You've never played a game like this—cinematic palace adventure where your moves shape drama!
Full live-action on real sets, starring Kuan Hung, Evie Huang, Zeawo, Hana Lin, Qi Xiaxia. 4K HD delivers unprecedented immersion—step into grand Eastern imperial court.
Film meets gaming perfectly. Every choice matters. Misplaced trust could spiral into betrayal and death. Who's manipulating you? Who can you manipulate?
Amid multiple story branches and high mortality, can you rise from nobody to power with charm, wisdom, courage? First...survive.
Behind imperial court's golden facade: webs of desire, secrets, buried truths. Discover scandals—prince's affair with court bard, princess's hidden lover, vengeful spirits in abandoned Cold Palace, and more...
8+ hours content, every playthrough unique. Your choices shape story and you. Get custom Trait Sketch, collect artifacts, unlock hidden plots, crown top picks in popularity contests!
About New One Studio
We are an independent creative team crafting full-motion video experiences blending Eastern culture with interactive storytelling. 2019's The Invisible Guardian earned millions of fans and BAFTA recognition for deep moral choices. Now, inspired by ancient legends, we create Road to Empress.
In Road to Empress I, witness the rise of an empress as an unknown girl proceeds with caution in a palace crawling with enemies, using extraordinary wit and remarkable courage to outlast brutal power games, slowly making her name. These are the most nail-biting years—calm before storm, plotting rise while staying under radar. Every move sets stage for her ultimate climb to power pyramid's top. More chapters under development. Stay tuned!
Road to Empress is a full-motion video RPG developed by New One Studio for PC, released in 2025. Set within an Eastern imperial court, the game follows an unknown girl navigating treacherous palace politics as she works to establish herself amid rivals, hidden agendas, and deadly power struggles. All footage is shot on real sets in 4K with a live-action cast that includes Kuan Hung, Evie Huang, Zeawo, Hana Lin, and Qi Xiaxia. Player decisions carry significant weight — misplaced trust can lead to betrayal or death, while careful manipulation of alliances opens new paths forward. The narrative branches extensively across more than eight hours of content, with each playthrough shaped by the choices made. Secrets scattered throughout the court include a prince's affair, a princess's concealed relationship, and unsettled presences in an abandoned Cold Palace. Collectible artifacts, a custom Trait Sketch system, and popularity contests add further replayability. Road to Empress I is the first installment in an ongoing series, with additional chapters in development by the studio behind the BAFTA-recognized The Invisible Guardian.
