Elin

About

"Elin" is a sandbox, open-world RPG that combines roguelike gameplay with survival elements, base building/management, and various activities such as crafting, fishing, and farming. The game offers a seamless blend of randomly generated and fixed content, set in a continuously expanding world with regular updates. The prologue to an epic story, "Elin" allows players to live freely as an adventurer, shaping the world through their actions and decisions.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

97%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,115 reviews

gameplay47 positive mentions

grinding132 negative mentions

Incredibly deep and complex gameplay with a vast amount of content to explore.
Offers a unique blend of sandbox, roguelike, and JRPG elements, allowing players to choose their own path.
Active developer support with frequent updates and a strong modding community.

Steep learning curve that can be overwhelming for new players, requiring reliance on wikis and guides.
Some mechanics and systems are poorly explained, leading to confusion and frustration.
The game can feel grindy, especially in the early stages, with a focus on town management and taxes.

gameplay
274 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
17%
80%
3%
The gameplay of "Elin" is characterized by its deep and complex mechanics, offering a blend of adventure, crafting, farming, and dungeon-crawling elements that can be both rewarding and overwhelming for players. While the game provides a vast array of options and freedom to explore, many mechanics are poorly explained, necessitating external resources like wikis and guides for players to fully grasp the systems at play. Overall, it presents a challenging yet engaging experience that appeals to those willing to invest time in learning its intricacies.
- “It's got a lot of depth to it that had me continually learning new mechanics and being surprised at the odd stuff I could do.”
- “Easy to pick up, hard to master type of gameplay, and it's very rewarding.”
- “The deeper you go, the more variety and complexity emerge, both in gameplay and in the world itself.”
- “However, a warning, this game does not seem to be for the faint of heart; there are many game mechanics with little explanation, and in general, many things that you just won't know on your first playthrough.”
- “It needs a more comprehensive tutorial because there are a ton of mechanics that aren't really explained, and you'll just have to figure them out (or use the yvlapedia wiki, which I highly recommend).”
- “The game starts off feeling pretty overwhelming with how much depth there is and the many mechanics this game uses.”
story
214 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
90%
1%
The game's story is still in development, with players noting that it offers a basic framework but lacks depth and coherence, often feeling like a collection of generic quests. While some appreciate the freedom to create their own narratives through gameplay, many express frustration with the forced progression tied to story quests, which can detract from the sandbox experience. Overall, the potential for a richer narrative exists, but current content is sparse and often overshadowed by gameplay mechanics.
- “The story, as I've seen so far, has not been drawn out the entire way.”
- “Well-made story and world-building are interesting.”
- “If you love forging your own characters and story, RPGs, reading or writing, this is a must play.”
- “If storytelling is important to you, this will not satisfy it.”
- “There is a solid foundation to a story but (in my opinion) cringe dialog and loose ends left and right.”
- “The story on the other hand is what's mostly missing, along with some core systems like weapon and armor crafting which aren't fully implemented yet.”
grinding
134 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
1%
99%
The game is widely recognized for its grindy nature, appealing to players who enjoy deep, complex systems involving farming, crafting, and dungeon crawling. While some find the grinding tedious and time-consuming, many appreciate the variety of activities available that allow for meaningful progress even during grind sessions. Overall, it offers a satisfying blend of gameplay elements, but players should be prepared for a significant time investment to fully enjoy its depth.
- “The survival elements aren't tedious either.”
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Every action is tedious, and the game explains nothing.”
- “You don't want to spend countless hours grinding out skills, recipes (only gained through RNG, by the way) and materials just to get the single thing you want for your base?”
- “But despite the seeming complexity of the game, you won't find a lot of content beyond grinding to grind.”
music
114 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
69%
8%
The music in the game is a polarizing aspect, with many players appreciating its nostalgic and atmospheric qualities, reminiscent of classic JRPGs. While some enjoy the engaging and immersive soundtrack that enhances the gameplay experience, others criticize it for lacking variety and quality, leading to humorous in-game consequences like being pelted with rocks for poor performances. Overall, the music serves as a unique and integral part of the gameplay, contributing to both the charm and challenges of being a traveling musician in the game world.
