Imagine being summoned as one of the King's champions to save the mystical island of Emberheart. The catch? Ruthless poachers have arrived to plunder the land and capture the region's last remaining dragons. Your mission is clear: join forces with the villagers, rescue these majestic creatures, and ensure they are safe in matching preserves. But it's not just about saving beasts; you also need to train your own dragon companion and recruit the most capable heroes.

In terms of gameplay, Emberheart blends worker placement with a clever bidding system. Each turn, you decide whether to take an Aide token for a unique round bonus or send a party of hirelings to various island locations. Here's the twist: the size of your party determines your priority. The more hirelings you commit, the earlier you pick from the limited rewards, making it harder for opponents to outbid you. You'll manage a crew of Grunts (versatile but single-use) and specialists like Scouts, Rangers, and Wardens, who are permanent but restricted to specific spots.

Your Dragon Companion is the star of the show, providing various bonuses based on how you've trained them. However, be careful! Between taking actions and surviving the Poachers' Raid at the end of each round, you might get burned. Advancing too far on the Flame track will penalize you during final scoring. To win and inherit the title of Dragon Ambassador, you must balance rescuing dragons, recruiting heroes, and keeping your heat levels low. After five rounds, the champion with the most Glory wins. It's a medium-weight game with snappy turns and deep strategy regarding resource allocation.