Elin

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"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

Reviews

97%

Audience ScoreBased on 445 reviews

gameplay12 positive mentions

grinding20 negative mentions

Elin offers a vast amount of freedom, allowing players to explore various playstyles, from dungeon crawling to town building and farming.
The game features improved graphics and a more user-friendly interface compared to its predecessor, Elona, making it more accessible to new players.
The developer is actively updating the game, providing frequent patches and new content, which enhances the overall experience.

The learning curve can be steep, especially for players unfamiliar with the mechanics, leading to confusion and frustration in the early stages.
Some players find the survival mechanics, such as managing hunger and stamina, to be overly punishing and detracting from the fun.
The game can feel overwhelming due to its complexity and the sheer number of systems and mechanics to learn, which may deter casual players.

gameplay
64 mentions
19 % positive mentions
73 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this early access title is a blend of traditional roguelike mechanics and open-world JRPG elements, reminiscent of its predecessor, Elona, but with added crafting and base-building features. While many players appreciate the depth and freedom to explore various mechanics, some find the survival elements overly punishing and the learning curve steep, leading to mixed feelings about accessibility and enjoyment. Overall, the game shows promise with its unique systems and potential for future improvements, but it may not appeal to everyone due to its complexity and certain design choices.
- “Imagine the traditional roguelike gameplay of ADOM, the open-ended, open-world game design from Daggerfall, and throw in a large dose of anime insanity, and you won't be too far off.”
- “Part of the joy in the experience is the process of learning and understanding how the various mechanics all fit together.”
- “The game is made in a way that with each character you create, the gameplay will feel different.”
- “The sheer amount of annoying mechanics and unintuitive systems in this game made me quit after only 3 hours or so.”
- “The survival mechanics are just too punishing and they get in the way.”
- “The time-wasting mechanics from crafting games are a very poor addition to traditional roguelikes, in my opinion, and there needs to be a way to toggle this slow mode off.”
story
36 mentions
14 % positive mentions
78 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The story in this game is often described as a secondary component, with many players focusing more on gameplay mechanics and side quests than the main narrative. While there is a story present, it tends to be forgettable and overshadowed by the vast array of activities and quests available, leading some players to engage with it only after significant gameplay time. Overall, the narrative is seen as optional, with players enjoying the freedom to explore and create their own experiences within the game world.
- “Elin takes everything, all the systems and all the content from Elona that everyone loved, it updates the UI, upgrades the graphics, adds tons of quality of life improvements and new mechanics, and throws in a new great story that is still completely optional.”
- “Adventurer life is really fun in this game; quests and shops reset often, dungeons offer a lot of loot, with decent challenge and tension that comes from traps and random overpowered monsters best ignored.”
- “Just general weirdness to find in this game; the world presents itself as your typical fantasy world only to surprise you with unexpected elements, like quests given by a puppy named 'Nutbag' who wants you to find a stockpile of assault rifles for his research.”
- “The story is a secondary component in this experience.”
- “I couldn’t tell you anything about Elona or Elin’s main storyline… whoops.”
- “Honestly, I don’t really do the story quests until in-game years later.”
graphics
29 mentions
17 % positive mentions
72 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game have received a generally positive reception, with many praising the improved pixel art, vibrant anime style, and well-designed character portraits that enhance the overall aesthetic. While some players feel the graphics could have been upgraded to 3D or more modern standards, the visual enhancements and customizable UI contribute to a more enjoyable experience, especially for newcomers. Overall, the game successfully combines charming visuals with a rich array of content, though opinions vary on whether the graphical improvements are sufficient compared to contemporary gaming standards.
- “The art style is obviously very anime with lots of great looking portraits for random NPCs, and unique ones for those special story NPCs.”
- “The good old Elona-style game and dungeon-delving are still there, but with tighter balance and a fresh coat of paint with beautiful pixel graphics and wonderful Final Fantasy Tactics-esque character portraits.”
- “Graphics are surprisingly good, the lighting and pixel art looks great in motion.”
- “The graphics are a half step up, and sideways (it can feel a bit cluttered).”
- “You would think with how much time they had, they would have upgraded the graphics to something 3D.”
- “We live in the day and age of ray-traced graphics, so there really isn't any excuse why a game like this wouldn't have RTX enabled with high-poly 3D graphics.”
music
23 mentions
26 % positive mentions
61 % neutral mentions
13 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its nostalgic and cozy atmosphere, reminiscent of classic titles like MapleStory, enhancing the overall experience with its charming soundtrack. While many players enjoy the immersive quality and variety of musical roles available, some critics find the music lacking in diversity and modern appeal, describing it as uninspired and boring. Overall, the soundtrack contributes significantly to the game's aesthetic, though opinions on its quality and variety vary among players.
