Ember Knights

Ember Knights is a wonderful rogue-lite that makes full use of its gameplay to offer a challenge that'll scratch that itch Hades left behind.

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"Ember Knights" is an action-packed hack and slash game where players take on the role of powerful heroes battling against hordes of monsters in a dark fantasy world. Upgrade your skills, customize your weapons, and battle intimidating bosses to save the realm from destruction. Join forces with other players in online co-op mode to enhance your experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

95%

Audience ScoreBased on 3,094 reviews

gameplay184 positive mentions

grinding20 negative mentions

Engaging and fun co-op gameplay that enhances the experience with friends.
Variety of weapons, skills, and relics allows for diverse builds and strategies.
Smooth combat mechanics and beautiful pixel art create an enjoyable visual and gameplay experience.

Game can feel repetitive due to limited enemy and level variety.
Difficulty spikes can be frustrating, especially in later worlds.
Some weapons and relics are unbalanced, making certain builds feel overpowered while others are underwhelming.

gameplay
406 mentions
45 % positive mentions
52 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Ember Knights is widely praised for its smooth, responsive mechanics and engaging combat, drawing strong comparisons to Hades while introducing unique multiplayer elements. Players appreciate the variety of builds, upgrades, and the satisfying progression system that keeps the gameplay fresh and addictive. However, some critiques mention issues with certain mechanics, such as charge attacks and enemy difficulty, which can detract from the overall experience.
- “Blending easy-to-access gameplay with advanced, technical timing and a plethora of fun builds, this roguelike is a must-try for anyone who enjoys the genre.”
- “The gameplay is smooth, the build diversity is great, with good monster variety, and interesting enemies and bosses.”
- “The gameplay loop feels rewarding, you actually get a sense of improvement, the item combos are fun and the weapons have something for everyone.”
- “The charge-up and standing-in-place mechanics just don't gel well with the rest of the game's fast-paced mechanics.”
- “They are such huge damage sponges that makes the gameplay feel boring at the boss stage.”
- “Everything is hyper generic and the gameplay isn't unique enough to warrant the price tag (factoring in early access).”
graphics
153 mentions
60 % positive mentions
38 % neutral mentions
2 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their vibrant and charming pixel art style, which many players find visually stunning and engaging. The animations are described as smooth and polished, contributing to an immersive gameplay experience that complements the overall aesthetic. While some players noted that the visuals can become overwhelming in multiplayer settings, the general consensus is that the art direction and attention to detail significantly enhance the game's appeal.
- “The graphics are stunning, the scenery breathtaking, each detail finely crafted to create an immersive atmosphere.”
- “The art style is beautiful and the music is pretty good.”
- “The combat feels fluid and smooth, the graphics look really pleasant and polished and it feels like there was a lot of love put into this game.”
- “The only thing that I don't like is that sometimes the visuals could be a bit overwhelming and distracting, especially if you play with 3 or more players, but you get used to it with time.”
- “I would suggest to zoom out just a bit the more players there are, so that if we are kinda close to each other visuals don't turn into a dumpster fire.”
- “Although shaken by the silent departure of his once-partner, he soldiered on; dutifully creating all the artwork, pulling from sound libraries and implementing his ideas into the game engine.”
story
108 mentions
24 % positive mentions
68 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The story in the game is generally considered weak and simplistic, often serving merely as a backdrop for the gameplay rather than a focal point. While some players appreciate the charming art style and well-animated cutscenes, many feel that the narrative lacks depth and complexity compared to titles like Hades. Overall, the game is enjoyed for its cooperative gameplay and mechanics, with the story being a secondary aspect that doesn't significantly enhance the experience.
- “I also absolutely love that you guys added fully animated cutscenes for the beginning of the game and at the end of the true ending, which shows how much the game was cared for and how they really worked on the story as well for a roguelike.”
- “The story plays out much like Hades, where multiple runs will see you meeting new characters, unlocking new powers, and setting up trophies in your main room.”
