War is tearing Japan apart in Shadow of the Road, and the game’s latest trailer puts the human cost of that conflict front and center. Revealed during Telltale Games’ Choices Matter Festival, the new footage offers a deeper look at the tactical RPG’s alternate-history setting, where the struggle between Shōgun and Emperor is complicated by advanced technology, supernatural forces, and a group of characters caught directly in the middle.
Set during a reimagined version of the 19th-century Bakumatsu period, Shadow of the Road depicts a country divided between the traditional forces of the Shōgun and an Emperor backed by technological progress. The conflict turns personal after Master Mochitsugu is killed, leaving his disciples Satoru and Akira as disgraced ronin forced into exile. Their journey eventually places them alongside a larger group of companions, including a mysterious boy with dangerous and uncontrollable powers.
The setting also moves well beyond historical fiction. The Emperor’s forces receive support from the East Nippon Company and its advanced war machines, while kami and yōkai from Japanese mythology play their own part in the struggle.
Player decisions are expected to shape relationships and individual character arcs throughout the campaign, while battles use turn-based tactical combat built around a party of fighters with distinct skills, motivations, and personal connections.
Shadow of the Road is scheduled to launch on PC later in 2026, although an exact release date has not yet been announced. A playable demo is currently available on Steam.