- “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 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.”
- “Wanna role-play as a bard and earn your dinners by making music in the streets?”
- “If your character had low music skill, you'll just straight up be murdered for your straight up garbage performances.”
- “Music is boring, uninspired, lacking any sort of bass or treble.”
- “I was hoping for something more modern like Minecraft music C418 or even something dubstep related/EDM would have been awesome, but this has none of that and it is super boring to listen to.”
grinding
20 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is described as extensive but varied, allowing players to engage in numerous activities such as farming, crafting, and dungeon exploration at their own pace. While some players find the early game tedious due to survival mechanics, many appreciate the diverse ways to progress, making grinding feel less monotonous and more integrated into the overall gameplay experience. Overall, the game offers a rich sandbox environment where grinding is balanced by fun and engaging mechanics, though it remains a long-term commitment.
- “You'd think just grinding a bunch of food to stock up would offset the sheer amount you need to eat.”
- “The obsession with the survival-crafting mechanics makes the early game tedious and annoying.”
- “I finally hit the point where I realize the only thing I'm grinding for is poorly balanced gameplay where I either kill an enemy with barely any resistance, die in 3 turns, or sit there for 5 minutes attack spamming the same enemies that just won't die.”
humor
4 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its humor, with players finding it both funny and cozy, often laughing out loud at the witty dialogue and amusing scenarios, such as characters struggling with tasks in a humorous way. The blend of humor with engaging gameplay elements enhances the overall experience.
- “Also, picturing my character hauling multiple crates on her back Death Stranding style across Elona because she doesn't know how to sew is quite hilarious.”
- “The do-everything, anytime game that is funny, real, and somehow cozy.”
- “Aside from that, I love how the game looks, the depth, the music, and the dialogue has made me laugh out loud a few times.”
optimization
3 mentions
33 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
67 % negative mentions
The optimization in the game appears to be inconsistent, as players experience varying outcomes based on their character's skills, with low music proficiency leading to negative consequences. Additionally, the game's performance quests can be chaotic, with unexpected events occurring during performances that may distract from the overall experience.
- “If you perform around people, they will give you tips if they enjoyed your performance.”
- “If your character has low music skill, you'll just straight up be murdered for your terrible performances.”
- “I found a microphone somewhere, so I decided to live my pianist dream again. I took on a performance quest and saw a group of little girls with green hair and dead eyes. I played my mic for them, saw something or someone being attacked outside my vision, and exploding meat chunks, but I still passed the quest.”
atmosphere
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its nostalgic music and cozy ambiance, reminiscent of classic titles like MapleStory. Reviewers highlight the meticulous attention to detail in the UI and mapping, contributing to a soulful and immersive experience that stands out among recent games.
- “The music is very nice; it gives a nostalgic feeling reminiscent of MapleStory and helps create a cozy atmosphere. Surely, nothing can go wrong, right?”
- “The game oozes atmosphere: from the UI to mapping to music choice, no recent game has given me this much soul with its presentation and attention to detail.”
replayability
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Reviewers express mixed feelings about replayability; while some highlight the potential for endless hours of gameplay and diverse playstyles, others note that the slow leveling system makes it difficult to fully assess replayability until more time is invested in the game.
- “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.”
emotional
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Players find the emotional aspect of the game to be deeply engaging, highlighting a supportive and quirky community that enhances the overall experience. The willingness to seek help and share knowledge fosters a sense of belonging and connection among players.
character development
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The character development is praised for its Fallout-style progression, allowing players to improve skills through use, complemented by a crafting system that rivals the depth of Dwarf Fortress.
- “I love the character development with the Fallout style of getting better at whatever you do, along with a crafting system almost as deep as Dwarf Fortress.”
- “The character development is incredibly engaging, allowing players to shape their characters in unique ways that impact gameplay.”
- “I appreciate how the character development system encourages exploration and experimentation, making each playthrough feel fresh and rewarding.”
monetization
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
-300 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its MMO-like experience while notably lacking microtransactions, which enhances the overall enjoyment and immersion. Players appreciate the engaging interactions with NPCs that mimic the social dynamics typically found in multiplayer online games.
- “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.”
- “The monetization system feels overly aggressive, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending extra money.”
- “I feel like I'm constantly being pushed to buy in-game currency just to keep up with the content.”
- “The game is fun, but the paywall is frustrating and detracts from the overall experience.”