- “Fluid combat mechanics for mouse/keyboard and controller players alike, intuitive mechanical skill, stunning aesthetics, an engrossing storyline, and a complex, eclectic collection of obtainable skill sets with invaluable synergistic potential.”
- “The story is extremely simple, to the point where it almost doesn't exist, so don't expect Hades-level dialogue.”
- “The story is just an excuse to make a roguelite.”
- “The story is weak, but is weak enough it's pretty clear it's really just a device to carry you through the setting.”
replayability
67 mentions
55 % positive mentions
40 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
Overall, the game boasts high replayability due to its customizable difficulty settings, diverse skills, and multiplayer elements, which enhance the experience significantly. While some players noted potential repetitiveness in certain meta builds and a lack of world diversity, many found the variety in weapons, abilities, and challenges to keep the gameplay fresh and engaging. The game's design encourages experimentation with different builds and strategies, making it a compelling choice for those who enjoy roguelite mechanics.
- “The multiplayer element really allows this game replayability that even the original Hades or the new one can't do.”
- “This game has proved time and time again to be extremely replayable, and I enjoyed every moment perfecting builds and trying to unlock everything.”
- “The varied procedural levels and mini-bosses keep this game fresh and replayable as a fun party game.”
- “The weapon customization system that should represent all of the game's replayability is still junk.”
- “Specifically, the replay value falls off quickly.”
- “Rogue-likes rely heavily on their replayability, and the lack of world diversity really hurts that aspect of this game.”
music
48 mentions
67 % positive mentions
27 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising it as fitting, enjoyable, and well-integrated with the gameplay and art style. Some players find the soundtrack memorable and charming, while others describe it as generic or forgettable. Overall, the music is generally considered a strong aspect of the game, contributing positively to the overall experience.
- “Gameplay, art direction, music, and sounds all combined into a masterpiece of roguelike artwork.”
- “The art is beautiful, the gameplay felt really nice, and the music is top notch.”
- “Incredible music and mechanics, and that goes for the entire game honestly.”
- “Forgettable story and music.”
- “I genuinely cannot remember a single song off the top of my head from this game; it's fine and fits, but I don't remember anything from it.”
- “Honestly, one thing that's not really a standout for me is the music and gameplay sound effects.”
grinding
24 mentions
4 % positive mentions
13 % neutral mentions
83 % negative mentions
The reviews indicate that grinding is a significant aspect of the game, often described as excessive and monotonous, particularly for skill upgrades and achievements. While some players find enjoyment in grinding with friends and appreciate the rewarding progression system, others feel it detracts from the overall experience, leading to a tedious gameplay loop. Overall, the grinding element is polarizing, with some players embracing it and others expressing frustration over its impact on game enjoyment.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Too much grinding for skills upgrade.”
- “The progression of the game feels very grindy.”
- “After completing the game with a packed 10-15 hours of nonstop new content, the additional 6 hours I just spent grinding for the last 2 achievements has been extremely monotonous as I need to keep grinding until stage 2 and stage 4 for the chance of certain events to occur.”
stability
13 mentions
15 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
85 % negative mentions
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing random freezes and glitches, particularly on the Steam Deck, while others report smooth gameplay with no major issues. Although a few users encountered significant bugs that affected playability, many still found the game enjoyable and fun despite these problems. Overall, while there are stability concerns, particularly in early access, some players have noted improvements and a generally positive experience.
- “Fixed now, runs great!”
- “Runs great on the Steam Deck!”
- “The game has had random freezes a couple of times.”
- “Bought it for the Steam Deck and the game crashes/freezes by the 3rd room on every run, rendering it unplayable for me sadly.”
- “It's way too buggy; it's a good idea, but it's not even playable with how many times it was disconnecting, freezing, glitching.”
humor
12 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised, with players finding it consistently funny and enjoyable, even amidst challenges. The lighthearted tone and amusing interactions, especially in multiplayer settings, contribute to a fun experience that often leads to laughter, even during technical mishaps. Overall, the game successfully blends humor with gameplay, enhancing the overall enjoyment.
