Developer RedKardia and publisher Samar Studio today announced that the free, open Steam Playtest for Path of the Yaoguai will begin on August 26, 2026, at 06:00 UTC. Access requests will be approved automatically, allowing all interested players to participate once the Playtest goes live.
Inspired by the Chinese classic Journey to the West, Path of the Yaoguai shifts the spotlight away from its legendary heroes and onto the countless yaoguai inhabiting its mythological world.
After obtaining the mysterious Reincarnation Casket, players can begin life anew in 72 different forms – from familiar animals to plants, objects, and stranger beings. Each form offers distinct attributes and progression possibilities, encouraging players to approach every reincarnation differently.
The game combines deckbuilding, RPG progression, cultivation, and roguelike exploration. Players can experiment with more than 1,000 cards and over 50 build archetypes, then combine cards with weapons, transformations, clones, and other systems to create their own combat style.
Each journey unfolds in a mythological world shaped by random events and unexpected encounters. Players can build relationships with NPCs, make choices that alter their path, establish a yaoguai stronghold, and pursue more than 100 possible endings.
Key Features
- Experience a Journey to the West-inspired world from a yaoguai’s perspective.
- Reincarnate as 72 distinct yaoguai, each with different attributes and growth paths.
- Build decks with more than 1,000 cards across over 50 archetypes.
- Combine card battles with weapons, transformations, clones, cultivation, and RPG progression.
- Shape each journey through random events, NPC relationships, player choices, and more than 100 endings.
How to Join the Open Playtest
The Playtest begins on August 26 at 06:00 UTC and is free to join. Visit the game’s Steam page, find the Steam Playtest section, and select “Request Access.” Requests are approved automatically; when the Playtest opens, participants can download and play directly through Steam.
Player feedback will help the development team refine gameplay, balance, and localization ahead of release. Path of the Yaoguai is currently in development for PC via Steam.
