Into the Emberlands

About

Into the Emberlands is a single player open world puzzle game with a fantasy theme. It was developed by Tiny Roar and was released on January 20, 2025. It received positive reviews from players.

Into the Emberlands is a cozy exploration game with rogue-lite elements where you play as the Lightbearer, using a lantern fueled by ember to venture into a mysterious, ever-changing world shrouded in a dark Miasma. Rescue lost Knacks, gather resources, and rebuild your village while uncovering secrets and encountering mystical creatures. Survival depends on keeping your ember lantern lit or risk becoming lost in the gloom.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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84%

Audience ScoreBased on 149 reviews

gameplay13 positive mentions

story4 negative mentions

Charming visuals and a cute art style create an inviting atmosphere that enhances the gameplay experience.
The game offers a unique blend of cozy exploration and strategic resource management, making it engaging and enjoyable.
Despite some challenges, the gameplay loop of gathering resources, upgrading the village, and rescuing villagers is satisfying and rewarding.

The inventory management system is cumbersome, with limited slots that can lead to frustration when trying to collect resources.
The game can feel punishing due to the harsh penalties for failure, including losing upgrades and inventory upon death.
Some players find the gameplay repetitive, primarily revolving around fetch quests without much variety in objectives.

gameplay
58 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
69%
9%
The gameplay in "Into the Emberlands" is characterized by a cozy exploration loop that combines resource gathering and town building, set in a beautifully crafted world. While many players appreciate the relaxing pace and charming visuals, some criticize the repetitive nature of the gameplay and the limitations imposed by mechanics like the lantern system and inventory management. Overall, the game offers a soothing experience, but its lack of variety and punishing death mechanics may detract from long-term engagement for some players.
- “Into the Emberlands offers a unique blend of cozy exploration and light roguelike mechanics set in a beautifully crafted, mysterious world.”
- “The core gameplay loop—explore, gather, return, build—may become repetitive over longer play sessions, especially for those who prefer more varied objectives or combat encounters.”
- “The gameplay loop is easy to understand: you explore the fog-covered areas, always saving enough flame to get back to the village, where you can upgrade buildings, buy supplies, and get improvements to explore further and further.”
- “Forcing the 'chill' gameplay by traversing the land as slow as possible without a fast forward option, combined with the cheat engine hack speed not being usable and actually slowing you down even more, makes this tedious.”
- “The point-and-click grid-based movement system, while purposeful in emphasizing the lantern mechanic, can feel sluggish and unintuitive at times, especially when navigating longer distances or trying to backtrack.”
- “The gameplay doesn't change much and there isn't much that kept me interested; it all just feels like a series of fetch quests with too limiting resource management.”
story
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
81%
11%
The game's story is criticized for being barebones and lacking depth, with many quests feeling arbitrary and disconnected from the narrative. Players often find themselves engaged in repetitive fetch quests with minimal character interaction or dialogue, leading to a sense of disinterest in the NPCs and their stories. While the game features a charming art style and a theme of restoration and hope, the overall storytelling experience is hampered by technical issues and a cluttered user interface.
- “This design choice highlights a refreshing alternative to typical roguelike or exploration games, focusing on atmosphere and storytelling through environment and progression.”
- “It appeals especially to players seeking a slower-paced, more thoughtful adventure that combines survival with a heartfelt story of restoration and hope.”
- “When you finish your quests for the day, you can continue to explore and save up resources/villagers for future upgrades, or choose to upgrade your village center (being a giant ember candle) and begin a new day (which re-generates the landscape outside of your village) and gives new quests and upgrade opportunities.”
- “The story is barebones, and I didn't care one bit about any of the NPCs.”
- “You upgrade your town, and boom, you're on a new map with a list of resources you need to collect to give to some NPC (most of whom are never introduced and just appear out of thin air along with their 'quests'). Completing some of these quests will give you new buildings, others will upgrade existing buildings or your equipment, some are just needed to progress, with no indication why one is this or one is the other, as there's no story or dialogue connecting these.”
- “Slow, boring, non-compelling story, horrible cluttered UI.”
graphics
34 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
59%
32%
9%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming, hand-drawn art style that evokes a storybook aesthetic, featuring soft pastel colors and delicate animations that create a cozy and inviting atmosphere. Players appreciate the adorable character designs and vibrant environments, which enhance the overall immersive experience alongside a soothing soundtrack. While the visuals are consistently described as beautiful and engaging, some reviewers note that the gameplay can become overly complex, detracting from the otherwise delightful presentation.
- “Visually, the game stands out with its hand-drawn art style that evokes a storybook charm.”
- “Soft pastel colors and delicate animations create an inviting, almost whimsical aesthetic that contrasts beautifully with the underlying threat of the spreading miasma.”
- “Charming visuals: the game features colorful and inviting graphics that create a warm and engaging atmosphere.”
- “To call it 'cozy' is like calling Super Meat Boy 'casual' - aside from the cute graphics, it is extremely tense!”
- “The visuals are very cute, the concept is easy to grasp and it is very fun to just keep playing.”
- “I like the mix of relaxing quests, light strategy, cozy graphics and a bargain price.”
grinding
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The grinding aspect of the game is polarizing; some players find it tedious and repetitive, especially due to the loss of inventory and upgrades upon death, which forces them to repeatedly farm early stages. However, others appreciate the relaxing nature of the gameplay, enjoying the exploration and scavenging that can lead to hours of engaging play despite the grind. Overall, the experience can be enjoyable for those who appreciate a slower-paced, task-oriented game, but may frustrate players who dislike grinding.
