H5game8

Stardew Valley Meets Diablo In Our New Gaming Obsession Emberville spider gameplay

By Nicholas Becher Published Jan 28, 2026, 7:00 PM EST Nicholas Becher is a gaming journalist with an MFA in Creative Writing from FAU. With extensive experience playing video games, he covers all forms of gaming content at Screen Rant, from breaking news to the latest fan theories. Most-played games range from Clair Obscur to Civ to Elden Ring to Halo 2 and beyond. Sign in to your ScreenRant account Add Us On Summary Generate a summary of this story follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Thread Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap

Stardew Valley fans looking for an all-new adventure really need to take a gander at this upcoming game that promises to be a massive hit. It has a unique dark fantasy twist that is certain to be an exciting spin on the genre.

Emberville is an upcoming 2D pixel-art style dark fantasy RPG that will be a must-play release for fans of Stardew Valley or Diablo, and is currently planned to launch in early access this year. It's a highly anticipated indie launch from developer Cygnus Cross, and you can wishlist it now on Steam.

Emberville Looks Incredible

Emberville is a newly announced upcoming RPG from indie dev Cygnus Cross, and it looks like it's going to be an absolute banger among fans of the 2D pixel-art Stardew-esque genre. The game features quintessential RPG and life-sim elements akin to Stardew's farming and crafting systems, allowing players to create items within their personal estate they can then use to progress through the game.

Emberville players "awake engulfed in darkness, in a prison that appears to have no end, known as the Vitromotus," and will embark on a journey to escape the cursed hellish location. You'll save various NPCs along the way (if you want to, that is), all of whom will return to the town of Emberville, provide new bonuses and items, teach players valuable lessons, and help you discover clues to escape.

Diablo fans will appreciate the game's demonic setting and story, particularly the Vitromotus, which is "intended as a magical confinement for the unwanted elements of a once great society, [but now] stands instead as a testament to their arrogance and corruption." Players venture to unlock the secret behind a strange and mysterious energy known as "kymia," a power derived from the trapped individuals' emotions inside the Vitromortus.

Think Stardew Valley Meets Diablo

While you probably wouldn't expect the twain to meet, it's pretty clear that Emberville is taking heavy inspiration from Stardew and Diablo, and it's the collision of worlds we didn't know we needed. Currently, Emberville is planned to launch in Early Access this summer, though a specific date isn't available just yet.

Subscribe to our newsletter for Emberville, indie RPGs

Curate your indie-RPG reading—subscribe to our newsletter for comprehensive Emberville coverage, including developer insights, behind-the-scenes features, Early Access context, and thoughtful takes on dark-fantasy 2D pixel-art games to guide your wishlist and interest. Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.

The developer notes the following regarding the game's release in Early Access:

Emberville's development path is flexible, and plans are open to evolution. The game's growth in content and features will be shaped by valuable insights from the community as it nears its eventual release. Early Access serves as an excellent avenue to welcome players into the collaborative development and creative journey of the game.

The Early Access period will be an exciting time for players who want to join the Emberville journey at the ground level, and community insights are going to be incredibly useful and valuable for the developer. If you're excited to see what it has to offer, be sure to add Emberville to your wishlist now and get the latest updates as they become available.

Your Rating

Your comment has not been saved

Like Follow Followed Stardew Valley RPG Simulation Systems phone transparent

OpenCritic Reviews Top Critic Avg: 90/100 Critics Rec: 99% Released February 26, 2016 ESRB E for Everyone (Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, Mild Language, Simulated Gambling, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco) Developer(s) ConcernedApe Publisher(s) ConcernedApe Engine Proprietary

Genre(s) RPG, Simulation Powered by Expand Collapse