This Steampunk Baldur’s Gate Could Be 2026’s Breakout Hit—and It’s Free to Play Now
Feudal Japan collides with steam-powered machines in a new tactical RPG that just dropped its launch trailer. Featuring samurai, yokai, and mechanical monstrosities, Shadow of the Road promises an epic journey where your choices will shape the fate of a fractured empire. Best of all? You can already dive into this world with a free demo available on Steam!
At the recent New Game+ Showcase, Owlcat Games and Another Angle Games unveiled the latest trailer for Shadow of the Road, a turn-based RPG set to release this year on PC. This ambitious project boldly fuses Victorian steampunk aesthetics with the Bakumatsu era of Japan—a pivotal time when the country teetered between ancient tradition and rapid modernization. The result? A striking visual and narrative cocktail where armored samurai face off against steam-breathing mechanical giants, and ancient temples stand alongside towering industrial smokestacks.
Image credit: Owlcat Games
A steampunk world rooted in 1868 Japan
The world of Shadow of the Road unfolds in an alternate 1868, amid a brutal civil war between the traditionalist forces of Shogun Tokugawa and the technologically superior army of Emperor Mutsuhito. What makes this conflict truly unique is the influence of the British East Nippon Company, a British trading corporation bringing with it the most devastating steampunk arsenal.
The launch trailer reveals the scale of the chaos: battlefields where ancient blades clash with steam artillery, supernatural creatures face off against metal automatons. This brutal collision of worlds is exactly what the developers aimed to capture, crafting a setting where every fight becomes a metaphor for the cost of progress.
Tactical gameplay worthy of top CRPGs
Fans of Baldur’s Gate 3 will immediately spot familiar influences in Shadow of the Road. Owlcat Games also bets on a deep narrative approach combined with turn-based tactical combat that demands thoughtful strategy. But rather than simply copying Larian Studios’ formula, the developers transplant these mechanics into a unique Japanese setting where tradition and modernity clash. You’ll manage:
- A diverse playable cast, each with unique abilities and personal goals that directly affect combat
- Varied enemies ranging from mythological yokai to dangerous steampunk contraptions
- A complex relationship system where social dynamics within your party impact battle performance
- Narrative choices that carve your own path through the story and alter the empire’s fate
The story follows a perilous mission led by Tokugawa’s chief spy, who recruits ronin Satoru and Akira to protect a mysterious boy with immense, uncontrollable powers. Along your journey, new allies with diverse motivations will join your group, adding layers of strategic and narrative depth.
A free demo lets you jump in right now
No need to wait for the full release to explore this fascinating world! A playable demo is already available for free on Steam, letting you test the combat systems, get a taste of the story’s opening, and immerse yourself in an art direction that skillfully blends traditional Japanese aesthetics with steampunk imagery.
This is the perfect chance for genre fans to get a concrete sense of the game’s potential ahead of its official launch. Early player feedback already highlights the depth of the tactical system and the unique atmosphere created by this bold blend of eras and genres.
