Tianji: Shadow of the Ancients has been revealed as a new turn-based RPG set in a fantasy interpretation of China’s Tang Dynasty. Publisher Justdan is targeting a 2027 release across PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch and PC via Steam. The game combines hand-drawn 2D environments with traditional party-based combat and more active timing mechanics layered into battles.
Players take the role of Shangguan Shuo, a member of the secretive Tianji Guard who loses most of his memories following an encounter with the mysterious Xuanxin Sect. He is rescued before a ritual can be fully completed, but wakes unable to remember much about his past or even his own identity. His investigation into the Xuanxin Sect gradually becomes tied to recovering those memories and uncovering a deeper connection between himself and the organization.
The Tianji Guard itself is presented as a covert group created during the reign of Emperor Taizong Li Shimin. Rather than attempting to recreate Tang Dynasty history exactly, the game uses historical institutions and imagery as the foundation for a fantasy setting involving supernatural abilities, secret organizations and martial arts. That approach extends to the visual design, which uses hand-drawn backgrounds inspired by traditional Chinese landscape paintings.
Combat follows a turn-based structure in which touching enemies on the field transitions the party into a dedicated battle screen. Character and enemy turns are displayed through a visible order system, while abilities and equipment can influence how quickly those turns arrive. Players can also gain an advantage by striking enemies before being noticed, while sufficiently weak enemies can apparently be defeated directly on the field without entering a full battle.
Enemy weaknesses and Guard Points form another major part of the system. Attacking with the correct elemental affinity reduces an opponent’s Guard Points, and completely breaking them puts the target into a Vulnerable state that temporarily prevents it from acting. This creates an emphasis on party setup and attack sequencing rather than simply selecting the strongest available move every turn.
Tianji also uses Chain Skills, which allow two abilities to be performed consecutively during the same turn when enough resources are available. Players must balance those stronger combinations against the need to recover resources with standard attacks or specific abilities. Real-time inputs appear between the traditional turn-based decisions as well, including timed guarding and follow-up attacks that require direct button presses.
Exploration is designed to be more involved than simply moving between combat encounters. Shangguan Shuo can use a grappling hook to reach otherwise inaccessible terrain, swim through certain areas and interact with environmental mechanisms to solve puzzles. Towns also feature a day-and-night system that changes which NPCs and services are available, with some quests requiring players to return at a different time.
The game will include optional paths, hidden bosses, treasure and side quests alongside its main story. Companions are expected to contribute outside combat as well, with individual abilities tied to exploration and progression. Character-building systems such as weapon enhancement and cooking are also planned, giving the party additional ways to develop beyond combat experience alone.
Tianji: Shadow of the Ancients was recently shown publicly at the Bilibili First Look event in Shanghai, where a playable demonstration offered a closer look at its combat and exploration. The project is also notable as a new work connected to Tsai Ming-hong, the creator associated with the long-running Xuan-Yuan Sword series, following his departure from Softstar.
The Steam listing currently identifies the game as a single-player RPG and lists English, Japanese, Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese support, although localization details could still change before launch. Justdan is targeting 2027 for Tianji: Shadow of the Ancients on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo Switch and PC, with a more specific release date yet to be announced.
