Taipei-based studio Justdan has unveiled Tianji: Shadow of the Ancients, a turn-based RPG set in a Tang Dynasty-inspired world powered by Qi energy rather than conventional magic. The game follows amnesiac protagonist Shangguan Shuo as he tries to recover his lost memories and uncover the truth behind a mysterious voice in his head, after being struck down by the villainous Xuanxin Order. It joins a wave of nostalgia-driven turn-based RPGs riding the popularity wave sparked by Square Enix's HD-2D titles, though it distinguishes itself with an East Asian aesthetic and setting.

Built in Unreal Engine 5, Tianji blends 2D chibi-style character models with ink-wash and 3D cutscenes, set across small villages, forests, caves and mountains rendered with notable depth-of-field effects. Combat centres on Qi-based elemental abilities pitted against enemy weaknesses, backed by a branching vertical skill tree that lets abilities combine across the whole party rather than being tied to individual characters. To keep pace brisk for modern players, the developers have added a 2x battle speed option and an auto-win feature against significantly lower-levelled enemies.