Yollen

About

Yollen is a single player casual role playing game. It was developed by axilirate and was released on August 18, 2025. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

Yollen is a brutally minimalist incremental RPG where you rebuild your shattered world by mastering diverse skills and crafting powerful gear. Progress through interconnected skill trees, gather rare materials, and face corrupted foes in a relentless quest for revenge. Level up, strategize, and prepare to confront Yollen himself in this intense journey of payback.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

75%

Audience ScoreBased on 60 reviews

optimization2 positive mentions

grinding6 negative mentions

Yollen offers a relaxing and minimalist experience, making it suitable for background play while engaging in other activities.
The game features a unique blend of idle mechanics with active management, encouraging players to optimize their strategies and engage with the systems.
Recent updates have improved the game significantly, addressing many initial issues and enhancing the overall experience.

Progression can feel excessively slow and grindy, with many players expressing frustration over the lack of meaningful advancement and balance between skills.
The inventory management system is cumbersome, with limited space leading to frequent interruptions in gameplay and a lack of clarity on how to progress effectively.
The game lacks sufficient tutorials and explanations, leaving players confused about mechanics and how to achieve their goals, which can lead to a frustrating experience.

gameplay
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
50%
25%
Gameplay in Yollen is characterized by a blend of idle mechanics and active management, promoting gradual improvement and strategic planning. While the initial experience may feel simplistic and slow-paced, it evolves into a more engaging and satisfying loop after a brief introduction. However, some players criticize the core gameplay loop as lacking depth and fun, suggesting that significant improvements are needed to enhance overall enjoyment.
- “The story rarely interrupts gameplay, instead quietly reinforcing the idea that progress itself is the journey, and that rebuilding strength through effort is the ultimate reward.”
- “Yollen blends idle mechanics with active management in a way that encourages flexible engagement.”
- “Its appeal lies in the satisfaction of gradual improvement, the joy of connecting disparate mechanics into an efficient whole, and the patience required to see long-term plans bear fruit.”
- “Initially, the gameplay is not particularly dynamic; we kill snakes, eat berries from the bush, and steal money from villagers.”
- “The core gameplay loop just isn't fun and will require a massive overhaul to fix.”
- “Absolutely abysmal gameplay loop.”
grinding
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious and frustrating, with slow progression and a lack of clear guidance on how to advance. While some appreciate the grind as part of the experience, many feel it detracts from enjoyment, making the early game feel like a chore rather than a fun challenge. Overall, the grinding is seen as a significant barrier to fully enjoying the game's potential.
- “I am so confused; this might be the worst game I have ever played. Progression is so slow, and it's not like you can AFK it. There should be a way to progress faster, but unless I am missing something, the game literally doesn't explain anything. The game is so grindy; like, what the heck!”
- “You frequently get stuck without an obvious way to progress other than grinding out like 20+ levels.”
- “Progression, I know, should be slow, but these issues make the early game not just a fun grind but a tedious step for an idle game.”
graphics
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
100%
The graphics of the game are characterized by a nostalgic, old-school aesthetic reminiscent of NES visuals, which many players appreciate. The art style is well-received, and some users note that the brutal level scaling may draw inspiration from the graphics and mechanics of classic RuneScape.
- “I loved the art style, and frankly, the brutal level scaling reminds me of RuneScape's later level scaling, which may have been an influence.”
- “Old School RuneScape feels like an idle game with NES graphics.”
- “The graphics are outdated and lack any modern polish.”
- “The visual style is reminiscent of early 90s games, which may not appeal to everyone.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
33%
The optimization aspect of yollen is designed for players who appreciate gradual progression and system management, allowing for various play styles from casual to hands-on optimization challenges. While it may not cater to those looking for fast-paced action or high-end visuals, it provides a satisfying experience for players who enjoy steady growth and strategic planning.
- “From the outset, Yollen makes it clear that it is a game about accumulation, optimization, and patience, appealing most strongly to players who enjoy watching numbers rise and systems gradually unlock through sustained engagement.”
- “This balance makes the experience adaptable to different play styles, whether treated as a background progression game or as a more hands-on optimization challenge.”
- “While it may not resonate with players seeking fast-paced action or polished presentation, it offers a rewarding experience for those who find comfort and fulfillment in steady progression, thoughtful optimization, and the enduring appeal of the grind.”
story
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's story emphasizes the gradual transformation of a vulnerable character into a resilient survivor, prioritizing gameplay over cinematic storytelling. It subtly reinforces the theme that progress and personal growth through effort are the core of the experience, with minimal interruptions to gameplay.
- “The story rarely interrupts gameplay, instead quietly reinforcing the idea that progress itself is the journey, and that rebuilding strength through effort is the ultimate reward.”
- “Rather than relying on cinematic storytelling or visually extravagant presentation, the game focuses on the slow transformation of a fragile character into a capable survivor through persistent effort and system mastery.”
music
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's music is generally perceived as relaxing and suitable for background play, though some players prefer to turn it off while engaging in other activities.
- “The game is very relaxing and nice to leave on in the background; however, I personally keep the music and sound off since I'm usually playing other games or watching shows over it.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere is perceived as chore-like, suggesting that the game's environment may feel tedious or monotonous to players.
- “This creates a chore-like atmosphere.”