- Release Date Announcement! - 26 August 2026
The wait is almost over: Shadow of the Road now has a release date! We're happy to announce that Shadow of the Road releases on November 12th, 2026. Set in a fantastical reimagining of 1868 Japan, Shadow of the Road is a story-driven tactical RPG about a band of travellers caught between a fading old order and an uncertain future of progress - with a few supernatural complications. Journey through a war-torn Nippon, making choices that shape relationships between the party. Face turn-based battles decided by deliberate use of skills, positioning, and a healthy respect for managing the initiative timeline! Along the way you will encounter samurai, rōnin, nobles, engineers, yōkai, and the occasional person who has made the questionable decision to stand in your way. The road has been waiting long enough. Shadow of the Road launches on November 12th, 2026. Wishlist now - and prepare to set…
- Travellers of the Road - Hiroe - 19 August 2026
Greetings, warriors!Most of us have, at least once, fantasised about what it would be like to be born into a rich and powerful family. Daydreamed of the power a noble's title brings, or how carefully people would choose their words around us. But to be born into Nippon's most privileged is to inherit more than wealth - it is to inherit expectations.Hiroe has never had the luxury of being judged simply as herself. As the daughter of a powerful daimyō, her every achievement was expected, every mistake - accounted for. Every weakness - a spectre of tarnish upon her family's reputation. That blew Hiroe's ambition out of proportion, fostering a belief that she could overcome any obstacle.Yet, Hiroe's arrogance does not stem from cruelty: it is merely the armour she donned, having learned to meet uncertainty with confidence and criticism with defiance. Fortunately for those around her, her he…
- Isometric Sale: Now Live! - 13 August 2026
The Isometric Sale has begun! Today we’re celebrating the games we love — isometric adventures! META Publishing and Owlcat Games have arranged the Isometric Sale, gathering more than 160 games into this one event and offering you special discounts. Do you love turn-based combat or real-time with pausing? Want to experience a deep story and explore vast worlds? Something is waiting for every kind of RPG fan From acclaimed classics to exciting discoveries, this is a perfect opportunity to expand your collection and embark on your next unforgettable journey. Discover new games and enjoy the discounts of the Isometric Sale! The sale will continue till August 19th, so, if your wishlist has been waiting for the right moment, this is it. 🔗Steam Sale Page🔗 Let's take a closer look at some of the special offers available. Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader The treasures and secrets of the Koronus…
- A sword without a guiding hand - 10 August 2026
Greetings, warriors!Today we take a look at the very beginning of our story: at Nippon being pulled apart by forces that seemingly cannot be reconciled, and the people caught between them - left to make do with a future they never asked for.Things rarely change because everyone agrees that they should, and war has a way of leaving questions behind, like...What is a warrior without a master? A warrior without a master is one no longer bound to another's vision. A samurai without a lord is not simply bereft of orders - he is a man left to decide what, if anything, remains when duty can no longer tell him who he is. This is what makes a rōnin distrusted and feared: no way of telling a protector from a dangerous criminal.For Satoru and Akira, exile is more than a journey away from home. Their new status places them outside the hierarchy they once belonged to, but that does not make them fre…
- Journey Trailer: A world worth wondering at - 14 July 2026
Greetings, warriors!The mountains were here before the first shrine was built, the forest - before the first road was cut through it. The earth was covered with grass long before it drank the first drops of spilled blood. They will remain after the last warrior drops his sword and is swallowed by the undergrowth.But the land is changing: old roads are being repaved, while the shrines that were quietly kept for centuries are being forgotten. The people who served a purpose find that purpose quietly revoked. Whether this is the natural order running its course, or whether there is a will behind it - the land itself can't answer this question. The warriors who walk its roads will have to.Find us on other platforms and join the community! And other platforms! 📍 Facebook 📍 X (Twitter) 📍 Instagram 📍 Youtube
- Building the world of Shadow of the Road - 9 July 2026
Greetings, warriors!Bringing a paintbrush to a battlefield A samurai took up a brush as often as he did a sword: the philosophy of Bunbu Ryōdō - “the one path of martial and literary ways”, - held that a warrior's education was incomplete without the arts, pairing martial discipline with artistic cultivation. So, today we're delighted to unveil our collaboration with Minibricks, an artist collective that has recreated one of Shadow of the Road's battlefields as a handcrafted diorama. Alongside this article, you'll find a trailer that transitions between the in-game scene and its physical counterpart, revealing just how faithfully the world has been wrought in miniature. The chosen scene captures much of what defines Shadow of the Road: feudal Nippon standing at the crossroads of tradition and industrial progress, where ancient forces contend with steam-powered machines. It is a battlefi…
- Between Breaking and Becoming - Forging a Future - 17 April 2026
