ELEX similar games & best alternatives

ELEX

PlayStation 4, PC (Microsoft Windows), Xbox One • 2017

Should you play it?

ELEX is a handcrafted action role-playing experience from the award-winning creators of the Gothic series, set in a brand new post-apocalyptic Science Fantasy universe that puts players into a huge seamless game world full of original characters, mutated creatures, deep moral choices and powerful action.

What works
  • Rich open world and lore
  • Meaningful player choices and faction systems
  • Challenging and rewarding combat progression
  • Immersive companions with personal quests
  • Long playtime and high replayability
Things to keep in mind
  • Clunky and punishing early combat
  • Some bugs and technical issues
  • Steep learning curve
  • Limited character customization (no gender choice)
  • Ui and map could be improved

What to play next

Similar games, hidden gems, and fresh directions from this game.

Top picks

Games that feel the closest overall

  • Dying Light: The Beast

  • The Outer Worlds 2

  • CODE VEIN

  • Dragon's Dogma: Dark Arisen

  • The Last Hero of Nostalgaia

  • A Plague Tale: Requiem

  • Death Road to Canada

  • Ys X: Nordics

  • Baldur's Gate II: Enhanced Edition

Hidden Gems

Less popular games with surprisingly high similarity

  • Ys X: Nordics

  • Perennial Order

  • Forsaken Frontiers

If you liked…

Recommendations by what you enjoyed most

  • Exploration

    Sacred 2 Gold

  • Progression

    Risen 3 - Titan Lords

  • Story

    ELEX II

Similarity map

Explore nearby similar games and see why they’re close.

How to use the graph
Similarity map

Each dot is a game. They are arranged from the same motivation profile as in the “Why this game works” section below. Closer dots usually mean more similar reasons to play (exploration, competition, relaxation, etc.)—not that one game is “better” than another.

  • Purple star: this page’s game — everything on the map is relative to it.
  • Coloured chips: click to highlight games that mainly differ on that motivation; click again to reset.
  • Dotted line: link between this page’s game and the one selected for comparison.
  • Hover a dot for a screenshot preview, score, and top score gaps; click to compare in the panel on the right.
  • Scroll or double-click the chart to zoom out and see more games.

Why don’t the axes read like a score? This view uses t-SNE: it only keeps who is close to whom. The scales are not “good to bad” or hours played—they separate groups on the map. Read distance between dots, not the axis numbers (hidden on purpose).

ELEX: A very typical example of its motivational profile. Motivations that often define this kind of title include Cooperation, Fellowship, Intimacy, Leadership. Here, the score leans higher than usual among comparable games on Story, Violence. It leans lower than usual among comparable games on Relaxation.

Why this game works

A motivational profile of the game, with the closest similar game for each player motivation.

  • Autonomy

    Game with the same Autonomy vibe

    4

    "Players have freedom to choose factions, quests, and play styles including rebellion, trading, or conquest."

    Capsule for Mount & Blade: With Fire & Sword Mount & Blade: With Fire & Sword

    "Players have freedom to choose factions, quests, and play styles; no hand-holding or forced linearity"

  • Competence

    Game with the same Competence vibe

    3

    "Combat is challenging especially early on and requires timing and skill development; progression involves learning new abilities and managing resources."

    Capsule for Risen 2: Dark Waters Risen 2: Dark Waters

    "High skill and strategy needed especially early on; combat is challenging and requires mastery"

  • Competition

    Game with the same Competition vibe

    -4

    "Focus is on personal progression and exploration without mention of PvP or leaderboards."

    Capsule for Cathedral Cathedral

    "Focus is on personal progression and exploration; no mention of PvP or leaderboards"

  • Continuation

    Game with the same Continuation vibe

    4

    "Players report long play sessions, repeated attempts, and high engagement despite difficulty and frustration."

    Capsule for HighFleet HighFleet

    "Many players report long playtimes and high engagement despite initial difficulty"

  • Cooperation

    Game with the same Cooperation vibe

    2

    "Companions accompany players and contribute to combat and story, but multiplayer or cooperative play is absent."

    Capsule for The Outer Worlds The Outer Worlds

    "Companions with their own quests and interactions support player but no multiplayer"

  • Creativity

    Game with the same Creativity vibe

    3

    "Players can customize characters extensively, craft and upgrade weapons, and choose different approaches to quests."

    Capsule for Encased: A Sci-Fi Post-Apocalyptic RPG Encased: A Sci-Fi Post-Apocalyptic RPG

    "Players can customize character builds, weapons, and approach quests in multiple ways"

  • Domination

    Game with the same Domination vibe

    -3

    "Interactions emphasize balanced faction relationships and consequences rather than exerting control or superiority over others."

    Capsule for Brigand: Oaxaca Brigand: Oaxaca

    "Interactions emphasize faction choices and consequences rather than dominance over others"

  • Escapism

    Game with the same Escapism vibe

    4

    "Immersive story and world provide strong escape from reality"

    Capsule for fault - milestone one fault - milestone one

    "Immersive world and story provide strong escape from real life"

  • Expectation

    Game with the same Expectation vibe

    -4

    "Players engage voluntarily for enjoyment and exploration, not out of obligation"

    Capsule for Survival: Fountain of Youth Survival: Fountain of Youth

    "Players engage voluntarily for intrinsic interest and exploration, not obligation"

  • Experimenting

    Game with the same Experimenting vibe

    3

    "Players try different factions, army builds, and strategies, with modes encouraging experimentation."