- “Forcing the 'chill' gameplay by traversing the land as slow as possible without a fast forward option, combined with the cheat engine hack speed not being usable and actually slowing you down even more, makes this tedious.”
- “If you die, you lose your inventory and your upgrades to your lamp, so after death, you repeat the early farming stage for lamp upgrades.”
- “It becomes extremely tiring, grindy, and repetitive.”
emotional
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its cute and wholesome art style, which complements a heartfelt narrative centered on restoration and community. Players appreciate the blend of charm and emotional depth, with experiences that evoke feelings of joy and sadness, particularly when facing the game's unforgiving mechanics. Overall, it resonates strongly with those seeking a thoughtful and cozy adventure that lingers in their hearts.
- “It appeals especially to players seeking a slower-paced, more thoughtful adventure that combines survival with a heartfelt story of restoration and hope.”
- “The game’s emphasis on nurturing both the environment and community creates an emotionally resonant experience that lingers beyond the screen.”
- “Toddling around rescuing lost villagers and picking up wood and stone gently ramps up to deep dives to the furthest outer edges of a ruined civilization, and I've got to say I really enjoyed sitting in that space where 'wholesome' and 'unsettling' collide.”
music
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
62%
38%
The music in the game is widely praised for its soothing and ambient qualities, perfectly complementing the cute visuals and enhancing the overall relaxing experience. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack as both gorgeous and minimal, contributing to a cozy atmosphere that encourages extended gameplay. Overall, the combination of delightful music and charming art style creates an immersive and enjoyable environment.
- “Complementing the visuals is a gentle, soothing soundtrack filled with ambient melodies and subtle soundscapes, which enhances immersion and contributes to the game’s relaxing, contemplative vibe.”
- “The art is great, very pretty and pleasing to look at, while the OST provides the perfect soundtrack to accompany your journey.”
- “As a first impression, it's an extremely chill game; everything, from the characters and graphics to the music, has a sweet vibe to it.”
atmosphere
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
33%
17%
The atmosphere of "Into the Emberlands" is characterized by a contemplative and meditative quality, emphasizing thoughtful planning and storytelling over combat. Its charming visuals and rich art direction contribute to a warm and engaging environment, making it a refreshing addition to the roguelike genre despite some minor shortcomings. Overall, the game successfully blends cozy village-building with atmospheric exploration and subtle tension.
- “Rather than relying on combat or fast-paced action, the game emphasizes thoughtful planning, resource management, and strategic decision-making, lending it a contemplative, almost meditative atmosphere.”
- “Charming visuals: the game features colorful and inviting graphics that create a warm and engaging atmosphere.”
- “Despite these rough edges, Into the Emberlands has garnered praise for its art direction, narrative atmosphere, and the refreshing calmness it brings to the roguelike genre.”
stability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is marked by noticeable bugs and glitches, particularly in the upgrade and crafting systems, which can detract from the overall experience. While these issues are present, they are not frequent enough to ruin the game, and many players feel the game remains a good value for its price despite its early access status.
- “Finally, there is the upgrade/crafting system, which is poorly explained and buggy.”
- “This game has quite a few bugs, glitches, and flaws; it feels unpolished and definitely lives up to being 'early access'.”
- “The most obvious issue was how the game sometimes had bugs; it wasn't frequent, it didn't ruin the game, but it was still noticeable.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's humor is characterized by cute and memorable characters, lighthearted dialogue, and entertaining interactions with villagers, which enhance its charm. Players appreciate the funny creatures and their tasks, contributing to a sense of heart and creativity in the overall experience. However, some users express a desire for even more humorous content.
- “The knacks themselves are cute - I could never leave a villager behind even if their bonfire was in the opposite direction I needed to go - and those that get dialogue in town are funny and memorable (I only wish there was more!).”
- “And there you will meet funny creatures, who have little tasks for you and give you a little support in return.”
- “Humorous dialogue: interactions with village characters are filled with lighthearted and entertaining conversations, adding to the game's charm.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviewers highlight that the character development in the game is engaging and immersive, contributing to a fun and relaxing experience that keeps players invested for extended periods. The combination of appealing character designs and a captivating soundtrack enhances the overall enjoyment of the gameplay.
- “The character development in this game is incredibly deep, allowing players to form meaningful connections with each character as their stories unfold.”
- “I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, each with their own unique arcs that keep me invested in their journeys.”
- “The way the game handles character growth is impressive, making every decision feel impactful and shaping the narrative in unexpected ways.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
100%
The game's procedural generation of biomes and village layouts enhances replayability by providing a unique experience with each playthrough. While the roguelite mechanics contribute to its fun and engaging nature, some users noted bugs that can detract from the overall experience.
- “[i]Into the Emberlands[/i] was a very colorful, fun, and relaxing experience, and the roguelite mechanic makes the game heavily replayable.”
- “The procedural generation of biomes and village layout contributes to replayability by ensuring each run offers a fresh experience.”
- “[i]Into the Emberlands[/i] was a very colorful, fun, and relaxing experience, and the roguelite mechanic makes the game heavily replayable; however, it does have its flaws, and my gameplay was far from bug-free.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Players report that the game runs smoothly, providing a charming and enjoyable experience. While optimization issues are acknowledged, they are expected to be addressed in future updates as indicated in the roadmap.
- “The game runs smoothly, and playing it is an overall charming, calming yet fun experience.”
- “Optimization and other fixes are mentioned in the roadmap, so I believe this will get solved at some point.”