- “The music haunts me and keeps drawing me back to find layers and layers of depth.”
- “The music is very nice; it gives a very nostalgic feeling of MapleStory and helps create a cozy atmosphere.”
- “The game oozes atmosphere: from UI to mapping to music choice, no recent game has given me this much soul with its presentation and attention to detail.”
- “Music is no good either, so in general the game's presentation leaves a lot to be desired.”
- “I played music so horribly the townspeople decided to kill me.”
- “If your character had low music skill, you'll just straight up be murdered for your straight up garbage performances.”
graphics
83 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
75%
4%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the charming 2D isometric art style and anime-inspired aesthetics, while others note that some character designs feel outdated. Despite some criticisms regarding the pixel art quality, the overall visual presentation is considered appealing, especially with the support of a vibrant modding community that enhances the experience. Players appreciate the game's graphical improvements over its predecessor, Elona, and find the visuals to be a delightful complement to its deep gameplay mechanics.
- “The graphics are surprisingly good, the lighting and pixel art looks great in motion.”
- “The art style is lovely, the sense of humor is wacky, and the procedurally placed items you find in dungeons will make for a rather crazy experience.”
- “The isometric graphics are a welcome improvement, and the gathering, building, and crafting systems are well-designed and deep without being cumbersome.”
- “Sure, the graphics are low quality compared to many nowadays, but the systems and gameplay mechanics put most other games to shame.”
- “The graphics are quite pretty—I think the only significant flaw with the graphics is the character pixel art, which could be improved.”
- “The graphics are a half step up, and sideways (it can feel a bit cluttered).”
humor
42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in this game is a standout feature, characterized by its absurdity and randomness, often resulting in laugh-out-loud moments. Players appreciate the quirky, dark humor that emerges from character generation and unexpected scenarios, such as bizarre item descriptions and chaotic gameplay events. Overall, the game successfully blends wacky Japanese humor with engaging mechanics, making it a delightful experience for fans of the genre.
- “This game is addictive and fking hilarious.”
- “There is a ton of things to discover in this wacky, funny, and charming world.”
- “Every item and dialogue in this game is essentially randomly generated, making for some funny scenarios, but I have to say, it's difficult to feel immersed when your armor is made of sand, your bow is made of edible jelly, and your pet cat talks to you like a 50-year-old dock worker with a pill problem.”
optimization
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
The optimization aspect of the game is described as a mixed experience, where players can engage in various activities like music performances and questing to earn money, but must navigate challenges such as skill levels affecting performance outcomes. Players appreciate the need for strategic planning, such as practicing to avoid negative consequences during performances, while also managing resources like taxes and quest boards to maintain their in-game success. Overall, the game encourages a balance between creativity and resource management, with a unique blend of humor and challenge in its optimization mechanics.
- “I've even seen people play as a musician making money from musical performances in cities.”
- “Money is just hard enough to earn and the tax bills for your land are just frequent enough to make me always check in on the local quest board when I'm in a town to see what I can do easily like kill requests or music performances.”
- “If you perform around people they will give you tips if they enjoyed your performance.”
- “Money is just hard enough to earn and the tax bills for your land are just frequent enough to make me always check in on the local quest board when I'm in a town to see what I can do easily like kill requests or music performances. (Tip for music: practice on your own to avoid being stoned to death, or do what I did and get strong enough to just dodge or fully mitigate all damage from thrown rocks. I even got a free tomato thrown at me once that was delicious).”
- “If your character had low music skill, you'll just straight up be murdered for your straight up garbage performances.”
- “Piss someone off with your performance so they throw salt on you and you die instantly.”
replayability
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
40%
30%
