ELEX

Elex is like that weird casserole your friend insists you try — it's a mix of sci-fi, medieval fantasy, and post-apocalyptic survival that really shouldn't work, but somehow kind of does? Imagine you’re a jetpack-wearing barbarian who has to save the world while choosing between swords, laser guns, and a grumpy attitude. The game’s world is massive and gritty, filled with bizarre characters and unexpected laughs (sometimes at the game’s expense). The combat can be clunky, the story intense yet unintentionally hilarious, and bugs show up like old friends.
In short: it's a beautifully messy RPG that feels like Skyrim and Fallout got lost on the way to a Renaissance fair. You’ll love it if you like games that are a little rough around the edges but full of hear and jetpacks.

Some say that the key to creative work, is in knowing how to mix existing things in interesting ways. Perhaps nowhere is this more true than in ELEX, an indie action, platform, sword & sorcery, and sci-fi RPG set in a planet which could be our own. This, one of my favorite indie games of all time, is inspired on classics of the genre and if you ask me, has given many AAA titles, including some very well known "GOTYs", a lesson in design.
You play commander Jax, a feared leader of a warmonger faction which is known for inducing controlled mutations on themselves, called the Albs; they do this by consuming an addictive substance known as Elex. On select individuals, Elex evolves the human potential beyond the normal limits but at the cost of all human emotions. The Albs are very close to winning their campaign against all the free peoples. However, Jax is betrayed by the Albs without a clear motive... and while he survives execution, he loses his Elex powers. Now that he's weak, in unfriendly territory, discovering emotions for the first time in his life, he has no choice now but to make alliances with his former foes who're also trying to exploit the Elex in their own ways. That is, if he wants to survive, find out what happened, and take revenge.
ELEX is the game many AAA RPGs would want to be: a truly interactive open world experience full of adventure, player choice, world changing events, interesting places, very challenging mutant foes, and a wide array of playing styles to complete the game exactly as you want to play it. While the game doesn't feature a character creation process, and you play as commander Jax, it is still your own commander Jax. Want to play as a ruthless kind of character? Your choice. Want to play the impulsive merc, or the selfless hero? Your choice. Do you prefer to wield sword and sorcery? Or futuristic, Elex-fueled weapons and mental powers? Each of the competing factions offer lots of opportunities to return your character to its former glory... because you see, ELEX departs from the tired "Lord of the Rings" fantasy setting, and instead embraces an "everything you need in one place" philosophy. Sci-fi, wizards, punks, dinosaurs... its all here. And surprisingly, despite how freaky this sounds on paper, it works.
Not the least, because the factions are very unique and not just in name and dressing etiquette. They talk and feel very differently... for instance, going from one faction city to another feels like playing a completely different game. This is a great accomplishment by the writers which has been lost in modern RPGs. Even better, all quests in Elex can be completed in multiple ways, or in the benefit of different factions. In this sense ELEX is closer to the experience of a "Fallout: New Vegas" than other, much more linear RPGs.
Controls get criticism from some ELEX players, but not from me. As in real life, your character swings his melee weapon with momentum, meaning you can't interrupt individual strikes until they either land on the enemy or miss. Its not unlike the Dark Souls series, and I personally enjoy this kind of combat as it is more realistic. Not that you'll be capable of killing many foes at the beginning... do pick your foes wisely, come back to them later, because ELEX is not a walk in the park. You'll have to run away from many battles, as most enemies can devastate your starting character, specially if you fail to mix different tactics and weapons.
Luckily you won't be alone. ELEX features a cast of supporting characters which join you one at a time. The companion system reminds me of Bioware games... they have their own quests, they can like you or hate you from decisions you make. Perhaps less inspiration from Bioware games would be more fitting, and more to my liking, but the system works. And you'll have another card in the sleeve: the jetpack, which is quite unique to this game. You can fly with it for limited amounts of time, beyond the reach of your foes, allowing for attacks with ranged weapons in mid air. Not only does the jetpack open a lot of tactical possibilities against very hard foes, changing the entire gameplay flow, but the entire world has been designed for vertical travel from the ground up. The results are visually impressive. Don't expect flat ground here, ELEX is full of tall towers and structures, great heights, uneven terrain. Exploring feels great, at last. The ruins, very much like deserted buildings of present day Earth, are filled with pickable objects of all kinds and give more flavor to the world and its own mythology.
ELEX is a very refreshing experience. Yet, there comes a point where most quests are completed, monsters get easy to beat, and there isn't too much left to do. In fact, the game, while very enjoyable, feels a tad short... not so much because of lack of content, more because the content is good enough to feel appetite for a DLC or two. Even so, Piranha Bytes released a very special game as it is... despite its limited funding and playing time, the merits of ELEX are such that I'm tempted to place it among the best action RPGs of late, if not of all time. If only the game was a bit longer.

