Campfire Cabal has officially launched Expeditions: Samurai into Steam early access, introducing a fresh historical chapter to its tactical role-playing franchise. Following the critical success of 2022's Expeditions: Rome, this latest installment shifts its blend of complex narrative choices and grid-based strategy to a brand-new setting.

Transporting players from ancient Rome to feudal Japan, the campaign explores an alternate historical timeline where William Adams, historically recognized as the first European samurai, never landed on the archipelago. Players create a custom protagonist who arrives on the shores of Honshu aboard the Dutch frigate De Albatros, stepping directly into the brewing conflicts and political rivalries of the Sengoku era.

Core gameplay retains the hallmarks of the series, featuring turn-based combat, branching political choices, and open-world exploration, alongside several new mechanical additions. Expanding on past entries, the developer increased the roster of companion characters from five to eight, allowing for complex social dynamics that range from fierce rivalries to romantic relationships.

Stealth mechanics play a much larger role during tactical encounters, drawing inspiration from tactical games like Shadow Tactics. Party members can sneak across battlefields to set up real-time ambushes, using specialized gadgets to gain the upper hand against numerically superior enemy squads.

Cooperative play debuts in the series for the first time, allowing a second player to join at any point in the campaign to control a twin counterpart. Beyond coordinating simultaneous stealth takedowns, co-op partners can actively compete for influence during dialogue choices and vie for the favor of key non-playable characters.

Launching today on Steam early access, the initial build features five main quests, three side quests, and fourteen distinct regional locations. Campfire Cabal plans to expand the game through structured updates leading up to a full early 2027 release, eventually adding crafting systems, a player-managed village, and over 35 side quests.