INTO THE EMBERLANDS REVIEW: WHEN COZY MEETS ROGUELITE IN A WARM, FUZZY EMBRACE
Grab your favorite blanket and a mug of hot cocoa because Into the Emberlands is here to give you the warm and fuzzies while simultaneously making you question your life choices. This early access gem is like if Animal Crossing and Don't Starve had a baby, and that baby was raised by Bob Ross. But does it have the staying power to keep us coming back for more cozy catastrophes? Let's dive into this adorable apocalypse and find out!
CUTE AS A BUTTON, DEADLY AS A KITTEN WITH A FLAMETHROWER
First things first: Into the Emberlands is so goddamn cute it should come with a warning label. The art style is more adorable than a basket of puppies wearing tiny hats. Every pixel oozes charm, from the way your little lightbearer waddles around to the animated cursor that makes you feel like you're conducting an orchestra of cuteness. It's the kind of game that'll make you go "aww" right before it punches you in the gut with its surprisingly challenging gameplay.
GAMEPLAY: COZY SURVIVAL WITH A SIDE OF EXISTENTIAL DREAD
Into the Emberlands takes the best parts of roguelites and cozy games, throws them in a blender with a dash of "oh shit, I'm lost in the woods," and serves up a cocktail of exploration that'll keep you coming back for more. You're tasked with exploring a randomly generated landscape beyond your village, balancing tool use and resources while trying not to shit yourself as your lantern timer ticks down.
It's like playing a game of chicken with the grim reaper, but the grim reaper is wearing a onesie and offering you cookies. You'll find yourself constantly torn between pushing just a little bit further for that sweet, sweet loot and hauling ass back to the safety of your village before your light goes out and you become monster chow.
The genius of this game is how it manages to be both relaxing and stress-inducing at the same time. One minute you're happily gathering resources and rescuing lost villagers, feeling like the hero of your own cozy adventure. The next, you're frantically trying to find your way back home as your lantern flickers ominously, questioning every life decision that led you to this moment.
BUILDING YOUR COZY APOCALYPSE BUNKER
As you bring back resources and villagers, you get to upgrade your village, making future expeditions easier or allowing you to travel further. It's like playing Monopoly, but instead of houses and hotels, you're building ember candles and metro stations. And let me tell you, the satisfaction of watching your little village grow is more addictive than crack-laced gummy bears.
The progression system is smoother than a buttered-up slip 'n slide. Each upgrade feels meaningful, whether it's increasing your lantern's capacity or unlocking new areas to explore. It's the kind of game where you'll find yourself saying "just one more upgrade" until the sun comes up and you realize you've developed a caffeine addiction.
THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE ADORABLY BUGGY
Now, it's not all rainbows and unicorns in the Emberlands. The game's got a few rough edges, but hey, it's early access – if it was perfect, we'd be suspicious.
The camera control is about as cooperative as a cat on a leash. You can right-click and drag to look around, but it feels clunkier than trying to do the Macarena in a straitjacket. And don't even get me started on the inability to drop tools. It's like the game is saying, "Oh, you wanted to pick up that shiny new resource? Too bad, you're married to that pickaxe now, buddy."
But here's the kicker: despite these minor annoyances, the game is more addictive than a pringles can full of cocaine. The devs are more active than a squirrel on espresso, squashing bugs and implementing improvements faster than you can say "cozy roguelite."
FINAL VERDICT: A WARM HUG WITH A SIDE OF PANIC ATTACKS
Into the Emberlands is like that friend who's always positive but also reminds you of your impending mortality. It's cute, it's challenging, and it's got more depth than a philosophy major's Twitter feed. With its dirt-cheap price tag of about $6.59 USD (which is a steal, by the way), it's a no-brainer purchase for anyone who enjoys cozy games, roguelites, or just wants to experience what it's like to be hugged and stabbed at the same time.
Is it perfect? Hell no. But it's got more potential than a child prodigy with a trust fund. With continued development, this game could be the next big thing in the cozy-roguelite genre (which is apparently a thing now). It's already a solid, adorably terrifying experience that'll have you saying "just one more run" until you realize you've missed three days of work and your cat has staged a coup.
Final Score: 8.5/10 – Cuter than a kitten in a sweater, more addictive than social media, and just janky enough to keep you on your toes. Into the Emberlands is a cozy apocalypse you won't want to miss.
We didn't get a free key for this one, folks. We paid our hard-earned $6.59 to question our life choices and develop an unhealthy attachment to digital villagers, just like nature intended. But you know what? It was worth every damn penny. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to go hug my lantern, check if that shadow in the corner has always been there, and maybe call my therapist to discuss my new fear of running out of light.
We at NLM received a key for this game for free, this however didn’t impact our review in any way.