Kernel Hearts

Action roguelike with angelic enemies and temporary magical girl transformations

Ephemera Games · Published by Whitethorn Games · Released Sep 17, 2026

Reviews: Very Positive; 80% of 296
Recent reviews: Very Positive; 88% of 71 in 30 days
Players: 9; daily peak, Oct 28, 2026
Steam Deck: Playable
Last update on Steam: 1 week ago; Oct 16, 2026
Minimum PC: GeForce GTX 1060; 8 GB RAM · 15 GB disk; Full requirements

What is Kernel Hearts?

An action RPG set in the Tower of Babel, where the M.A.H.O.U Unit fights to save an ash-covered world. You combine attacks, spells, and movement powers during repeated runs, face a guardian boss at each level’s end, and return to a laboratory to spend run rewards on chips for your unit.

For you if...

+you want to fight alongside friends in online co-op
+you like anime styling and getting to know allies

Not for you if...

−you want extensive level variety across repeated playthroughs

What players say

80% of 296 reviews are positive · 88% of 71 in the last 30 days

Players praise the soundtrack and world, and recent reviews often describe combat as satisfying. Hitboxes and animations draw criticism, while earlier reviews also complain about inconsistent dodging and weak upgrades.

Screenshots and trailer

Kernel Hearts system requirements

Minimum: GeForce GTX 1060, 8 GB RAM, 15 GB of disk space.

As published by the developer.

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Minimum

OS: Windows 10 or Above
Processor: Intel Core i7-9750H @ 2.60GHz or equivalent
Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 or equivalent
Memory: 8 GB RAM
Storage: 15 GB available space
Notes: Minimum specs target 1080p gameplay on Low/Medium settings. Performance may vary during online co-op.

Does Kernel Hearts have co-op or multiplayer?

Yes: co-op online. It also has a single-player mode. Crossplay with other platforms is declared.

Does Kernel Hearts run on Steam Deck?

Playable Playable: it runs on Steam Deck with some adjustments.

Default configuration is not performant
All functionality is accessible with the default controller configuration
Shows Steam Deck controller icons
In-game text is legible on Steam Deck
External controllers are not supported for the primary player

PC version details

DRM: None declared on Steam
Controller: Keyboard and mouse
Platforms: Windows
Achievements: 44
Steam features: Cloud saves, Family Sharing
Languages: Full audio: Japanese. Text only: English, Spanish - Latin America, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese.

Does Kernel Hearts use AI-generated content?

No AI-generated content is disclosed on the game's Steam page.

Self-reported by the developer under Steam rules: it covers AI content that ships in the game, not tools used to make it. Steam page checked on Oct 27, 2026. How to filter AI games on Steam