EmberholdPlay freeA kingdom builder like Kingshot, without the pay-to-keep-up treadmill
Build a lantern-lit kingdom, raise heroes and hold back the dark, all free in your browser. No boost packs, no paid speedups, no wallet pressure.
Runs in any browser and installs to your phone like an app. No app store, no download.
What plays the same
If you've played Kingshot, Whiteout Survival or Last War, you already know the loop. Emberhold keeps it and takes the spending pressure out.
| What you like about the genre | How it works in Emberhold |
|---|---|
| A headquarters that gates your growth | The Great Lantern unlocks 15 buildings, each up to level 25 |
| Heroes, shards and star-ups | 12 heroes with skills, gear and 5 star levels |
| Troop types and counters | 4 troop types across 6 tiers, with a counter triangle |
| Campaign and bosses | A 36-stage campaign with a boss every 6th stage |
| Defend-the-town and alliance boss events | Night Siege and the Wyrm Hunt |
| Seasonal kingdom wars | Realm Clash, a 14-day season |
| A battle pass | The 30-tier Lantern Pass |
What money can and can't do
Emberhold sells two things: optional memberships and cosmetic items. That's it.
You can't buy:
- Boost packs, resource packs or paid speedups
- A VIP level that makes you build faster
- Wick Tokens, the game's community currency
- An advantage in a fight against another player
You can buy:
- Cosmetic items
- An optional monthly membership (Kindler, Keeper or Beacon), which adds a monthly Wick Token allowance, more room in the Market, lower trading fees and one extra builder. See what each tier includes →
We'd rather tell you exactly what a membership does than call it "cosmetic only". The extra builder and the token allowance are real perks, and they're the only ones money gets you.
Odds you can see
The Star Wheel shows its odds before you spin, and pity guarantees a top result after a set number of spins.
Wick Tokens are earned, not bought
You earn Wick Tokens by playing and trade them with other players. They have no cash value and can never be sold or cashed out for real money.
A real player market
The Market is where real players trade with each other. Swap resources, speedups, tomes and hero shards, with every trade held in escrow until both sides deliver. Daily limits and a 24-hour wait for new accounts keep it fair, and nothing bought with money can be listed.
Plays in your browser, works offline
Open Emberhold in any browser and add it to your home screen. Your town keeps producing while you're away, and a "Welcome back" summary shows what you earned. You can export your save code any time.
What's simulated right now
We'd rather be upfront. In this version your alliance, chat, rival kingdoms and Realm Clash opponents are run by the game, not by other people. The Market is the real-player part. More real multiplayer is on the way.
FAQ
What games are like Kingshot but not pay-to-win?
If you like Kingshot's mix of base building, heroes and events but are tired of spending to keep up, look for games that say exactly what money can buy. Emberhold is a free kingdom builder that runs in your browser. It sells only optional memberships and cosmetics, with no boost packs, and its currency can't be bought or cashed out.
Is Emberhold free?
Yes. The whole game is free to play in your browser. Memberships are optional monthly extras for players who trade a lot in the Market, and cosmetic items are just for looks.
Is Emberhold pay-to-win?
There are no boost packs, paid speedups or VIP levels, and nothing bought with money can be traded. A membership adds one extra builder and a monthly token allowance, and that's the full extent of what money gets you. In this version there's no real-player combat, so nobody can pay to beat you in a fight.
Do I need to download anything?
No. Emberhold runs in your web browser and can be added to your phone's home screen like an app. It keeps working offline, and your progress catches up when you come back.
Is there real multiplayer?
The Market is real: you trade with other players. Alliances, chat and rival kingdoms are run by the game in this version, and more real multiplayer is planned.
Is Emberhold made by the makers of Kingshot, Whiteout Survival or Last War?
No. Emberhold: Lantern Kingdoms is an independent game with its own heroes, buildings, art and economy.