the people she took the package from and by the authorities.
The road-trip structure gives the story room for stops, conversations and crew interactions alongside investigation, missions and combat. Its comic-book-inspired look and supernatural premise are part of the package, rather than a conventional realistic road drama.
#1 Best Overall
- The power of words - Words have power. Like, actual power. Fight with Shouts and use Vox in conversations to ma¬nipulate people and talk your way out of hairy situations. Craft new words, and learn to wield a lingual arsenal against enemies...and friends.
- A road-trip across a divided continent - On the road across an alternate history America, you’ll stop at iconic lo¬cations, 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.
- A diverse cast of characters - Your crew is your (found) family. Round up, manage and lean on a motley mob of mis¬fits 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.
- Gameplay as varied as the landscape - 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.
- Dustborn Limited Retail Edition also includes: Dustborn Game, 32 Page Prequel Comic Book, Map of the American Republic, 2 Postcards, Stickers, Carton Box
Do your choices matter in Dustborn?
Yes, especially in conversations and relationships. Quantic Dream says branching dialogue choices affect relationships and shape how crew members feel about themselves and one another. The Guardian’s Malindy Hetfeld reports that the game remembers many choices and brings some back in later conversations, marked with an on-screen comic icon.
That distinction matters: a choice can affect the tone and state of a relationship, or be recalled later, without necessarily changing the destination of the whole plot. The sources cited here support relationship consequences and remembered decisions; they do not establish that every major story outcome can be changed.
Hetfeld praised the character writing and candid conversations about feelings, saying, “The character writing, on the other hand, is great throughout.” The callbacks can make dialogue feel connected across the journey. They also help when a short response is hard to interpret: Hetfeld called the game’s explanation of one-word options “an immensely useful feature, especially if it isn’t clear what a one-word dialogue option is supposed to represent.”
How do words work as gameplay?
Words are more than dialogue prompts in Dustborn. Pax is an Anomal who can weaponize language, and the game gives that idea two distinct roles:
Rank #2
- 🎮 Collector's Item: Allows for CO/VS functionality for co-op action (cable included). CO/VS multiplayer technology allows two Pocket Players to be linked together for cooperative gameplay using the included CO/VS cable
- 🎁 Konami Licensed Collectible: Includes arcade version of Contra and Super Contra
- High Resolution: This pocket-sized game features a high-resolution 2.8-inch full-color vertical display.
- Powered by either 4 AA batteries or by any micro USB cable (not included)
- 🎵 Built-in front facing speaker, volume control, and 3.5 mm headphone jack.
- Shouts are used in fights.
- Vox can manipulate people during conversations or help Pax talk her way out of trouble.
These abilities sit alongside ordinary branching dialogue, which is where the game’s relationship choices operate. The mix ties the central idea of language to both encounters and the crew’s personal dynamics.
Is combat a big part of Dustborn?
Combat is one component of a broader narrative adventure, not the only activity. The publisher’s description also includes travel, exploration, investigation, conversation, crew management and musical rehearsals. In her Guardian review, Hetfeld describes the combat as easy and monotonous. She also notes that players can reduce how often combat encounters occur, which may suit players more interested in the road-trip story and character scenes.
What works—and what may not
Hetfeld’s review finds the ensemble’s writing and remembered decisions effective, but argues that the game does not always balance its serious themes, activism, drama and supernatural elements. She also criticizes some political and social ideas for being introduced without enough development. Those are the reviewer’s judgments, not a guarantee of how every player will respond.
The game is likely to suit players who want dialogue, relationship management and an ensemble road story, and who are comfortable with combat between narrative sections. Its overt political themes and supernatural metaphor may be a draw or a mismatch depending on taste. Players seeking choices that clearly alter every large-scale plot outcome should keep expectations narrower: the documented strength is how decisions affect and echo through the crew’s interactions.
Rank #3
- The power of words - Words have power. Like, actual power. Fight with Shouts and use Vox in conversations to ma¬nipulate people and talk your way out of hairy situations. Craft new words, and learn to wield a lingual arsenal against enemies...and friends.
- A road-trip across a divided continent - On the road across an alternate history America, you’ll stop at iconic lo¬cations, 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.
- A diverse cast of characters - Your crew is your (found) family. Round up, manage and lean on a motley mob of mis¬fits 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.
- Gameplay as varied as the landscape - 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.
- Dustborn Limited Retail Edition also includes: Dustborn Game, 32 Page Prequel Comic Book, Map of the American Republic, 2 Postcards, Stickers, Carton Box
Platforms, ratings and languages
The official pages list Windows/PC, PlayStation 4 and 5, and Xbox One and Series consoles. Check the specific storefront and regional edition before buying, since platform availability can vary by listing.
Quantic Dream lists PEGI 16, ESRB M, USK 12 and CERO C. These are separate regional ratings: PEGI applies in its rating region, ESRB in North America, USK in Germany and CERO in Japan. The official page lists English voice-over and subtitles in English, German, Simplified Chinese, French, Japanese, Russian, Italian, Polish, Brazilian Portuguese, Spanish, Latin American Spanish and Norwegian.
PC requirements on Steam
At the time represented by the Steam listing, the minimum Windows requirements were Windows 10 64-bit, an Intel Core i5 fifth generation or equivalent, 8 GB RAM, an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 2 GB or equivalent, DirectX 11 and 25 GB of available storage. Steam also displayed macOS 15 (Sequoia) requirements: the minimum listed an Apple M1 or Intel Core i5 and 8 GB RAM, with 16 GB RAM noted for the Intel version. Storefront requirements can change, so check the live Steam listing against your system before purchase.
Quick Recap
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.
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