Whitethorn Games and EPHEMERA Reveal Pulse-Pounding Co-Op Multiplayer Roguelike Kernel Hearts
Ascend the Tower of Babel, Harness Powerful Abilities, Befriend Allies, and Challenge the Divine in This High-Stakes Roguelike Adventure
Erie, Pennsylvania (October 2, 2024) — If the only way to bring a world back from the edge of the apocalypse was to destroy its god, would you have the power to do it? Today, Whitethorn Games — publisher of inclusive, accessible, approachable games — and developer EPHEMERA are thrilled to introduce a brand-new title — the action-packed multiplayer roguelike Kernel Hearts. Combining challenging hack-’n-slash gameplay, role-playing, and roguelike elements with stunning anime aesthetics, you will battle your way up a deadly celestial tower, building your arsenal of skills with each mortal demise to eradicate monstrous angelic enemies and dethrone a god to save the world.
As a member of M.A.H.O.U Unit — an elite fighting force of super-powered android magical girls — you and up to three allies are tasked with one thing: destroy a god to save the world from the brink of extinction. Starting from the base of the mythical Tower of Babel, you’ll fight your way through an array of powerful enemies from all sides, as you climb each level, gaining crucial skills and magical powers to help you surmount its pinnacle — and the new threats each floor brings with it. Defeat is no excuse; only the most resolute soldiers will reach the heavenly heights in order to dethrone their god — are you up for the task?
Key Features of Kernel Hearts include:
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Ascend to the Ultimate Being of Destruction: In every run, hunt for temporary skills that enhance your attacks, spells, and movement, empowering you to unleash devastating strikes and combos. Use these abilities to conquer the relentless enemies on each floor and exterminate the fearsome boss guardians that rule each domain.
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The End is Just the Beginning: Facing enemies of biblical proportions requires persistence and grit, but a sudden demise isn’t the end. After each run, your unit returns to the lab, where you can use the rewards from previous missions to unlock and equip up to 256KB of skill chips. Customize your unit with these chips to match your unique playstyle.
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Magical Transformations: The curse of the Tower is ever-present, and spending too much time in one area draws out even more powerful enemies. Harness the Tower’s energy to dispel the curses, briefly transform into your ultimate magical form and unleash annihilating attacks on any foes standing in your way.
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Squad Up: Play alone or with up to three friends, honing and synergizing your skills to become the ultimate fighting force to get you to the top.
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Friends in High Places: Each celestial domain hosts unique allies to help you on your journey. Befriend them to deepen your bond and maybe find love along the way!
Kernel Hearts will be available on PC via Steam. Accessibility features for the game will be announced in the coming months.
Key art, logos, screenshots, and a downloadable announcement trailer can be found in the press kit.
To keep up to date with the latest news about Kernel Hearts, follow the game on Twitter and YouTube, visit the game’s official website, and follow the studio on Twitter and their official website.
For the latest from Whitethorn Games, follow the publisher on BlueSky, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Twitch, join the official Discord server, and visit the official website.
About EPHEMERA
Based in Argentina, the team of talented new and veteran developers joined together to create video games that leave a lasting impact on players. Since its formation in 2022, the diverse team of creators aims to tell rich and engaging stories through a South American lens.
EPHEMERA is working on its first title as a studio, Kernel Hearts — an action-packed co-op multiplayer roguelike that draws heavily on the team's specialization in deep-rooted anime aesthetics. To learn more about the studio, visit https://ephemeragames.com.
About Whitethorn Games
We’re an indie game publisher focusing on pleasant, easy-going games, including APICO, Botany Manor, Calico, and Lake. Our games can be played in pieces, require no special skills or knowledge, and are accessible enough for anyone to pick up and play. We’re believers in accessibility, inclusion, and widening the audience that gets to play. We like to consider ourselves the defenders of easy games. While our games might challenge you, they’ll respect your time, they’ll make sure you can play, and most importantly, they’ll never punish you. Learn more at whitethorngames.com.
