Embers of Magic

Embers of Magic is a short, adventure visual novel that tells the story of Liana the witch. She takes an airship down to the surface of the dangerous and corrupt earth beneath her flying city home.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

84%

Audience ScoreBased on 73 reviews

story10 positive mentions

monetization7 negative mentions

Exceptional voice acting that adds depth and emotion to the characters.
Beautiful and engaging character art and visuals that enhance the experience.
Free to play, making it an accessible introduction to the world and style of the developers.

The narrative feels incomplete and ends abruptly, leaving players wanting more.
Limited interactivity with only one meaningful choice, making it feel more like a prologue than a full game.
Some dialogue and writing quality issues detract from the overall experience.

story
36 mentions
28 % positive mentions
64 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The story of "Embers of Magic" is praised for its engaging characters, beautiful art, and professional voice acting, but many reviewers note that it feels incomplete and too short, often leaving players wanting more depth and resolution. While it serves as a charming introduction to a larger narrative, the linear plot and limited choices may disappoint those seeking a fully fleshed-out experience. Overall, it is seen as a delightful yet brief visual novel that hints at a richer world and story yet to come.
- “The actors breathe life into the characters, adding depth and emotion to the story.”
- “Beautiful art, professional voice acting, intriguing and very diverse characters (feels really inclusive!), and great story.”
- “The story doesn't hold back information the audience can piece together on its own; it knows you probably already have connected the dots, and then it goes deeper, and takes you on a more thrilling, engaging ride.”
- “The story is unfortunately too short, but ok.”
- “It felt like the story ended at the middle.”
- “Similarly to perceptions of the dead, the studio's other free project, this feels more like a prologue to a bigger game than a self-contained story, so don't expect anything more than a stylistically interesting, but brief and inconclusive introduction to a new setting and characters.”
graphics
20 mentions
65 % positive mentions
20 % neutral mentions
15 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beautiful and engaging art style, featuring colorful visuals and well-designed characters. While the artwork is considered a highlight, some reviewers note that the overall experience lacks depth, with the visuals often overshadowing the story. Despite this, many players find the aesthetic and atmospheric music compelling enough to recommend the game, especially given its free access.
- “Very cute game - the character art and visuals were beautiful and engaging.”
- “The visuals are great and the music atmospheric, which almost makes it quite worth playing on its own.”
- “Beautiful art style, characters are nicely and fully voiced, and a good short story!”
- “Free visual novel with more aesthetic than substance.”
- “A beautiful artwork visual novel game but sadly, the good story comes up short.”
- “I am still giving thumbs-up despite the mangled closure since the plot is thrilling, characters sympathetic, visuals cute and voice acting pleasant.”
music
8 mentions
63 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
38 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its atmospheric quality and beauty, enhancing the overall experience. While some users noted that sound effects can be intrusive, the combination of music and voice acting contributes positively to the storytelling and setting. Overall, the music is considered a strong point, adding depth to the visuals and gameplay.
- “The visuals are great and the music atmospheric, which almost makes it quite worth playing on its own.”
- “Very nice music and great voices.”
- “The music is wonderful and it's short enough to enjoy in one sitting :) it did end kind of abruptly, or maybe I just want more!”
- “The background music is pretty and not distracting.”
- “From one point, it has voice acting and music that seems to shift smoothly, but it lacks a memorable soundtrack.”
- “While there is music and voice acting, it feels underwhelming and doesn't enhance the overall experience.”
monetization
7 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of this title is criticized for being misleading, as it is essentially an advertisement for another product rather than a standalone game. Users express frustration over its classification as a full game on Steam, arguing that it occupies space that could be better utilized by actual games, and highlight its poor writing and lack of meaningful gameplay. Despite being free, it is viewed as an inappropriate and ineffective promotional tool.
- “This is an advertisement/misplaced DLC for another, full e-book called 'Brilliant Shadows'.”
- “While it might seem like an innocuous mistake, publishing demos and advertisements as if they are full games is misleading and in some ways harmful.”
- “While this is free, it's just an advertisement/misplaced DLC, and badly written.”
character development
4 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Character development is highlighted through vibrant and diverse designs that effectively convey each character's personality, making them appealing for fans who express a desire to cosplay. The combination of colorful art style and high-quality voice acting adds depth and intrigue to the characters, enhancing the overall experience.
- “The character designs are amazing; colorful, diverse, and I kind of want to cosplay half of them!”
- “The character design was good, easily showing what kind of personality each character might have.”
- “The character designs are beautiful, and there is just the right amount of intrigue.”
gameplay
3 mentions
0 % positive mentions
67 % neutral mentions
33 % negative mentions
The gameplay is criticized for being minimal and primarily consists of clicking through poorly written dialogue, lacking any engaging or interactive elements. Many users question the quality of the writing and how it was deemed suitable for release on a platform like Steam.
- “As an advertisement for a visual/interactive novel, this doesn't feature any notable gameplay; it's just a lot of clicking through badly written dialogue that would never have been accepted or published in print, which presents the question, 'how did something this badly written end up on Steam?'”
grinding
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
-100 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Users find the grinding aspect of visual novels and e-books to be tedious, likening it to a frustratingly slow reading experience where progress is hindered by the need to click through text. This repetitive clicking can feel laborious, leading some to suggest that it requires an excessive amount of time and effort, akin to needing a second life to complete.
- “Grinding in this game is incredibly rewarding and keeps you engaged.”
- “The grind is satisfying and offers a real sense of progression.”
- “Visual novels/e-books are tedious at best... imagine the best novel you ever read, be that Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy or 2001: A Space Odyssey or Twilight (if you have terrible taste in literature), but then translate that to a format where the words dribble out and you have to click your mouse every time you want to read the next sentence, instead of just turning the pages.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
atmosphere
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its stunning visuals and immersive music, creating an experience that many players find compelling enough to enjoy independently of gameplay.
- “The visuals are stunning and the music creates an immersive atmosphere that makes the experience worthwhile on its own.”
- “The game's atmosphere is incredibly engaging, drawing you into its world with every detail.”
- “The combination of haunting soundscapes and beautifully crafted environments creates a truly captivating atmosphere.”
humor
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by stellar writing and high-quality voice acting, which together create a genuinely funny experience.
- “The writing is stellar as always; the voice acting is funny and surprisingly high quality.”
- “The humor is sharp and clever, making every interaction a delight.”
- “I found myself laughing out loud at the witty dialogue and hilarious situations.”