Ember Knights
- April 19, 2022
- Doom Turtle
- 10h median play time
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.
Get on Steam"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.
Nintendo Switch
PC
Steam Deck
Windows
Reviews
- Engaging and fun co-op gameplay that enhances the experience with friends.
- Variety of weapons, skills, and relics allows for diverse builds and strategies.
- Beautiful pixel art and smooth combat mechanics create an enjoyable visual and gameplay experience.
- Difficulty spikes significantly in later worlds, making it frustrating for some players.
- Limited content currently available, leading to repetitive gameplay after a few runs.
- Some weapons and relics feel underpowered or less viable compared to others, affecting balance.
- gameplay785 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Ember Knights is widely praised for its smooth mechanics, engaging combat, and rewarding progression system, drawing strong comparisons to Hades while introducing its own unique elements. Players appreciate the variety of weapons, skill combinations, and the cooperative multiplayer experience, which enhances the fun and replayability. However, some critiques mention that the game can feel repetitive and that certain mechanics, like boss difficulty and enemy design, could use refinement to maintain excitement throughout the gameplay loop.
“The gameplay is tight, with lots of upgrades and content.”
“Very fun mechanics and boss fights, and being able to increase the difficulty or play through the game on endless mode adds to the fun, as the second playthrough you feel unstoppable until you reach the boss with new attacks and patterns to learn.”
“Ember knights effortlessly blends a captivating pixel art style with a gameplay loop inspired by Hades, yet manages to carve out its own distinct identity through a repertoire of unique skills and relics.”
“They are such huge damage sponges that makes the gameplay feel boring at the boss stage.”
“The boss variants don't add a new gameplay twist, they simply remove the weaknesses they had and give them a huge set of new attacks that are both unenjoyable to deal with and epitomize the problem with modern gaming: why make a fun encounter when I can just make my boss invulnerable and swarm them with summons that do nothing to the boss's health bar?”
“It was a lot of fun the first couple of times around, but it gets very infuriating and tired very quickly due to lack of knowledge on what's happening, and having to constantly play the same loop of gameplay over and over again with little reward that actually warrants you to want to go back in again.”
- graphics300 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread acclaim for their charming pixel art style, vibrant colors, and detailed animations, which many players find visually engaging and reminiscent of classic 16-bit games. The art direction is described as both cute and polished, enhancing the overall gameplay experience, although some players noted that the visuals can become overwhelming in multiplayer settings. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's appeal, making it a standout in the roguelike genre.
“The graphics are stunning, the scenery breathtaking, each detail finely crafted to create an immersive atmosphere.”
“There are lots of details, it's colorful and I find the art style and the animations just pleasing to the eye.”
“Ember Knights effortlessly blends a captivating pixel art style with a gameplay loop inspired by Hades, yet manages to carve out its own distinct identity through a repertoire of unique skills and relics.”
“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.”
“Having pixel graphics does not help here (not that I expect the devs to change this; I love the art direction).”
- story208 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The game's story 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 animated cutscenes, many feel that the narrative lacks depth and complexity compared to similar titles like Hades. Overall, the story is seen as a secondary element, with players primarily drawn to the engaging gameplay and multiplayer features.
“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. It shows how much the game was cared for and how they really worked on the story as well for a roguelike.”
“The game also has a compelling story and lore, and we are looking forward to more content coming out for this game.”
“Engaging story without having overwhelming dialogue.”
“The story is extremely simple, to the point where it almost doesn't exist, so don't expect Hades-level dialogue, but I do think that, when the combat really clicks, it is about as good as the combat of Hades.”
“The story is just an excuse to make a roguelite though.”
“The world itself has a lot of potential, but there is not much story-wise besides 'go kill bad guy because he stole the tree's power'.”
- replayability128 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is praised for its high replayability, with many players enjoying the variety of builds, weapon customization, and procedural levels that keep each run feeling unique. Multiplayer options further enhance the experience, making it more enjoyable with friends. However, some users noted that replay value may diminish over time due to limited content and world diversity, suggesting that ongoing updates could improve this aspect.
