Elex

About Elex

Elex is an open-world RPG set on the post-apocalyptic planet Magalan, where a meteor’s fallout splits society into factions battling over the alien substance Elex. Developed by Piranha Bytes, the team behind Gothic, it blends sci-fi mechs with fantasy magic in a gritty, resource-scarce world. Released in 2017 for PS4, PC, and Xbox One, the game follows an emotionless warrior (an Alb) who gains feelings after being cut off from Elex. You explore a fractured landscape, making choices that shape Magalan’s future while balancing tech, magic, and alchemy. It’s a large RPG with branching outcomes but a divisive reputation.

Gameplay

Elex mixes third-person combat with loot-driven progression, letting you wield mechs, spells, or raw Elex energy. Battles require managing your Elex meter for special attacks, while exploration involves scavenging for materials to craft gear or upgrade skills. Side quests often involve repetitive resource gathering, though main story missions offer varied objectives like hijacking airships or battling mutated beasts. The open world is large but thinly populated, with fast travel limited to major hubs. You’ll spend hours switching between combat styles, machine guns for crowds, magic for precision, or alchemy for elemental traps. Dialogue choices impact faction relations, but character interactions feel stiff.

What Players Think

The PlayPile community gives Elex a 63.8/100 average (98 ratings), with 42% completing the main story. Average playtime is 34 hours, though 18% finish in under 25. Mixed moods dominate: 35% call it “boring but beautiful,” while 22% praise its “ambitious world design.” Critics note repetitive side quests and clunky combat AI. 28% of players rage-quit over grind-heavy progression, but 17% return for the branching narrative. Achievement stats show 60% unlock the “Elex Harvester” trophy, a farming-based task, while only 12% earn the “Unshackled Alb” completionist award.

PlayPile's Take

Elex is a polarizing RPG with a bold vision but flawed execution. Aimed at fans of deep lore and systemic choices, it rewards patience with a 30+ hour story and unique magic-tech hybrids. At $39.99 (current price), it’s a gamble, strong worldbuilding can’t fully mask slow pacing and repetitive tasks. Achievements add 20+ hours of extra grind. If you value experimental design over polish and can tolerate its pacing issues, it’s worth a shot. Otherwise, save your time for more refined open-world RPGs.

Storyline

Being raised as an Alb and fed pure Elex to strengthen your body and to be free from emotion, you lived in a world of cold logic and military discipline. Set to rise through the ranks, a scourge to your enemies, your destiny seemed sure. Now, as the smoke rises over the wreckage of your glider in the mountains of Edan, you are trapped far from Xacor. With no access to pure Elex, you are experiencing emotions for the first time in your life. Stranded amongst your enemies, outcast from your people, you must find a new course, you must decide how your life can decide the fate of the world.