ELEX

ELEX on PC is a third-person science-fantasy action RPG from Piranha Bytes, the studio behind Gothic, and publisher THQ Nordic. The current Steam, Epic Games Store, and GOG listings still use the name ELEX; there is no verified rebrand or definitive-edition replacement. Its appeal comes from a seamless world, harsh combat, faction politics, and a jetpack that changes how you explore Magalan.

ELEX is also separate from ELEX II, which is the later sequel rather than a renamed edition of the original game. The first game remains a single-player RPG with its own campaign, progression systems, and faction choices.

Explore Magalan from a third-person view

You play as Jax, an ex-Alb commander cast out into a world shaped by the impact of a mysterious resource. Magalan combines ruined cities, industrial settlements, radioactive wastelands, frozen regions, forests, and fantasy-inspired communities. The setting deliberately mixes science fiction, post-apocalyptic survival, magic, and medieval role-playing traditions.

The defining exploration feature is the jetpack. It lets Jax reach elevated platforms, cross gaps, escape dangerous fights, and approach locations from unexpected angles. The jetpack is not a separate flying mode; it is a traversal tool that works alongside jumping, climbing, stealth, and ordinary movement. This vertical freedom makes rooftops, cliffs, ruins, and hidden paths important parts of the world rather than background scenery.

ELEX does not use a constant stream of level-scaled encounters to make every location equally safe. Some creatures and hostile groups can overpower Jax early on, so progress often involves scouting, retreating, recruiting help, improving equipment, and returning later. That deliberate friction is central to the game’s old-school RPG design.

Combat, attributes, and character building

Combat takes place in real time and supports melee weapons, ranged weapons, grenades, and faction-specific abilities. Melee attacks are linked through timing and stamina management, so repeatedly pressing the attack button is rarely enough against stronger enemies. Positioning, enemy attack patterns, dodging, blocking, and choosing suitable targets matter more than simply having a higher level.

Jax improves through attributes, learned abilities, equipment, and faction training. Trainers teach skills from categories such as combat, survival, crafting, personality, and faction specialties. Attributes also influence whether Jax can use particular weapons, armor, and abilities, making early character planning useful without forcing a rigid class system.

The Coldness system gives dialogue and role-playing choices a mechanical identity. Jax can become more emotionally detached or more connected to human motives depending on actions and conversation decisions. This is not a simple good-versus-evil meter. It reflects the conflict between cold logic, personal feeling, obedience, and independence that runs through the setting.

Crafting supports weapon upgrades, ammunition, potions, food, and other useful items. Elex potions can provide valuable progression benefits, but the resource also ties into the game’s themes and character development. Players who spend freely should consider both immediate power and the longer-term consequences of their choices.

Three factions, different identities

After exploring the early settlements, Jax can work toward joining one of three major factions: the Berserkers, the Clerics, or the Outlaws. The hostile Albs remain a major force in the world, but they are not presented as one of the ordinary faction paths available to Jax.

The Berserkers reject advanced technology and use Mana-based magic while trying to restore the planet’s natural balance. The Clerics combine strict religious doctrine with advanced technology and firearms. The Outlaws live by pragmatic rules in the desert, relying on improvised gear, explosives, and a more permissive attitude toward crime and profit.

Faction selection affects equipment, trainers, abilities, dialogue, relationships, and the way different communities respond to Jax. You can complete work for multiple groups before committing, but joining one faction changes the available path and can close off certain opportunities. The strongest faction design is not about choosing an obvious heroic side; each group has useful ideas, serious flaws, and internal conflicts.

Companions add another layer to the decision-making. Jax can recruit allies, travel with one companion at a time, and complete companion-related quests. Their reactions to Jax’s conduct can influence approval, so dialogue choices and faction behavior are not isolated from party relationships.

Content model and storefront editions

The standard PC game contains the complete single-player ELEX campaign. Current storefront listings also show ELEX Digital Extras as separate bonus content rather than a gameplay expansion. The extras consist of an artbook, soundtrack material, and making-of content, not new quests, factions, areas, or playable systems.