    Capsule for Brigandine The Legend of Runersia Brigandine The Legend of Runersia

    "Players encouraged to try different factions, skills, and combat tactics"

  • Exploration

    Game with the same Exploration vibe

    5

    "Huge seamless open world with many biomes, hidden areas, and secrets to discover."

    Capsule for Sacred 2 Gold Sacred 2 Gold

    "Large handcrafted open world with many secrets and varied biomes to discover"

  • Expression

    Game with the same Expression vibe

    3

    "Character skill builds and faction choices allow personal expression within the game’s systems."

    Capsule for Gothic II: Gold Edition Gothic II: Gold Edition

    "Character builds, faction choices, and companion relationships allow personal expression"

  • Fantasy

    Game with the same Fantasy vibe

    4

    "Set in a post-apocalyptic sci-fi world with supernatural elements and imaginative fiction; strong narrative fantasy themes."

    Capsule for DEATH STRANDING DIRECTOR'S CUT DEATH STRANDING DIRECTOR'S CUT

    "Mix of sci-fi, fantasy, and post-apocalyptic fiction with imaginative lore"

  • Fellowship

    Game with the same Fellowship vibe

    1

    "Some social elements through companions and factions, but mostly single-player experience"

    Capsule for ELEX II ELEX II

    "Some social interaction with companions and factions, but primarily single-player"

  • Growth

    Game with the same Growth vibe

    4

    "Character development, skill acquisition, and learning game systems are important motivations."

    Capsule for Archmage Rises Archmage Rises

    "Strong emphasis on character development, skill acquisition, and learning game systems"

  • Health

    Game with the same Health vibe

    -4

    "Typical sedentary gameplay with no physical activity; long sessions reported."

    Capsule for Nine Parchments Nine Parchments

    "Sedentary gameplay with no physical activity; long sessions reported"

  • Idle

    Game with the same Idle vibe

    -4

    "Requires sustained attention and focus; not designed for casual or background play."

    Capsule for Zero Escape: Zero Time Dilemma Zero Escape: Zero Time Dilemma

    "Requires sustained attention and focus; not casual or background play"

  • Intimacy

    Game with the same Intimacy vibe

    2

    "Companions have personalities and some romance options; relationships are present but not deeply emotional or intimate."

    Capsule for Expeditions: Viking Expeditions: Viking

    "Companions have personal quests and relationships, including romance options"

  • Leadership

    Game with the same Leadership vibe

    1

    "Player leads companions and factions to some extent but mostly in a collaborative rather than authoritative role"

    Capsule for ELEX II ELEX II

    "Player leads companions and influences factions but no multiplayer leadership"

  • Progression

    Game with the same Progression vibe

    5

    "Strong progression through quests, skill upgrades, equipment, and faction ranks."

    Capsule for Risen 3 - Titan Lords Risen 3 - Titan Lords

    "Strong progression through leveling, gear upgrades, faction ranks, and skills"

  • Relaxation

    Game with the same Relaxation vibe

    -2

    "Early game is stressful and punishing; requires patience and persistence rather than relaxation."

    Capsule for Gothic 1 Gothic 1

    "Early game is stressful and punishing; later game more satisfying but still challenging"

  • Sensation

    Game with the same Sensation vibe

    2

    "Visual and auditory atmosphere creates emotional engagement and sensory immersion."

    Capsule for Deer Man Deer Man

    "Visual and auditory elements contribute to immersion and emotional engagement"

  • Status

    Game with the same Status vibe

    -3

    "No social status or leaderboard systems; focus on individual story and achievements"

    Capsule for Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition Sleeping Dogs: Definitive Edition

    "No social status or leaderboards; focus on individual story and progression"

  • Story

    Game with the same Story vibe

    5

    "Complex narrative with character development, faction politics, and meaningful choices"

    Capsule for ELEX II ELEX II

    "Rich narrative with faction conflicts, character development, and meaningful choices"

  • Strategy

    Game with the same Strategy vibe

    4

    "Combat and quest solving require tactical thinking, timing, and planning."

    Capsule for Drova - Forsaken Kin Drova - Forsaken Kin

    "Combat and quest approaches require planning, timing, and tactical thinking"

  • Thrill

    Game with the same Thrill vibe

    3

    "High difficulty and risk of losing progress create tension and excitement."

    Capsule for Bleak Sword DX Bleak Sword DX

    "High difficulty and risk create tension and excitement, especially early on"

  • Value

    Game with the same Value vibe

    4

    "Long playtime and rich content provide good value for time and money invested."

    Capsule for Labyrinth of Galleria: The Moon Society Labyrinth of Galleria: The Moon Society

    "Long playtime and rich content provide good value for money"

  • Violence

    Game with the same Violence vibe

    4

    "Combat involves fighting and destroying enemies with various attacks and weapons."

    Capsule for UFO ROBOT GRENDIZER – The Feast of the Wolves UFO ROBOT GRENDIZER – The Feast of the Wolves

    "Combat involves fighting and destruction of enemies with various weapons"

  • Survival

    Game with the same Survival vibe

    4

    "Resource management and survival against threats are important gameplay aspects."

    Capsule for Prey Prey

    "Early game emphasizes survival against powerful enemies and resource management"

Last update: 01/06/2026