When metal is quenched, it either hardens into strength, or turns brittle and breaks. The fires of war that keep the forge hot are both fed by the unrelenting hand of the Shogunate and stoked by the high-tech bellows of the ENC. Neither side is able to foresee the outcome - each claims a brighter future. Japan stands at a crossroads... The two ronin our story starts with walk this heated path not as heroes of a cause, but as men forced to deal with the fallout of a changing age. Make the choices along their way as they carry out their last oath, find new allies, and see what's behind the next bend of the road. Join us on our social platforms! And other platforms! 📍 Facebook 📍 X (Twitter) 📍 Instagram 📍 Youtube
- Travellers of the Road - Ishida - 16 March 2026
Greetings, warriors! If you ever need an emergency barricade, simply ask Ishida to stand in the middle of the road. Broad as a gate and twice as stubborn, the Boulder is a warrior who greets danger the same way he greets a cup of sake: head-on and with enthusiasm. During the party's travels, Ishida's main job is to stand firm, drawing enemies toward him like moths to a particularly large and very angry lantern. Ishida is the party’s main bulwark, built to absorb pressure and return the favour twofold. His techniques may be blunt, but they are undeniably effective: let others rely on precision or cunning! A crushing headbutt can stagger even the most determined foe, while the sweeping arc of his no-dachi can bring down enemies far larger than ordinary grunts. But the Boulder is not all iron and intimidation. Beneath the imposing armour lies a surprisingly jovial spirit - Ishida is often…
- 2026 Release Trailer — East Nippon Company - 27 January 2026
Greetings, warriors!Scheduled for release in 2026, a whole 158 years after the events it takes inspiration from, Shadow of the Road is set in a deliberately reimagined version of 1868 Japan. The game unfolds during a civil war echoing real historical tensions. The presence of magic and the clear-cut alignment of factions frame the conflict between the traditionalist Shogunate and the East Nippon Company, the latter being an imperialist faction armed with advanced technology. These elements are designed to convey the game’s core themes, among which are the costs of power and enforced progress.Real late 19th-century Japan was far more diverse and complex than any game narrative allows: - Modernization did not arrive as a unified front, nor was tradition a single resisting block. - Industry, military reform, and social change advanced unevenly, often producing instability rather than order…
- Travellers of the Road - Asuke - 30 October 2025
Greetings, warriors!If anyone has been waiting for a chance to steal the spotlight - it is definitely Asuke, the party's most bewitching companion. Fetching and foxy, she scatters smiles like fleeting blossoms on the wind, making hearts flutter. Yet beneath this alluring facade lies a devious mind, capable of wielding both cruel jokes and subtle, deadly spells.Asuke is a master of manipulation and timing, weaving careful plans to solve each altercation with grace and style. Her spells are ill-suited for direct damage, opting instead to alter the flow of combat. Shifting friends and foes alike along the timeline, her abilities provide allies with unexpected opportunities to strike, making her subtle interference even deadlier than an outright attack.Asuke’s duality is ever apparent: silk and steel, beauty and danger, affection and cunning. Beyond her calculated exterior lies a woman boun…
- Into the Land of Roots - 25 October 2025
Greetings, warriors!Today, we'll acquaint ourselves with the ancient - a world where the age of steel has never begun to stir, and neither will it. The story takes us far below... Beneath the mountains, beyond the light of the sun or moon, lies Ne-no-kuni - the Land of Roots.It lies deep beneath the living world - not a hell or a place of punishment, but a wellspring of primordial power: a shadowed mirror of the living world where death, rebirth, and magic are all connected. The roots of the earth itself pulse, like the world's unseen veins, as they draw strength from this forbidden spirit realm. Long ago, when the world atop the earth was still known as the Central Land of Reed Plains, a descendant of the mighty lord of storms undertook a perilous journey to Ne-no-kuni to seek help from his ancestor. Legends still speak of the deadly and insidious trials he underwent in that secret lan…
- French and German localizations added to Shadow of the Road - 20 October 2025
Greetings, warriors!It is known that samurai were not only accomplished swordsmen, but also masters of diplomacy. Studying from their wisdom, the Shadow of the Road team understands that proper communication is key to success. So, we're delighted to share some exciting news: French and German localisations have now been added to the game!If you’ve been on the fence because of the language barrier, now is the perfect time to dive in and experience the demo in the language of your choice.Unfortunately, whether you say bonjour, guten Tag, or just hello - the hungry yōkai will most likely try to eat you anyway… but at least you’ll know what’s going on!Until next time - à bientôt, bis dann, and see you soon!See you on our social platforms! And other platforms! 📍 Facebook 📍 X (Twitter) 📍 Instagram 📍 Youtube
- Arrows and Aiming: Damage Zones - 1 September 2025
Greetings, warriors!Not every arrow strikes with the same force. In Shadow of the Road, ranged combat is governed by Damage Zones - a system that makes positioning and distance just as important as going first.Every ranged weapon has an Attack Distance, divided into two distinct range bands: Close – the optimal range, limited by the dotted line on the combat grid. Shots landed here are most effective. Far – the extended range, beyond the dotted line on the combat grid. Attacks that connect to far targets lose a portion of their power.The battlefield grid highlights these Damage Zones dynamically, letting you judge at a glance whether you’re striking at full strength. It is of some note, that targets outside of your Attack Distance cannot be hit.What's the difference?Inside the Close range all ranged attacks strike with deadly precision and inflict their full damage.Attacks will still co…
