REVIEW / Exploring the Emberlands (PC)

I’m honestly a bit taken aback right now. I was all set to dive into the details of "Into The Emberlands," the latest game I’ve been playing on my PC this week. The surprise isn’t because I had a bad time with the game, nor is it because the reviews I stumbled upon clash with my own views. No, the real shocker was the price tag on its Steam page. I was left muttering, "No freaking way," as I saw the discount drop it to just £5.49 from an already reasonable £8.62. I bring this up upfront because it’s hard not to keep this incredible value in mind as we explore what the game has to offer. Whether or not you end up loving it, you’re getting an experience for less than the cost of a pint at the pub—a delightful twist, and certainly worth continuing on to discover more.

Let’s dive into the charming world of "Into The Emberlands," a resource management adventure with a setting cast in perpetual darkness. Armed with a trusty lantern, you’re tasked with venturing beyond your village’s boundaries to rescue lost souls stranded when the lights went out. Along the way, you’ll gather crucial resources to aid your village’s growth, but your paramount mission is keeping that lantern alight. If the flame dies, so do you and any lost villagers you’ve found. Not the brightest villager in the metaphorical bulb, you might say.

Initially, the game is a breeze. You’ll wander just a short distance from the village to gather materials like wood and stone, essential for upgrading buildings, and you’ll rescue isolated souls scattered nearby. However, as you meet these initial demands, you’ll find yourself stepping further from safety, limited by how far your lantern’s glow reaches before fading. It’s a bit like watching your battery percentage drop faster than you’d like.

As you traverse the terrain, you’ll encounter various interesting spots on the map. These aren’t just your run-of-the-mill resource deposits but also feature characters willing to trade goods for those essentials you’ve collected. A word of caution, though: it’s all too easy to lose track of how much ember fuel you’re carrying. If your lantern runs dry before your boots are safely within the village perimeter, your journey ends abruptly.

Resource management doesn’t stop at gathering but extends to the tools you need for collection. Carrying an axe and a pickaxe is non-negotiable. Every step depletes the ember in your lantern, so cutting through obstacles often beats navigating around them. Forgetting an axe for that wall of trees might lead you down a path best described as treacherous. With a limited inventory, thinking ahead becomes your best strategy.

The world of "Into the Emberlands" hosts its own unique encounters. Meet the Emberclucks—giant chickens of peculiar importance. Offer them ember crystals, and they’ll enhance your lantern capacity, expand your inventory, or let you carry more gold. However, these upgrades are not easy pickups; they’re coveted items, often needed for progressing in other areas, adding a layer of strategy and sometimes frustration.

The bigger the village, the more it demands, turning the game into a complex dance of prioritizing which items to carry and when to let them go for others. A key item may spark excitement, but if it fills a crucial inventory slot needed for essentials, you’re in for some tactical juggling.

Thanks to its engaging nature, "Into The Emberlands" is perfect for short gaming stints. But don’t be surprised if you lose track of time. I thought I’d only spend an hour last night, and before I knew it, the evening had vanished—the game’s ability to pull you back in, saying "just one more task," might lead to more than a few rearranged plans.

Technically speaking, this game runs smoothly. Its graphics are adorable and colorful, and the sound design hits the mark, enhancing the overall experience. The controls are a simple point-and-click, making navigation straightforward. It’s a bit reminiscent of a virtual board game, adding a unique layer to its allure.

So, is "Into the Emberlands" worth the asking price? Absolutely. The game’s early simplicity can be deceiving, roping you into a false sense of ease, before revealing its true challenging nature that pulls you back in time and time again. If you enjoy resource management but prefer to skip complex building mechanics, this game is certainly a delightful addition to your collection.

Into the Emberlands Review

• 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" might appear all cute and cozy initially, but beneath lies a game loop that’s satisfyingly challenging. What starts simple soon has you repeatedly tackling tasks, off one stump only to find yourself right back at it. So, if you’re comfortable with a bit of trial and error, you’ll likely enjoy your time here. But if frequent progress resets or the need for constant advancement frustrate you, maybe something with more linear progression is calling your name.