Shadow of the Road Brings Turn-Based RPG Drama to Meiji-Era Japan in 2026

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Shadow of the Road, a story-driven turn-based RPG that blends feudal Japan with magic and early industrial technology, is set to launch for PC in 2026. The game will be available via Steam, Epic Games Store, and GOG, publisher Owlcat Games and developer Another Angle have announced.

Set during one of the most turbulent periods in Japanese history, Shadow of the Road takes players to 1868, at the height of a brutal civil war. It’s a Japan caught between eras, where ancient temples loom in the shadow of steam-powered machines, and where magic and machinery coexist in uneasy harmony.

Player choice plays a central role throughout the experience. Decisions aren’t just narrative flavor; they actively shape relationships and character arcs. Bonds can be formed or broken, friendships tested, and long-standing wounds reopened or healed. The choices you make influence who your companions become, and in turn, how the story unfolds around you.

Combat in Shadow of the Road embraces classic turn-based design with a strong samurai tactics influence. Each character offers a distinct set of abilities and combat roles, but battles are shaped by more than just stats and positioning. Personal goals, relationships, and emotional states can all influence how encounters play out.