The game is praised for its high replayability, offering a wealth of content, diverse play styles, and randomly generated elements that keep players engaged. Users highlight the potential for extensive gameplay, with many expressing excitement about the game's depth and community support. However, some concerns are raised about the risk of content bloat if not managed properly, which could impact long-term replay value.
- “This is the perfect early access game; it has tons of depth and replayability, so you won't get burnt out easily before it's done.”
- “Already absolutely chock-full of replay value.”
- “Huge amount of build and play style variability, along with massive replayability.”
- “This reduces the replayability as getting on your feet with a new character is quite a bit of work which many will find apprehensive.”
- “Adding that everything has levels and leveling up is pretty slow, it is impossible to judge the replayability before much more playing.”
- “Endless hours of replayability, endless playstyle.”
atmosphere
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
17%
33%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its chill and cozy vibe, enhanced by nostalgic music and detailed presentation. Players appreciate the engaging environment filled with cute and quirky elements, creating a sense of discovery and immersion. Overall, the combination of UI, mapping, and sound design contributes to a soulful and captivating experience.
- “I personally recommend people give it a try since it has a great atmosphere, lovely music, engaging gameplay, and can be quite a challenge for those looking for things like that.”
- “The music is very nice; it gives a very nostalgic feeling of MapleStory and helps create a cozy atmosphere. Surely nothing can go wrong, right?”
- “The music is very nice; it gives a nostalgic feeling of MapleStory and helps create a cozy atmosphere. Surely nothing can go wrong, right?”
- “The game oozes atmosphere: from UI to mapping to music choice, no recent game has given me this much soul with its presentation and attention to detail.”
character development
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Character development in the game is praised for its depth and uniqueness, featuring a variety of appealing monsters and a robust RPG system reminiscent of titles like Kenshi and Fallout. Players can expect to evolve from weak characters into powerful ones through skill-based progression and an intricate crafting system, enhancing the overall gameplay experience.
- “If you enjoy deep RPG character development, base building, and roguelike turn-based combat, you will likely enjoy this game.”
- “Similarly, in terms of character development, Elin resembles Kenshi; you start off as a nobody, and everything can kill you.”
- “I love the character development with the Fallout style of getting better at whatever you do/use, and a crafting system almost as deep as Dwarf Fortress.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
75%
The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by its wholesome and engaging narrative, which surprises players with touching moments and unique mechanics. However, some players may find the repetitive story elements and quests detract from the overall experience, despite the supportive and quirky community.
- “This is definitely the wholesome package every parent probably dreams of for their wonderful child.”
- “It's silly, engaging, and constantly surprises me with some new thing, mechanic, or suddenly touching writing.”
- “But the community is as wholesome as it is weird, and asking questions and reading the wiki will get you far.”
- “The story is tightly bound to mechanical progression, which means if you're not interested in repeatedly listening to the same dull dialogue and completing cookie-cutter quests, you're out of luck.”
- “Building yet another settlement in a Fallout 4 style, but with added taxes, feels tedious and uninspired.”
- “The emotional impact is lost when the gameplay forces you to grind through repetitive tasks and uninspired narratives.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Many users express frustration with the trend of games becoming cash grabs, prompting them to rely on demos to determine value before purchasing. However, some appreciate the absence of microtransactions, likening the experience to an MMO without the typical monetization pitfalls.
- “I started noticing that most games were becoming quick and crappy cash grabs, so I began getting demo versions of every new game to see which ones were actually worth paying for.”
- “It really does feel like an MMO but without the microtransactions; the random NPCs are even approximately as chatty as most players are in MMOs these days.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Users express frustration with stability issues, particularly highlighting instances where excessive spell spam from mages can lead to the loss of items, creating a chaotic and unstable gameplay experience.
- “I regret not bringing blankets as I dive into a nefarious situation and cry as a mage incinerates or freezes all of my items with spell spam.”
- “The game crashes frequently, making it impossible to enjoy the experience.”
- “I constantly encounter bugs that disrupt gameplay and ruin my immersion.”