I’m writing this with a hint of disbelief. This week, I’ve been diving into the world of Into The Emberlands on PC, and just a moment ago, something caught me off guard. It wasn’t a glitch or a disagreement with other reviews; it was the game’s price. As I scrolled through the Steam page, I was astounded to see it listed at a mere £5.49, discounted from £8.62. I couldn’t help but exclaim, "No way!" I wanted to point this out upfront because, as you read this review, consider that this title costs less than a pint of beer. Despite what you might think, I’ve actually enjoyed my time with it, and I’ll tell you why.
Into the Emberlands unfolds in a charming realm engulfed in darkness. Armed with only a lantern, you’re tasked with venturing beyond your village to rescue stranded souls and gather resources to help your community flourish. Your primary mission, though, is to ensure your lantern’s flame never flickers out because, if it does, you and the villagers are done for.
The game kicks off with simple mechanics. Initially, wood and stone are within arm’s reach, making the early building upgrades and soul rescues straightforward. But as you progress, you’ll find yourself venturing further and further afield, pushing your lantern’s limits until the light starts to wane—and you risk losing everything.
Exploring the map reveals various spots of interest. Beyond resources, you’ll encounter characters willing to trade goods for items you might desperately need. Yet, it’s all too easy to miscalculate your lantern’s ember levels. Regardless of how far you’ve journeyed or the treasures you’ve collected, if you can’t make it back to your village, it’s lights out. Stepping back into the safety of your village refills your lantern, but getting there is another story. A couple of missteps, and you could find yourself stuck in the dark.
You’ll need to juggle resource management carefully, balancing tools like axes and pickaxes necessary for resource gathering. With each step draining your lantern’s ember, sometimes cutting through obstacles makes more sense than going around—even if that means taking on some risk. Inventory space is tight, so strategic planning is essential.
During your quest, you’ll meet crucial characters known as Emberclucks—giant chickens with significant benefits. By gifting them with ember crystals, you can enhance your lantern’s capacity, boost your inventory space, or carry more gold. These upgrades are vital, but collecting the necessary crystals is no easy task. This balancing act is part of what makes the game both delightful and, at times, exasperating.
As your village grows, so do its demands. This requires you to carry various items and find new ways to collect others, creating an ongoing challenge of ensuring you have what you need when you need it. While obtaining essential items is crucial, it often comes at the cost of leaving behind something just as important. The ultimate objective is always making it home, a task that proves trickier than it sounds.
Into the Emberlands is perfect for short gaming sessions. You can drop in, complete a couple of missions, and come back later without losing any momentum. However, you might find it hard to stop at just a few tasks. Like many players, I told myself I’d spend just an hour and ended up burning through an entire evening without noticing. The game’s addictive nature might disrupt your schedule, especially if your time management is anything like mine.
From a technical standpoint, Into the Emberlands runs smoothly. It offers a vibrant and colorful aesthetic, paired with sound design that perfectly complements its gameplay. With its simple, intuitive point-and-click mechanics, there’s little to complain about. At times, it feels like you’re playing a digital board game, adding a unique layer to the overall experience.
Overall, the game delivers incredible value for its price. It lures you in with seemingly easy tasks, before revealing its true, challenging nature that keeps you coming back. If you’re a fan of resource management games but not too keen on extensive building mechanics (which are mostly automated here), Into the Emberlands could be a great addition to your collection.
Review Summary
- Look and feel: 9/10
- Challenge: 8/10
- Replayability: 8/10
- Value for Money: 10/10
Overall Score: 8.7/10
Deceptively Challenging: Into the Emberlands may appear cute and harmless on the outside, but the gameplay loop is anything but trivial. It starts easy but soon has you tackling the same challenges repeatedly, making you reconsider your strategies. If you’re okay with trial and error, you’ll have a blast. However, if setbacks and slow progression irritate you, this might not be your cup of tea.