- “It's funny, to say the least.”
- “Funny little pixel people in my computer give me serotonin.”
- “Further as we progress the game more further, it gets brilliantly fun and now we can navigate to line up our skills together and create a hilarious synergy; I laughed a lot when we just kept grouping mobs together with the tornadoes lol!”
optimization
9 mentions
44 % positive mentions
22 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed feedback; while the co-op feature runs smoothly, players have reported frequent performance issues, including freezing and frame drops, particularly in multiplayer. Some users noted that these issues could be linked to enemy spawns, and while there have been improvements, further optimization is still desired, especially for compatibility with different input methods. Despite these concerns, many players appreciate the game's overall performance and art direction for an early access title.
- “Maybe it'll get more optimized for Steam Deck in the future, and if it does, I'd have no issue buying it again.”
- “Edit: performance issues fixed.”
- “Have had a few bugs around co-op, and it can sometimes be difficult to see your character in the heat of battle, but otherwise the gameplay loop, performance, and art direction are in an excellent state for an early access game.”
- “Performance was a fairly frequent issue for me, both in single player and multiplayer. The game never crashed, but freezing was a constant, incredibly frustrating issue, and I have no idea what caused it most of the time aside from a couple of times where it seemed to be due to a group of enemies that were about to spawn.”
- “There are some performance issues as well due to occasional frame drops.”
- “Odd performance issues here and there.”
emotional
6 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players express a mix of emotional investment and frustration with the game, highlighting moments of heartbreak from near victories and the impact of game mechanics on their experience. The addictive nature of the gameplay keeps them engaged, but issues like losing progress and perceived over-nerfing can lead to disappointment. Overall, the emotional highs and lows contribute significantly to their gaming experience.
- “Overall, I've been obsessed with the game since I got it. It's very easy to just keep playing even after a loss, especially after getting to the true ending and losing while Praxis had legit 1 HP left... a very heartbreaking defeat.”
- “Runs can take 20-40 minutes, and it's heartbreaking to lose your progress if you have to stop playing abruptly.”
- “This game has a way of pulling at your heartstrings, making every victory feel earned and every defeat resonate deeply.”
atmosphere
4 mentions
50 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its stunning graphics and breathtaking scenery, creating a dream-like experience that immerses players in its world. The art style and music complement each other effectively, enhancing the overall ambiance, while the vibrant colors and detailed environments contribute to a captivating and enjoyable atmosphere.
- “Unlock weapons, skills, and items as you venture deeper into the world, steadily growing stronger while enjoying some of the most scenic and dream-like atmospheres in any top-down roguelike I have ever played.”
- “The graphics are stunning, the scenery breathtaking, each detail finely crafted to create an immersive atmosphere.”
- “The art style and music go well together with the atmospheres of each world.”
- “Unlock weapons, skills, and items as you venture deeper and deeper into the world, steadily growing stronger as you do, while enjoying some of the most scenic and dream-like atmospheres in any top-down roguelike I have ever played.”
character development
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Character development is praised for its whimsical and clever designs, which add a fun and charming element to the game. Players appreciate the humor and creativity in the character aesthetics, particularly following recent updates.
- “It is incredibly fun with incredibly whimsical and clever character designs.”
- “I love the new update, and I really love how charming the character design is.”
monetization
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
Reviewers express frustration with the monetization strategy, criticizing the promotion of multiple weapons when only a couple are viable for solo play, with the sword being the only enjoyable option.
- “In my opinion, they have no business advertising four weapons when only two are usable for solo play, and the sword is the only one that's actually fun.”
- “The monetization system feels exploitative, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending extra money.”
- “It's frustrating that essential features are locked behind paywalls, forcing players to spend more to fully experience the game.”