French indie developer Ratbit Games and publisher Slug Disco have confirmed the official release date for the post-apocalyptic roguelike strategy game ‘The Ember Guardian’ as April 17, 2026.
This announcement was made immediately after receiving a positive response at Steam Next Fest, and the game will be released on Steam during Slug Disco’s ‘Earth Appreciation Festival’. The game officially supports Korean.
With the onslaught coming every night, only the prepared survive.
Ember Guardian is a game about protecting the last embers of a dying world. Players take on the role of the Guardian of the Flame, recruiting workers, securing resources, building camps, and fortifying defenses during the day. When night falls, they must defend the final flame against menacing enemies swarming from the darkness.
The core of the game lies in its day-night gameplay structure. During the day, the focus is on strategic operations involving expanding bases and preparing defenses, while at night, enemies drawn by the lights swarm from all directions, unleashing fierce battles. Players must withstand attacks by utilizing pre-established defensive lines and various weapons, and refine their own survival strategies amidst the repetitive combat.
From weapons and buildings to hunting dogs… an in-depth growth system
Ember Guardian features a roguelike growth structure that allows you to gradually become stronger through repeated play.
Even if you lose in battle, you can return to the hub to permanently unlock weapons, skills, and structures, and the game also includes a feature to level up companion hounds. In particular, the hound system, which allows for direct interaction, is one of the elements receiving a highly positive response from users.
Between exploration and return… the tension created by choices
Gamers must explore the ‘Forgotten Land,’ composed of diverse environments, and secure the resources necessary for survival.
In this process, strategies regarding weapon selection, supply management, and determining the timing of return act as crucial variables. In particular, the requirement to return to base before nightfall heightens the tension during every expedition.
In addition, all progress from the currently released demo version will carry over to the official version. Gamers who have already played the demo can carry over their existing data and continue playing even after the official release.
The official launch price of Ember Guardian is 21,500 won, and a 10% discount will be applied for two weeks from the launch date. More information about the game can be found on the Steam page.
Information regarding The Ember Guardian
| item | detail |
|---|---|
| Developer | Ratbit Games (France) |
| Publisher | Slug Disco Studios (UK, developer of Empires of the Undergrowth) |
| Genre | 2D Side-scrolling Roguelike / Base Building · Tower Defense |
| Release platform | PC (Steam) |
| Official release date | April 17, 2026 |
| background | Post-apocalyptic / Dark Fantasy |
| graphics | Desolate and beautiful pixel art |
| Core mechanics | Day Exploration · Resource Gathering · Base Construction / Night Survival Combat · Defense |
| Game Mode | Campaign + Procedurally Generated Horde Mode |
| characteristic | Training & Petting Hunting Dog Companions / Streamer Mode Built-in |
| Korean language support | Official support |
| Demo evaluation | Very positive (91% positive out of 59) |
| Demo integration | Demo progress integration with the official version |
| Launch price | 21,500 won (10% discount for the first 2 weeks of launch) |
| Steam Page | store.steampowered.com/app/3570060 |
