Dark Ember

The night never ends. Only the fire stands between you and the dark.

Dark Ember is a pixel-art bonfire-defense roguelike. A sword rests in the last bonfire of the world. Pull it out, gather what the light lets you reach, and hold back wave after wave of creatures that are drawn to every flame you light.

How it plays

• Feed the fire. The bonfire burns down over time. Fuel it to push the light further out: more light means more land, more resources... and more to defend.
• Fight in the dark. Swing a sword, throw a spear or cast with a wand. Dodge-roll through the shadows and keep the creatures off your flame.
• Build a village. Over 20 buildings: lanterns, walls, towers, ballistas, catapults, pyres, frost and arcane towers, farms, forges and fortresses.
• Creatures follow the light, not you. Every torch and lantern is bait. Place them well and the night works for you.
• Endless waves and bosses. Six bosses wait in the dark.
• Every run is different. Procedural maps across five biomes: forest, snow, desert, swamp and volcano, each with its own weather.
• Roguelike progression. Relics and pacts shape every run; new knowledge unlocks between runs.
• Online co-op for up to 4 players, gamepad support, English and Spanish.

Controls

• WASD / arrows: move · Mouse: aim
• Left click / J: attack · Right click / K: throw · Space: roll
• E: feed the fire · B: build · T: torch · R: repair
• 1 2 3: weapons · Q: potion · Tab: upgrades
• Full controller support (rebindable in Options).

Online co-op

Co-op connects directly to the host's IP. The easiest way to play over the internet is with Tailscale (free, no router setup). Everyone needs the same version of the game.