Rebuild A Ruined Town in Emberville, The Stardew Valley Diablo-Lite

Reading the title of this article might spur a few questions in your mind, but Cygnus Cross, developers of Emberville, have aimed to create a dark pixel-esque experience that does indeed blend features found in Diablo, with that Stardew Valley feel. It only gets better when you learn that Doug Cockle from The Witcher series, and Alex Jordan from Cyberpunk 2077, are two of the main voice actors for the game.

Take a look at the trailer; hopefully, that'll answer a few of the questions on your mind before we dive in.

Tired and confused, you awake engulfed in darkness, in a prison that appears to have no end, known as the Vitromotus. Your memories are clouded, but your desire for freedom allows you to endure.

With nothing but your wits and might, you carve your way out with determination, eager to embrace the light of the sun. Yet, as despair slowly consumes your spirit, a ray of hope shines forward. Imprisoned like countless others, the denizens of a once thriving town, now ravaged by vicious forces, await your aid.

Rebuild the town

Meet and rescue an array of quaint characters along your way. They will show you their gratitude with amazing rewards and useful teachings.

Get to know the denizens of Emberville, hear their stories, and, if you dare, read their diaries while they are not looking; Fulfill quests, engage with townsfolk, unlock mechanics, and more.

Aid the villagers in rebuilding their town through a large variety of gathering and crafting professions. As Emberville restores itself, it will become a living hub shaped by your deeds.

Venture into the eternal prison

Intended as a magical confinement for the unwanted elements of a once great society, the Vitromotus stands instead as a testament to their arrogance and corruption. Find a way to escape it and, if you so desire, aid those unfortunate enough to have been left behind.

Explore the knowledge hidden in its forgotten tunnels, ruins, survivors settlements and threatening environments, and unlock the secrets behind this energy known as kymia, a mysterious power born from emotions that brings those trapped within the Vitromotus back to life.

Over the years, the influence of Kymia reshaped the world inside the prison, bringing about strange biomes and bizarre monsters. Brave its depths and learn what hides beneath; you may discover that, perhaps, not all of these creatures are as terrible as you imagine.

Fight your way

From sinister creatures to fearsome bosses, face enemies in action-focused combat that rewards positioning, timing, and knowledge.

Unlock unique weapon-bound combos for a variety of weapons and chain different types of attacks to unleash devastating strikes on enemies.

Learn, choose, and use a wide range of combat classes, each with passive and active skills that can be inherited from other learnt classes.

Customize and improve your character

Enhance your character with an ample collection of skills and weapons that can be improved through leveling, items, and the help of villagers you rescue.

As you gain experience in battle and complete quests, choose from a wide selection of classes that can be changed at any time, each with its own distinctive gameplay and abilities.

The deeper you venture, the stronger your foes will be. You will have abundant opportunities to experiment with various fighting techniques to find the build and weapon category that better suits your playstyle.

Build your Estate

Customize your personal space within Emberville, where you will be able to craft anything needed to help your journey through the Vitromotous and transform your homestead into a comfortable place to relax, from buildings to furniture, plants, and decorations.

Gather a myriad of unique materials to forge not only your combat equipment, but also useful potions, food, tools, and trinkets.

Progress not only through combat, but also exploration, rebuilding, and the various choices you will have to make through your adventure.

So, are you excited? Or is this perhaps a little too much of a genre blend for you to enjoy? Regardless, we'll be playing it day one of early access, and while we know most will likely wait until the 1.0 launch, admittedly, this one hits the mark for us, so we don't have the restraint needed to wait.

Make sure you head over to Steam and wishlist Emberville to help support its development journey. You can also follow the developers over on X(Twitter) and BlueSky, or pop into their Discord and take part in the conversation.