It's horribly janky with some questionable design choices. The combat and enemy ai is the worst I've seen in 20 years of gaming. Attributes are a joke and serve only to gate-keep you from equipping weapons and armor and barely actually affect the stats they are named for, which was confusing. It uses a horrifically implemented stamina system that only YOU are bound to, NOT enemies. Hit detection and hitboxes barely function.
Idk how this mess was approved to be ready to released but I'm glad it was, because it's been one of the best experiences in gaming I've ever played.

Elex feels like an old game. Janky is the right word- so janky it borders on unfriendly.

At first, I hated the game. Killing monsters was impossible and unrewarding. No loot, no level-ups.
Healing is painful and requires resources. The combat design doesn't try to reward skill. It's pointless to try to fight enemies higher level than you or in greater number.

It sucks. If you play it like you're the main character you get your ego checked. Its scary to explore.

That's when I started playing differently. Gearing up in towns, learning from NPCs, making allies to travel with, completing side quests and leveling up by avoiding combat.
That made the game fun. It made me engaged with the world and characters.

I still think the combat sucks, but I believe the story and exploration can carry your experience.
Elex, when looked at from the right perspective, is a fun, janky, slow, and very charming game.

ELEX is one of those rare games that manages to deliver a great experience despite its clunky mechanics and unpolished aspects. While it stumbles in areas like combat, skill design, and it has some dubious story choices, it excels in world-building, character development, and delivering a unique sense of exploration.
1. Story, World-Building, and Exploration
One of ELEX's strongest qualities lies in its world and characters rather than its central story. The overarching plot isn't particularly interesting and may not pull you in, but the lore, setting, and characters more than make up for it.
The companions are unique and interesting, each with their quirks and complexities that make them stand out. For example, traveling with Arx is absolutely hilarious as his grumpy personality and comments during conversations and exploration are really out of pocket but come out in a natural and fitting way. Even the NPCs are layered and feel authentic, though many are unapologetically self-serving, but it is fitting as it is a reflection of the apocalyptic world they inhabit.
Unlike many open-world games, ELEX avoids the pitfall of creating a vast, empty and boring map. Locations are varied and distinct, making exploration feel rewarding and natural. The game also encourages and rewards curiosity by hiding supplies, lore-filled notes, or valuable gear in locations off the beaten path. This isn’t a game where you’re mindlessly checking off icons on a map; instead, you’re going to genuinely enjoy exploring each house, factory or dome you come across.
The game’s three factions are another highlight. They’re all radically different, and you’ll probably find reasons to both love and hate them. They’re well fleshed out and I found all of them to provide interesting skills and equipment that shine in their own way. My only complaint here is that the faction choice doesn’t make that much of an impact story-wise besides some extra quests for that specific faction.
 
2. The Gameplay
ELEX doesn’t hold your hand, and this tough-love approach to gameplay is both a strength and a weakness, depending on who you might ask. Personally, I enjoyed it. You begin the game as a weak character, with even basic enemies posing a serious threat to your survival. This difficulty encourages approaches you might’ve not considered in other RPGs. You’ll find yourself using the environment to your advantage, you’ll bait enemies into traps or lure them toward NPCs for help. At times, you might even find yourself running for survival. It’s a tough start, but it makes getting stronger feel so much more rewarding.
3. The Combat
The best word to describe combat: jank. You’ll be dealing with a lot of issues such as:
• Enemies hitting you from absurd ranges or weird angles.
• Fighting on slopes (good luck landing a hit on uneven ground).
• Controls being unresponsive, one frequent example is when you’re drinking a potion and suddenly you can’t turn around, being stuck in an awkward strafing animation.
Ranged combat is better, but it doesn’t redeem the overall experience. It’s not unplayable, but it’s definitely the weakest part of the game.
4. The Skill System and the UI
The skill system could’ve been so much better. Outside of faction-specific skills, most of the trees are just boring stat boosts or generic utility like lockpicking or skinning animals. It feels like a missed opportunity to add more interesting gameplay choices.
The UI also leaves much to be desired. It’s bland and feels like minimal effort was put into it. Managing menus is a pain, and the trading screen, in particular, is chaotic, lumping most items together into a disorganized mess with the exception of weapons and armors.
 
5. The Cold System
Instead of the usual Good vs. Evil morality system, ELEX uses a Cold System, which measures how emotional or detached your character is. In theory, it sounds cool but it’s kind of a mess. You’re going to be forced to pick options you don’t agree with just to balance your “Cold” level, because it affects outcomes later in the game. It feels forced and takes away from the roleplaying experience.
TLDR
ELEX is janky, clunky, and downright frustrating at times but that’s part of its charm. The world-building, exploration, and characters are great, and even though the game has its flaws, it’s still a pretty nice experience.

If you can get past the euro jank and the initial difficulty, this is a great RPG with really great exploration and an interesting world.

RIP Piranha Bytes.

Is it clunky Yes..
Do all game mechanics work great Nope..
But if like me, you liked Gothic games this should scratch the itch..