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) | – | 66 | 72 |
| Creator reviews (1 tracked) | – | 97 | 1 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 73% | 69 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | – | 0 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 57% | 57 | 9 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 27 reviews sampled · 23 total reviews in window · weighted 12.1 up / 9.2 down · computed 2h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (79)
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.
- 50
“There are lots of problems, and yet Elex II will hold your attention with a tight grip, even after 60 hours of playtime. All thanks to the crazy setting, worldbuilding, and exploration gameplay.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Elex 2 is basically a typical Piranha Bytes game with everything that comes with it. The good and the bad. And while it's probably technically inferior to the first one, it's much better in storytelling, content, mechanics, and world-building. It has all the things that were missing from the first game. It's fun, it draws you into its magical world, and it won't let you go until dozens of hours later if you give it a chance. But that can be problematic, as the game's technical state, weird 3D models, animations, and crappy optimization can effectively put you off in the first hour of play. Ultimately, it's just fun. But at what cost?”
read full review ↗ - 70
“The usual strengths of Piranha Bytes games are downed by archaic mechanics.”
read full review ↗ - 75
“Elex 2 is undoubtedly a pleasant surprise that skillfully builds on its predecessor. The story itself and its subsequent impact on the world, the old factions, and the characters are truly well-done; they feel believable and solid. The gameplay is enjoyable, and the game simply draws you in, making you want to keep going and complete various tasks, explore the world, craft gear, negotiate with factions, and take down enemies. It’s clear that the developers have learned from their previous mistakes and are striving to improve the open-world RPG style they’re so familiar with. While there are still a few bugs, they aren’t anything so extreme that they would significantly spoil the experience or dampen the desire to play.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“Elex 2 is another proof that "Piranhas" can create excellent open worlds that are pleasant to explore.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“While ELEX II’s core gameplay could be dismissed as traditional or dated, the way all the elements of the world interact with you and one another is what creates the magic.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“ELEX II is a massive improvement over its predecessor, though its dated graphics and awkward combat can drive players away before they get a chance to truly explore the vast world of Magalan.”
read full review ↗ - 84
“Those expecting a well-polished AAA RPG experience with the highest possible production values will probably have to lower their expectations. For Piranha Bytes fans, however, ELEX II is exactly what they would want it, and expect it, to be.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“A great improvement over the previous game with a vast open-world and better gameplay, but it still comes with a steep learning curve.”
read full review ↗ - 65
“While there's plenty to applaud in ELEX II's freeform open-world approach, it comes at something of a cost. Technical issues, inconsistent dialogue quality, and some wonky combat do much to muddy the good that can be found in Piranha Bytes expansive RPG.”
read full review ↗ - 77
“Elex 2 is another example of Piranha Bytes sticking to their guns and making an open-world RPG designed specifically for their core audience. Fans of the studio's previous work will have a field day with this one but everyone else might find it hard to get past the jankiness and technical issues.”
read full review ↗ - 65
“Elex II is a particular game, to say the least. If you were a fan of the initial game, you're going to like this one. But if you didn't play it, you could have an unsatisfactory experience. The idea of a minimalist HUD is striking, an open world that you must explore to discover its secrets, difficulty in combat. But there are many things that do not become satisfactory, the main one being combat. Elex II does not manage to get out of that feeling that you are playing a retro game, having launched in the middle of 2022.”
read full review ↗
GameMAG
INDIANTVCZ
3DNews
Gaming Professors
GRYOnline.pl
Nexus Hub
Gaming on PC
Capsule Computers
GameWatcher
BossLevelGamer
SomosXbox…and 67 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Patch 4 NotesApr 28, 2022significant · resets scoring window
- Elex II patch 3!Mar 22, 2022
- Patch 3 notesMar 22, 2022
- Patch 2 for Elex IIMar 11, 2022
- Patch Notes - Patch 2Mar 11, 2022
- Elex II Patch 1!Mar 8, 2022
- Patch NotesMar 8, 2022