Shadow of the Road offers similar depth like X-COM, but focuses on narrative and complexity of characters

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When Owlcat Games invited us to check out their new publishing title Shadow of the Road at Gamescom, we couldn’t say no. If you’re a fan of X-COM or similar turn-based games, you will absolutely love this mix of cRPG and fighting game mechanics. It focuses on deep combat mechanics and a rich, character-driven story. Owlcat Games told us the characters are so complex, with their unique lore and abilities, that you’ll quickly find a favorite.

Set in fictional Japan with deep, tactical combat

It’s set in a fictional, fantasy version of Japan where three factions are at war: the samurai, who represent tradition and order; a steampunk British Empire, which represents progress and technology; and the spirits, gods, and demons, who embody the chaotic force of nature. In the game’s world, these factions are functional concepts that characters embody.

The game is designed to go beyond the typical tactical RPG basics. The core differentiating feature is the timeline. While many games use a timeline to show the order of turns, Shadow of the Road allows you to actively manipulate it. A faster character has more turns on the timeline, while a slower, bigger character has fewer. You can see who is about to act and can use abilities to shift your allies to the left (forward in time) or push enemies to the right (back in time), creating a strategic advantage.

Shadow of the Road avoids the randomness of a “hit or miss” system. Instead, it uses controlled randomness. For example, a god’s intervention can cause lightning to strike the battlefield, but you do know when it will happen, however, you don’t know where it will strike. Similarly, damage is a predictable range (for example, 4-6 damage), so you know the minimum and maximum possible damage, which helps you plan your moves.

Also, every time you replay a level, the order of enemy turns is slightly different, preventing you from simply memorizing a solution. Instead, you have to adapt to the situation, which the developers believe makes the game more engaging and challenging.

Story and character development

Shadow of the Road is a short, dense road trip centered around a group of seven main characters. You start with two and others join your group as the story progresses. You act as a sort of “game master” for this group, making choices in dialogues and actions that affect not only the story but also a character’s build.

One example is Satoru, a samurai who becomes a ronin. His skill tree has a “samurai” side and a “ronin” side. The choices you make for him in the story determine which side of the tree is unlocked. A character’s bond with other characters can also be strengthened through story choices and gameplay actions, unlocking powerful cooperative abilities.

For example, if Satoru and his brother Akira build a strong bond, they can unlock a move where Akira can shoot an arrow at Satoru, who then deflects it to hit an enemy behind cover.

Factions, Yokai, and consumables

Each faction brings unique abilities to the battlefield. The game’s fantasy version of Japan allows for supernatural abilities tied to Yokai (Japanese spirits or demons). Character named Toshiro can summon Yokai to the battlefield, replacing another character with a powerful spirit that grants the whole team special abilities, such as the power to walk through obstacles or gain more speed.

On the other side, the steampunk British Empire faction uses mechs, flamethrowers, and other technology. You can see this in their abilities, which can light the ground on fire and deal damage over time. However, a god’s intervention can cause rain to fall and put out the fires, adding a layer of unpredictable chaos that affects both sides.

The game also features a variety of consumables, which developers, in fact, encourage you to use freely. These items can grant extra action points, give immunity to certain damage types, stun enemies, or heal characters. They are designed to be used often rather than saved for a specific moment.

Demo is available on Steam, and you don’t want to miss it

According to Owlcat Games, Shadow of the Road is a more focused CRPG, with a full playthrough clocking in at around 20 hours. During our meeting, they drew comparisons to titles like X-COM and Jagged Alliance, because it has a very in-depth the tactical and turn-based combat.

The game’s reception has been positive so far, with players appreciating the unique gameplay mechanics and rich world. Owlcat Games took inspiration from Japanese culture and mythology, reinterpreting mythical creatures and historical events (like battles) in a way that is historically grounded but not historically accurate. More importantly, Shadow of the Road has Japanese voiceovers for Japanese characters.

It is available on PC via Steam, and a demo was released on July 15, 2025 for players to try out the game. There is no official release date for the full game yet.