“Endless amount of replayability.”
“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 replay value is through the roof as there are almost always new enemy variants to unlock or just new things to discover as you keep playing.”
“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.”
“Tldr: a roguelite with basically no content/boring meta progression and very little run variety/replayability.”
- music92 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising its quality and how well it complements the gameplay and art style. While some players find the soundtrack to be amazing and fitting, others describe it as generic or forgettable, indicating a lack of memorable tracks. Overall, the sound design and music are generally considered solid, contributing positively to the game's atmosphere, though some players feel it could be more impactful.
“Incredible music and mechanics, and that goes for the entire game honestly.”
“This game has a charming art style, amazing music, and really, really hard fights.”
“The soundtrack is very special in that it flows perfectly with the tempo of the Ember Knight just like Link in Zelda games.”
“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.”
“Music-wise, I can barely remember anything, while gameplay sound effects like hitting with a sword feel unsatisfying and lack impact.”
- grinding46 mentions
- 2 % positive mentions
- 15 % neutral mentions
- 83 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed feedback from players. While some enjoy the grind for unique achievements and find it fun, others describe it as tedious and monotonous, with complaints about low spawn rates for certain events and a restrictive unlock system. Overall, the game is seen as heavily grind-focused, which can detract from the experience for some players, especially those who prefer more dynamic progression.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“I've played so many, and most of them are boring, grindy, clunky, a mess in almost every aspect.”
“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.”
“Too much grinding for skills upgrade.”
- stability26 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, which can render it unplayable for some. However, others report minimal issues and express enjoyment despite the occasional bugs, especially in the early access phase. Overall, while there are stability concerns, many players find the game fun enough to overlook these problems.
“Runs great on the Steam Deck!”
“Fixed now runs great!”
“Bought it for the Steam Deck and the game crashes/freezes by the 3rd room on every run, rendering it unplayable for me sadly.”
“With generally long run times and no save feature, having an untested and buggy game with very limited build/enemy diversity, I just cannot recommend it.”
“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.”
- humor23 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is widely praised for its humor, with players finding it consistently funny and enjoyable, even in challenging situations. The lighthearted tone and comedic elements, particularly in multiplayer interactions, contribute to a fun experience that keeps frustration at bay. Overall, the humor is a standout feature that enhances gameplay and fosters camaraderie among players.
“The game is challenging, but funny enough - does not feel frustrating.”
“Funny little pixel people in my computer give me serotonin.”
“Further as we progress the game more, 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!”
- optimization18 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed feedback, with users noting frequent performance issues such as freezing and frame drops, particularly in multiplayer modes. While some players have experienced improvements over time, others still encounter bugs and challenges related to co-op gameplay. Despite these issues, many appreciate the smooth co-op feature and the game's overall quality 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 frame drops occasionally.”
“Odd performance issues here and there.”
- emotional12 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a mix of obsession and frustration with the game's emotional highs and lows. While many find themselves deeply engaged and willing to play for hours, the heartbreak of losing hard-earned progress or facing unexpected defeats can be disheartening. Overall, the emotional experience is characterized by a strong attachment to the game, tempered by moments of disappointment.
“Overall, I've been obsessed with the game since I got it. It's very easy to just keep playing even after a loss, besides me 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.”
“Bought this game 5.7 hours ago; I probably won't be touching grass for a while.”
- atmosphere7 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its stunning graphics and breathtaking scenery, which are intricately crafted to create an immersive experience. The harmonious blend of art style and music enhances the dream-like quality of each world, making it a standout feature in the top-down roguelike genre. Players appreciate the vibrant colors and overall aesthetic, contributing to a captivating and enjoyable environment.
“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 development4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development is highlighted 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.”
“It is incredibly fun with incredibly whimsical and clever character designs.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Reviewers express frustration with the monetization strategy, criticizing the promotion of multiple weapons when only a limited number are functional for solo play, leading to a perception of misleading advertising and a lack of value in the offerings.