There is no verified season pass, live-service structure, or catalog of paid gameplay expansions for the original game. Players choosing between storefront versions should mainly compare platform conveniences, pricing, controller support, language availability, and DRM policy rather than look for a large edition hierarchy.

The GOG version is listed as DRM-free and can be installed without requiring GOG Galaxy. Steam and Epic provide their own platform features, while the underlying game remains a single-player experience with the same core content.

Who ELEX suits on PC

ELEX is a strong match for players who want open-world exploration, faction commitment, difficult early encounters, and quests that allow several approaches. It rewards curiosity and patience more than constant forward momentum. Exploring a suspicious ruin or talking to an unfriendly settlement can be as important as winning the next fight.

It is less suitable for players expecting polished action combat, generous early power, or a tightly guided cinematic campaign. The interface can be opaque, some animations feel rough, and the difficulty curve is deliberately uneven. The game expects you to read descriptions, learn enemy behavior, make manual decisions, and accept that running away is often the correct tactical move.

Players who enjoy a demanding fantasy survival RPG with meaningful preparation may also appreciate survival-focused open-world role-playing like Outward, although Outward places more emphasis on survival management and cooperative play than ELEX does.

PC controls, language, and platform features

The PC version supports keyboard and mouse controls as well as a game controller. The control scheme covers melee attacks, ranged weapons, jetpack movement, dodging, interaction, inventory management, and quick access to equipment. Controller support is particularly useful for players who prefer the game’s third-person movement and combat rhythm.

Steam lists single-player, achievements, Steam Cloud, Steam Trading Cards, Family Sharing, and Remote Play on TV. There is no online multiplayer or co-op mode, so ELEX does not require competitive matchmaking or a multiplayer anti-cheat system.

Language support varies by storefront, but the PC listings document English and German full audio, with additional interface and subtitle languages including French, Italian, Spanish, Polish, Russian, Czech, and Simplified Chinese. Players should check the selected storefront’s language panel because audio and text coverage are not identical for every language.

Where ELEX fits among PC RPGs

ELEX occupies an unusual position between traditional Gothic-style role-playing, post-apocalyptic exploration, and action combat. It has the freedom of a large open world, but its settlements, trainers, faction rules, and quest outcomes are closer to a classic European RPG than to a modern checklist-driven sandbox.

Its faction consequences and morally complicated choices can appeal to players who enjoy choice-driven third-person open-world RPGs such as The Witcher 3, while its smaller-scale systems and rougher combat create a more demanding, less streamlined experience. For a harsher first-person alternative built around exploration and survival pressure, dark open-world RPGs like Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon share some of ELEX’s interest in dangerous environments and consequential decisions.

ELEX FAQ

Is ELEX still called ELEX on PC storefronts?

Yes. The current Steam, Epic Games Store, and GOG listings use ELEX. It has not been verified as renamed to ELEX Classic, ELEX Definitive Edition, or another replacement title. ELEX II is the sequel, not a rebrand of the original.

Is ELEX a multiplayer or co-op game?

No. ELEX is a single-player action RPG. Companions can travel with Jax, but they are computer-controlled characters rather than online or local co-op partners.

Which faction should a new player choose?

There is no universally correct faction. The Berserkers suit players interested in Mana and nature-focused fantasy, the Clerics emphasize technology and firearms, and the Outlaws support a desert survival identity with explosives and pragmatic rules. Complete introductory work for each group before committing if you want to compare their values and equipment.

Does ELEX have a jetpack?

Yes. The jetpack is available early and becomes one of the game’s most important systems. It supports vertical exploration, short-distance traversal, emergency escapes, and access to routes that are difficult or impossible to reach through normal movement alone.

Does ELEX include gameplay DLC?

The storefronts list ELEX Digital Extras, which contains bonus media rather than new gameplay. The base game provides the main campaign, factions, companions, exploration, crafting, and progression systems without requiring a gameplay expansion catalog.

Is ELEX suitable for players who prefer easy action combat?

Usually not. The opening hours can be punishing, and enemies may remain dangerous until Jax has better attributes, equipment, abilities, and support. Players who prefer deliberate combat, tactical retreats, and gradual character growth will get more from ELEX than players looking for immediate power.