Ember Trail
- Open roles
- 0
- Founded
- 2017
- Employees
- 1-10
- Offices
- 1
About Ember Trail
Ember Trail is a Swedish video game development studio based in Uppsala, creating independent PC and console games. Its work spans physics-driven construction sandboxes and peaceful management adventures, combining technical artistry with gameplay built around experimentation, creativity and exploration.
The studio was founded in October 2017 as Bad Yolk Games by Michael Paixao and Joel Jonsson, both former MachineGames developers. It entered independent development with an emphasis on sustainable production and developer well-being. In March 2022, the company adopted the Ember Trail name to reflect an evolving creative direction and a cozier identity.
Games and creative direction
The studio's debut, Main Assembly, is a physics-driven robotics sandbox in which players build and control their own machines. Developed under the Bad Yolk Games name and published by Team17, it entered Steam Early Access in 2020 before its full release in January 2021. Vehicle construction and visual programming form central parts of its approach to player creativity.
Its second major title, Distant Bloom, shifts toward a peaceful botanical life-simulation and management adventure. Published by Kinda Brave, it launched on Steam on March 27, 2024, followed by console adaptations. Together, these projects demonstrate the studio's range across systemic building mechanics, accessible management and exploration.
Its development capabilities cover game design, programming, technical art, 3D modeling, animation and cross-platform production. Custom tools and visual scripting support its focus on interactive systems and creative gameplay.
Ownership and continuity
Kinda Brave Publishing acquired the studio in early 2021. Ember Trail now operates within Kinda Brave Entertainment Group. Following the bankruptcy of the former Ember Trail AB legal entity in July 2023, NYA Ember Trail AB acquired the studio's intellectual property, equipment, key contracts and core personnel. The report describes this restructuring as maintaining operational continuity, and the studio continued development and released Distant Bloom under the Ember Trail brand.
More about Ember Trail
Workplace practices
The studio describes a commitment to avoiding crunch and has historically trialled shortened workdays as part of its approach to employee health. These are company-described production practices rather than an independent assessment of employee experience.
Recognition
Main Assembly was nominated for Best Debut and Best Technology at the 2021 Nordic Game Awards; these were nominations for the game.
Development model
Kinda Brave's May 2024 prospectus described a small dedicated core team supported by project-based contractors. It also reported that the team was developing a concept for its next game alongside the launch of Distant Bloom.
Notable credits
2 creditsOffices
Where Ember Trail is based
- Sylveniusgatan 2, c/o S-ekonomi AB, 754 50 Uppsala, SwedenUppsala, Uppsala County, Sweden
Uppsala office
HeadquartersOperating headquarters in shared premises with Dinomite Games and Kinda Brave.
Open roles
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