Screenshots & trailers
Review sentiment over time
Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.
How this score was computed
The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (OpenCritic) | – | 61 | 23 |
| Creator reviews (1 tracked) | – | 97 | 0 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 74% | 70 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 79% | 73 | 15 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 43 reviews sampled · 32 total reviews in window · weighted 24.1 up / 6.5 down · computed 3h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (68)
Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.
- 60
“It's hard to explain, but this ridiculous and technically backward game has something special, something that allows you to fall in love with a fictitious world. However, in order to make sure that you can enjoy this game, you should pass a simple love test for Risen. Are you ready to go to the past? Then at your own risk take a step forward.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“It is impossible to stay neutral about ELEX. You either love it or hate it. And if you love Gothic series, it will definitely be the first option.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“ELEX is a hilarious RPG game that announced a great comeback of Piranha Bytes developers. It is a classic honest-to-goodness RPG that offers well-functioning gameplay mechanics along with a diverse array of enemies, items and a world to explore. The side quests are also very well thought out and are not just an annoying element in the game, as with some competing titles in this genre. Unfortunately, the game still suffers from some ailments, but despite this, it is still a quality RPG that will definitely entertain, repeatedly, as the replayability is very decent for this title.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Elex is not an accessible game and doesn’t make a great first impression but it deserves more than one chance. Fans of Piranha Games should prepare themselves for more of what they love (but they must accept a strange fantasy & sci-fi mix). The final grade could have been higher if it weren't for too many technical issues.”
read full review ↗ - 71
“Piranha Bytes sticks to what they know best, providing another distinctly Gothic-like RPG, for better and worse.”
read full review ↗ - 60
“What we are looking here is one hell of a hardcore, post-apocalyptic, larger-than-life, sandbox RPG gem - a gem that's very rough around the edges, but a gem nonetheless. Unfortunately, it's currently inside the bowels of a large, sluggish, and sickeningly smelly beast: its battle system. Therefore, unless ELEX gets an extremely strong patch treatment, think a lot before a purchase.”
read full review ↗ - 40
“Whether it's that unmistakable Euro-jank charm or its commitment to providing a surprisingly robust role-playing experience, ELEX definitely has something going for it, it's just that most players will likely never make it far enough to find out what that something is. Piranha Byte's latest has ambition, but barely any of it is realised. As far as B-tier games go, this criticism is nothing new, but when so many amazing action RPGs are already available on PS4, you can't be blamed for ignoring this seriously shoddy release.”
read full review ↗ - 65
“Elex is a game that I like on a core and fundamental level.”
read full review ↗ - 50
“Elex is a fascinating attempt to blend the likes of an open world RPG with the ideas that so brilliantly make the Soul’s series combat what it is. Shot down from the sky by one of his own, Jax sets out for revenge with nothing more than a bent pipe in the post meteor struck world of Magalan.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Hokey, uneven and janky, Elex is nonetheless a compelling throwback to a time before open worlds became choose your own to-do lists.”
read full review ↗ - 40
“Elex is an open-world RPG that aims big, but only manages to shoot itself in the foot.”
read full review ↗ - 30
“ELEX is a broken, messy game that might have some interesting ideas deep down but they won't save it. Honestly you are better of avoiding or waiting for the developers to maybe save this title.”
read full review ↗
GameMAG
3DNews
Gaming Professors
GRYOnline.pl
Nexus Hub
Cubed3
Push Square
ZTGD
Chalgyr's Game Room
Eurogamer
GameSpot
GameGrin…and 56 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- ELEX Version 1.0.2946.0 - Game & Quest Fixes + New Difficulty SettingDec 20, 2017significant · resets scoring window
- ELEX Version 1.0.2946.0 - Game & Quest Fixes + New Difficulty SettingDec 20, 2017significant · resets scoring window
- ELEX Version 1.0.2846.0 live nowOct 27, 2017
- ELEX Version 1.0.2846.0 live nowOct 27, 2017significant · resets scoring window