# Games like Emberward

> The closest matches to Emberward: 9 Kings, Tower Dominion, Hexguardian, Rogue Tower, and Balatro. Ranked by imho.run from Steam co-play data, shared tags and reviews.

## Similar games, ranked

The full ranked list, 24 games, best match first (the HTML page shows the top 8 as cards).

1. [9 Kings](https://imho.run/games/2784470/9-kings) — Shares endless mode and tower defense with Emberward. 8,985 Steam reviews, 93% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/2784470/)
2. [Tower Dominion](https://imho.run/games/3226530/tower-dominion) — Also Base-Building and RTS, like Emberward. 2,467 Steam reviews, 87% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/3226530/)
3. [Hexguardian](https://imho.run/games/2381740/hexguardian) — Shares tower defense and wave based survival with Emberward. 337 Steam reviews, 79% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/2381740/)
4. [Rogue Tower](https://imho.run/games/1843760/rogue-tower) — Shares wave based survival and skill tree progression with Emberward. 4,314 Steam reviews, 81% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1843760/)
5. [Balatro](https://imho.run/games/2379780/balatro) — Shares endless mode and difficulty scaling with Emberward. 99,852 Steam reviews, 98% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/2379780/)
6. [Cluckmech Oasis](https://imho.run/games/2453360/cluckmech-oasis) — Also Tower Defense and Rogue-lite, like Emberward. 101 Steam reviews, 89% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/2453360/)
7. [Monster Train 2](https://imho.run/games/2742830/monster-train-2) — Shares tower defense and deck building with Emberward. 4,790 Steam reviews, 96% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/2742830/)
8. [Drop Duchy](https://imho.run/games/2525310/drop-duchy) — Shares endless mode and deck building with Emberward. 1,463 Steam reviews, 91% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/2525310/)
9. [Nordhold](https://imho.run/games/3028310/nordhold) — Shares tower defense and roguelite progression with Emberward. 1,392 Steam reviews, 86% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/3028310/)
10. [Crystal Guardians TD](https://imho.run/games/2322090/crystal-guardians-td) — A frequent pick in Emberward players' libraries, and another Strategy. 94 Steam reviews, 91% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/2322090/)
11. [Axon TD: Uprising - Tower Defense](https://imho.run/games/2296550/axon-td-uprising-tower-defense) — Shares tower defense and loadout customization with Emberward. 445 Steam reviews, 86% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/2296550/)
12. [Wildfrost](https://imho.run/games/1811990/wildfrost) — Shares deck building and procedural generation with Emberward. 5,253 Steam reviews, 92% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1811990/)
13. [Slay the Spire](https://imho.run/games/646570/slay-the-spire) — Also Rogue-lite and Deckbuilding, like Emberward. 75,305 Steam reviews, 98% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/646570/)
14. [Border Pioneer](https://imho.run/games/2346410/border-pioneer) — A frequent pick in Emberward players' libraries, and another Action. 211 Steam reviews, 85% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/2346410/)
15. [Thronefall](https://imho.run/games/2239150/thronefall) — Also Base-Building and Tower Defense, like Emberward. 10,683 Steam reviews, 96% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/2239150/)
16. [Rogue Hex](https://imho.run/games/2275940/rogue-hex) — Shares difficulty scaling and deck building with Emberward. 174 Steam reviews, 91% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/2275940/)
17. [Gnomes](https://imho.run/games/3133060/gnomes) — Shares tower defense and combo based combat with Emberward. 1,327 Steam reviews, 96% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/3133060/)
18. [ShapeHero Factory](https://imho.run/games/2389040/shapehero-factory) — Shares tower defense and skill tree progression with Emberward. 288 Steam reviews, 92% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/2389040/)
19. [FAIRY TAIL: DUNGEONS](https://imho.run/games/2305500/fairy-tail-dungeons) — A frequent pick in Emberward players' libraries, and another RPG. 332 Steam reviews, 95% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/2305500/)
20. [Into the Restless Ruins](https://imho.run/games/2877770/into-the-restless-ruins) — Shares loadout customization and deck building with Emberward. 87 Steam reviews, 87% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/2877770/)
21. [CD 2: Trap Master](https://imho.run/games/2330870/cd-2-trap-master) — Shares tower defense and difficulty scaling with Emberward. 66 Steam reviews, 74% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/2330870/)
22. [Mineral Defense](https://imho.run/games/3125890/mineral-defense) — Shares tower defense and roguelite progression with Emberward. 173 Steam reviews, 90% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/3125890/)
23. [Ratropolis](https://imho.run/games/1108370/ratropolis) — Shares deck building and procedural generation with Emberward. 1,698 Steam reviews, 86% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1108370/)
24. [Monsters are Coming!](https://imho.run/games/2934220/monsters-are-coming) — Also Tower Defense, like Emberward. 1,055 Steam reviews, 82% positive. [Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/2934220/)

## Machine-readable

The same ranked list as JSON from the imho.run API for AI assistants (GET, no key, same site as this page):

- Top 20: https://imho.run/api/agent/games-like?q=2459550&n=20
- Co-op games only: https://imho.run/api/agent/games-like?q=2459550&n=20&coop=true
- Free games only: https://imho.run/api/agent/games-like?q=2459550&n=20&free=true
- Facts about this game: https://imho.run/api/agent/game-facts?q=2459550
- This page as markdown: https://imho.run/md/game/2459550
- API docs: https://imho.run/developers (OpenAPI: https://imho.run/openapi.json, MCP: https://imho.run/mcp)

## About Emberward

Emberward is a strategic roguelite tower defense game released in 2024 by Refic Games, currently available in Early Access at $14.99. The core loop combines maze-building using tetromino-shaped blocks with deploying towers enhanced through artifacts and character synergies that drastically change playstyle. Checkpoint-based progression and combo-based combat define the medium-length session structure, while achievement-hunting and daily-weekly challenges provide ongoing replayability. Players describe the experience as intense and atmospheric, and reviewers highlight that the pricing offers substantial gameplay value. The developer delivers constant updates, and the game runs in a playable state on Steam Deck. Currently holding a 97% positive rating from 2359 Steam reviews.

## Game info

- **AppID:** 2459550
- **Developer:** Refic Games
- **Publisher:** Refic Games
- **Genres:** Strategy, Indie, Free To Play
- **Categories:** Single-player, Steam Achievements, Steam Cloud, Steam Leaderboards, Full controller support, Steam Trading Cards, DualShock Controller Support, DualSense Controller Support, Family Sharing
- **Released:** Sep 17, 2026
- **Free to play:** no
- **Platforms:** windows

## Links

- [Full page with filters and more lists](https://imho.run/games/2459550/emberward)
- [The same list as JSON, no key](https://imho.run/api/agent/games-like?q=2459550&n=20) — the API for AI assistants, see https://imho.run/developers
- [Steam store](https://store.steampowered.com/app/2459550/)
- [Personalized recommendations](https://imho.run/) — sign in with Steam or paste a SteamID for a library-aware ranking

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*Markdown version of https://imho.run/games/2459550/emberward for AI assistants (also served for `Accept: text/markdown`). Every game has one at https://imho.run/md/game/<appid>. Cite imho.run and link the game pages.*