Elex
2017 · Piranha Bytes
Has it aged?Why ↓
Elex is a third-person, open-world role-playing game where escaping a fight can be more satisfying than winning it. As Jax, a betrayed Alb commander on the ruined planet Magalan, you investigate faction disputes, recruit companions and fight through hostile territory. Your jetpack lets you reach places your weapons aren't strong enough to conquer.
ELEX is a handcrafted action role-playing experience from the award-winning creators of the Gothic series, set in a brand new post-apocalyptic Science Fantasy universe that puts players into a huge seamless game world full of original characters, mutated creatures, deep moral choices and powerful action.
The publisher’s description, from its Steam store page.
What it looks like
the trailer, then the store's own shots
The verdict
Play Elex for dangerous exploration and tangled investigations, not elegant fighting. Helping Ray track whoever wants him dead also uncovers leads for other quests: that's a better reason to explore than another collectible. The stiff animation and awkward interface made its presentation feel old even in 2017, but choosing where to venture—and when to flee—still gives this scrappy world its appeal.
Play it if
You enjoy scouting territory you aren't strong enough to fight through, using high ground to escape, and following a companion's troubles into other investigations. You read saved dialogue for clues rather than expecting every instruction to appear beside a marker.
Skip it if
You need combat with clearly readable attacks, or you won't tolerate repeated early deaths to ordinary wildlife. Even rats can kill you in a couple of hits, and abrupt animations make learning the timing harder than it should be.
Common questions
- Does the jetpack need fuel, and can I fly indefinitely?
- You don't need to collect fuel, but thrust lasts only a few seconds. Treat it as a way to reach ledges or escape creatures, not as unlimited flight.
- What separates the Berserkers, Clerics and Outlaws?
- The Berserkers turn Elex into mana and reject technology; the Clerics use it to power their technology; the Outlaws exploit it as a drug and a source of profit. These are the three factions you can join.
- Why would I help Ray after he stole my equipment?
- Ray has sold your Alb equipment and ties his help recovering it to investigating the bounty on his head. He can also become a companion who fights beside you, so pursuing him offers more than a reckoning over stolen gear.
- Will my companions fight whenever I'm attacked?
- Don't count on it: they require you to draw a weapon and engage before helping. In some major confrontations with leading characters, they won't intervene at all.
What everyone else said
we link, we don't reprintHas it aged?
How does it hold up today? Based on recent reviews, how opinions have changed since launch, player activity and updates.
% positive each month, last 4 years.
Reviews via Steam ↗Peak: 4.0k in Oct 2017.
Player counts via SteamCharts ↗As well liked as at launch.
No update in the last year.