Multi-Tactics: Toyoashihara Saga - The Steam Age - is an AI-transparent turn-based tactical RPG set in a fictional world where steam-powered firearms coexist with swords and spears.
The story takes place in Toyoashihara, a land inhabited by beastfolk. Centered on the nation of Yamashiro, the game depicts a world where steam technology, samurai warfare, beastfolk society, and the threat of 異形 — monstrous beings — intersect. Players progress through a three-act story by engaging in battles, conversations, trading, equipment management, and travel.
At the start of Early Access, the game is available in Japanese only. English localization is planned for a later stage after the Early Access release.
Read the enemy’s decisions
The core feature of Multi-Tactics is building tactics while observing the enemy’s combat AI. Enemy NPCs act according to combat AI made up of nodes such as condition checks, target selection, and action execution.
Players can examine the node flow, understand what each enemy is aiming for, and identify the conditions that trigger its actions. Rather than fighting against completely hidden enemy behavior, players build their strategy by reading the visible logic of the AI.
AP-based turn order
Combat uses an AP-based turn order system. Characters accumulate AP over time and take their turns when they reach the required threshold.
Rather than a simple alternating turn system, each character’s role and tactical use emerge from the combination of attributes, conditions, equipment, and action choices.
Token-based actions
Actions are managed through a token system. Attacks, movement, aiming, defense, and special actions are performed by spending different types of tokens.
How to spend limited tokens, and whether to hold some of them back, affects each turn’s tactical decisions. Some unused tokens are returned as AP at the end of the turn, making restraint itself a valid tactical choice.
Position management through Zone / Area / Group
Positioning is managed through a layered structure of Zone, Area, and Group. This system is designed to avoid the complexity of describing exact coordinates in words, and makes it easier for the player to understand which battlefield, which area, and which formation a character is in.
By organizing the situation in this way, the player can make decisions about movement, shooting, melee attacks, and support actions.
Body-part conditions
Characters have body parts such as the head, torso, right arm, left arm, right leg, and left leg. Each part has its own independent condition.
Focusing attacks on specific body parts and managing damage can reduce an enemy’s ability to act and change the flow of battle.
Character growth through attributes, skills, and perks
Character growth is built around seven attributes: Endurance, Technique, Arm Strength, Leg Strength, Perception, Insight, and Spirit. These are combined with weapon skills, specialist skills, and perks.
Each attribute has its own role, and a character’s tactical strengths change depending on how they are developed.
Story progression through dramatic scenes
Between battles, the story unfolds through visual novel-style dramatic scenes. Character portraits, backgrounds, music, ruby text, and glossary pop-ups are used to present the story of Toyoashihara, centered on Yamashiro.
Conversations, choices, lodging, meals, maintenance, trading, and map travel all affect progression outside of combat.
Multiplayer in the initial Early Access release [Update: July 14, 2026]
We have been testing 2–4 player multiplayer for this game. However, after three multiplayer alpha tests, we have decided to release the initial Early Access version as a single-player experience.
This decision was made in order to prioritize the stability of the game experience at the initial release. Multiplayer remains under consideration for the future, but it will not be included as a supported feature at the start of Early Access.
Early Access includes Act One
At the start of Early Access, players can play through the end of Act One of the three-act story.
Act One includes the basic flow of the game: battles, conversations, trading, equipment management, and travel.
[Update: July 14, 2026] The initial Early Access release will include Act One as a single-player experience. Multiplayer will not be included as a supported feature at the initial release.
For the full version, the remaining story and AI editing features are planned. The goal is to complete the AI-transparent SRPG experience and the story experience of Toyoashihara Saga.
