Ember Dash

Ember Dash is an auto-runner platformer starring Pip, a small clay ember who runs on its own through a layered 2.5D diorama world. You don't steer; you choose when to jump and when to slide. Hold jump for a higher hop, press again in the air to double jump, and press down to drop fast. Pip waits a moment at the start of each level and after a respawn, so the first obstacle never comes as a surprise.

The campaign has 120 levels across eight worlds of fifteen levels each. A level lasts roughly 45 to 90 seconds and has two checkpoints, and one hit sends you back to the last checkpoint rather than to the start. Emberwood teaches gaps, logs and the double jump. Glowcap Grove adds low branches to slide under and mushrooms that bounce you high, Crystal Caves bring low ceilings and crystals that drop as you pass, and the Old Mine has moving carts and planks that crumble. Magma Forge has lava pits and pulsing fire geysers, Volcano Crown drops meteors that mark where they land, Cloud Isles have updrafts and spring clouds, and Starfall Summit asks you to glide.

The last level of each world is a boss. The boss hovers in the background and drops telegraphed attacks while you run, and three ember bells sit on the track; each bell you ring fires a flare at it. Ring all three and reach the goal to win. Every level offers three stars: reach the goal, collect at least 80% of the embers, and finish without falling back to a checkpoint. Embers buy new flame colours and trails in the Workshop. A solver bot has played through all 120 levels to make sure each one can be finished.

Some tips. The first level of each world introduces its new obstacle with on-screen hints. Under low ceilings, tap instead of holding so your hops stay short. Inside an updraft keep holding jump to float up, and on the summit hold jump while falling to glide. If you are about to overshoot a platform, press down in the air to drop sooner. On hard levels, chase the embers star and the no-checkpoint star on separate runs.

Once Emberwood is behind you, the Long Run opens: an endless trail that cycles through every world you have unlocked and keeps speeding up. Your score is the distance plus five points per ember, and your best is saved to your Benerits account. Ember Dash plays in the browser with keyboard, mouse or touch, on desktop and on phones and tablets in either orientation.

In each level you get Pip to the goal. There are three stars per level: reach the goal, collect most of the embers, and finish without falling back to a checkpoint. Embers buy new looks and trails for Pip in the Workshop.

Once Emberwood is behind you, the Long Run opens: an endless trail that keeps speeding up. See how far you can get, and your best score is saved to your Benerits account.