- Travellers of the Road - Akira - 8 August 2025
Greeetings, warriors!This week, our character spotlight turns to the first companion to join Satoru on his journey along the Road - Takagi Akira: a man whose skill with a bow is matched only by his resolve.Akira is a tactician with a bowstring, defined by precision and adaptability. His effectiveness as a ranged damage dealer relies on carefully planning and executing risky delayed shots, and the Ranger's playstyle requires a deeper understanding of the game's initiative system. With skills that don’t just wound, but shift the very tempo of battle, he’s as dangerous at arm’s length as he is from afar.Akira is a master of keeping his distance both in and out of combat. But, behind his aloof demeanour shaped by loss, we'll find a loyal friend, and a debt he refuses to leave unpaid. Every arrow he draws is aimed with intent, every target struck - a promise honoured.Join our community at Di…
- Dynamic Turn Order - 25 July 2025
Hello warriors!Are you tired of turn-based combat growing stale by round 2, following the same routine of enemies go -> party goes -> rinse, repeat? Well then, you're in luck! Instead of rounds following a fixed pattern, Shadow of the Road keeps things fresh by offering a constantly evolving Timeline.What is the Timeline?Every character in combat, whether an ally or an enemy, has an Initiative value. Initiative determines their place in the turn order queue that is called the Timeline.The higher the character's Initiative is, the sooner they can act, and the more to the left they're placed on the Timeline.If two or more characters have the same Initiative, the game decides randomly between them. Once someone takes a turn, they’re moved behind the others with equal Initiative - keeping things fair and varied. Simple enough at first glance, but the Timeline evolves rapidly in play.What af…
- This isn’t your first duel - you see a Demo, go beat it. - 15 July 2025
Greetings, warriors!Alright, just a short announcement this time - no in-depth devlog, we'd rather you jump in and enjoy the Demo by following this link! The Demo for Shadow of the Road will be run for at least a month, and we'll make the schedule available later. There may still be some minor changes down the line, but as our Open Alpha players have already found out - this slice of the game is feature complete. An accompanying survey will be active throughout the Demo and two days after it is over. Follow Satoru the Samurai and Akira the Ranger through a political debacle at the Ryokan Yasumi, then travel to the Sugiyama estate and recruit Ishida, Asuke, and Toshiro - each a formidable ally in their own right. This Demo release introduces the player to the story, following the inciting incident, and offering a chance to get to know the main characters. Let's just say that others will…
- Travellers of the Road - Satoru - 11 July 2025
Greeetings, warriors!We’re kicking off a new series spotlighting the characters you will be playing as. That's right, they're not mere companions to your avatar - they're companions to each other, on a journey that has you, the player, as both guide and witness. Shadow of the Road is about your party, their pasts, convictions, and secrets, shaped by the politics of the era as much as the supernatural forces creeping in at its edges. While the story and atmosphere are key to the journey, the tactical combat plays a role just as central, and the shadow of the first to come under the spotlight is already cast onto the stage. In this first entry, we introduce Satoru, whose quiet and steady presence carries real weight on and off the battlefield.Join our community at Discord: And other platforms! 📍 Facebook 📍 X (Twitter) 📍 Instagram 📍 Youtube
- Alpha Survey Results - 30 June 2025
Greetings, honourable warriors and wandering vagabonds!A Perspective on PlayersShadow of the Road has cocluded the Open Alpha stage, and we're immensely grateful for the passion and dedication you've shown as you’ve plunged headfirst into its world. The feedback we've received from you has been invaluable. It’s exhilarating to see how players from all over the globe have taken to our game, and we’re thrilled to discuss some of the key takeaways from the results of our latest community survey.We’ve also seen a wide range of player ages, with an overwhelming majority fairly evenly distributed between 25 and 44 years old.In line with the CRPG, Strategy and Action-Adventure genres, which are the top-3 among our players, 91% of the samurai who took time to participate in this survey identify as male. The battlefields are, indeed, harsh places - but there is more to Shadow of the Road than me…
- Japanese set Baldur's Gate 3 style RPG Shadow of the Road gets new playtest - 26 May 2025
Ever wonder what Baldur's Gate 3 would be like if it were set in the Far East? The answer is Shadow of the Road , which transports you to an alternative feudal Japan where magic and machinery mix. And if you're sufficiently intrigued by that premise, you can play it right now. Read the rest of the story... RELATED LINKS: New tactical RPG is like XCOM 2 mixed with steampunk, and you can play it now Shadow of the Road is a gorgeous new turn-based RPG set in a steampunk Japan XCOM 2 style tactics head to fantasy Japan in Shadow of the Road
- The Open Alpha is here! - 25 March 2025
Greetings, noble warriors! We are proud to announce that the Alpha for Shadow of the Road is open and available for public. We are also happy to present you with this opportunity to try out our game for free, and would gladly accept any and all feedback. Share your impressions, speedruns, fanart, showcase your mastery of the game’s mechanics and your deep understanding of Japanese folklore and culture. We’ll be waiting for you! Join our community at Discord: And other platforms! 📍 Facebook 📍 X (Twitter) 📍 Instagram 📍 Youtube https://store.steampowered.com/app/1173980/Shadow_of_the_Road/
