Ember Rail: a close look, tips and whether it is worth your time

If you enjoy short sessions that are hard to walk away from, give this one a look. Below is everything you need before the first launch: the gist, the controls and some working techniques.

What this game is

Ember Rail is a game about a coal wagon running a night branch line. The firebox warms the rail, and how you bank the coal decides both the train's speed and the rail's survival.

How to play, in short

1. Ember Rail is a game about a coal wagon running a night branch line.

2. The firebox warms the rail, and how you bank the coal decides both the train's speed and the rail's survival.

Controls

Controls:

• Tap a rail section — bank coal into the next section
• Tap the wagon firebox — burn coal for cargo points
• Space — throw coal onto the hottest section
• Tap or Space on the title screen — start the run

A few final tips

• Check out the demo mode on the game page — the AI shows how it is played, and repeating it yourself gets much easier.
• Play in short sessions: the best results come with a warmed-up head.

A perfect way to kill ten minutes — and suddenly an hour is gone. Ready to try? "Ember Rail"