# Road to Empress I

> You've never played a game like this before. Road to Empress I is a cinematic palace adventure where your choices decide everyone's fate. Tackle multiple story branches and a high mortality rate with charm, wisdom and courage? First...survive.

## Game facts

- Developer: New One Studio
- Publisher: New One Studio, Ariel
- Release status: Released
- Release date: Sep 9, 2025
- Platforms: PC
- Genres: Adventure, casual, RPG, Simulation
- Steam Deck: Playable (Steam, checked Nov 4, 2026: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3478050/)
- Languages: Interface: Thai (Thailand), Chinese (Taiwan), American English, Chinese (China), Japanese (Japan), Korean (South Korea), French (France), European Spanish, German (Germany); Subtitles: Thai (Thailand), Chinese (Taiwan), American English, Chinese (China), Japanese (Japan), Korean (South Korea), French (France), European Spanish, German (Germany); Audio: Chinese (China) (IGDB, checked Nov 4, 2026: https://www.igdb.com/games/road-to-empress-i)

## AI Review Analysis

Analyzed Sep 2, 2026

### Strengths

- The performances and character portrayals by the live-action actors are excellent, and the visual presentation—including traditional costumes, makeup, music, and art direction—is highly praised.
- The game offers strong immersion, as though players are directly choosing and watching a Chinese or Korean historical drama, along with film- and drama-style direction.
- Numerous twists and multiple branches and endings provide motivation to replay the story.

### Weaknesses

- Critics argue that each choice effectively has only one correct answer, while incorrect choices lead to instant death, limiting interactivity.
- Some note that affection and character relationship values have little to no real impact on progression.
- Some reviewers consider the story a typical web-drama-style hero and Mary Sue setup with a simplistic, gratification-focused plot.

## Links

- [Road to Empress I on WAME](https://www.wame.is/game/4005)
- [Player reviews](https://www.wame.is/game/4005/reviews)

Updated: 2026-11-10T10:36:11.259Z