Sharpen the katana, check the powder, and try not to annoy every warlord in sight. Expeditions: Samurai has been announced, and the long-running historical RPG series is heading to feudal Japan.
Developed by Campfire Cabal and published by THQ Nordic, Expeditions: Samurai is set in Japan around the year 1600. Warlords are clashing, alliances are falling apart, and the whole country is having what experts might call “a bit of a moment”.
As per the press release, Campfire Cabal is a Copenhagen-based studio founded in 2022. It is led by veterans behind Expeditions: Conquistador, Expeditions: Viking, and Expeditions: Rome.
So yes, they know a thing or two about turning history into a giant tactical headache.
Expeditions: Samurai rewrites the William Adams story
In Expeditions: Samurai, famous navigator William Adams never becomes Japan’s first European Samurai. Why? Because this time, you get there first. Rude, but historically stylish.
Players arrive aboard the Dutch frigate De Albatros as the newly elected leader of a scrappy crew of privateers. From there, they are pulled into the final chapter of a brutal civil war, where every decision can shape both their crew and the future of Japan.
The game promises a branching story filled with life-or-death choices. You can fight, talk, or sneak your way through situations, which is handy when diplomacy fails and everyone starts reaching for sharp objects.
Your crew also matters. Expeditions: Samurai features eight companions, each with their own background, personal story, quests, and agenda. Build trust and those bonds can become friendship, rivalry, or even romance.
Because apparently managing a crew during a civil war was not complicated enough already.
Turn-based combat gets faster, sneakier, and more pirate-y
Combat in Expeditions: Samurai remains turn-based, but the press release describes it as dynamic and fast-paced.
The system blends simultaneous actions, stealth, gadgets, ambushes, and a broad mix of pirate and Japanese weaponry. That means players will need more than brute force to survive. Planning, positioning, and a cheeky ambush or two should all come in handy.
Characters can also be evolved with different skills and upgrades, while parties can be equipped with a wide range of weapons to suit different playstyles.
For the first time in the series, Expeditions: Samurai will also support drop-in, drop-out co-op. Players can explore Japan alone or with a friend, which should make feudal politics slightly less terrifying. Slightly.
Expeditions: Samurai launches in Early Access this summer
Expeditions: Samurai is coming to PC via Early Access this summer.
The final game is planned to feature around 60 hours of gameplay, with all dialogue fully voiced. During Early Access, players can also look forward to features being added over time, including the ability to earn the honourable title of Hatamoto and manage their own village.
That village management feature will not be available at the Early Access launch, according to the press release, but it is planned for implementation during Early Access.
In the meantime, players can wishlist Expeditions: Samurai now on Steam and prepare to carve out their place in history.
Just remember: becoming the first European Samurai sounds glamorous, but someone still has to keep the privateers alive.