ELEX II

Lore & Background

ELEX II is set in a post-apocalyptic, science fantasy world where players control Jax, the same protagonist from the first game. The story revolves around uniting six factions, each representing a different philosophy, against techno-organic alien invaders. The substance elex, originating from outer space, grants powers equivalent to magic, and factions vary in their preference for magic or technology.

Gameplay is from a third-person perspective and features a stamina-based combat system where actions like attacking or defending drain stamina; without sufficient stamina, Jax cannot attack or defend. A jetpack allows exploration of the open world, and leveling up increases attributes, enabling the use of better equipment. The game was released on March 1, 2022, for multiple platforms using Piranha Bytes' proprietary Genome Engine.

Reader's Guide

ELEX II holds significance as the final game developed by Piranha Bytes before the studio's closure, marking the end of an era for the German developer known for the Gothic and Risen series. The game received mixed reviews on Metacritic, with critics noting its clunky and janky nature but also finding it compelling. Rock Paper Shotgun compared it unfavorably to earlier Piranha Bytes titles, citing unappealing and mean-spirited characters. IGN criticized the game for feeling stuck in the mid-2000s, with clunky combat and B-movie dialogue. RPGSite called it a poorly implemented retread, recommending it only to die-hard ELEX fans, while RPGFan described it as entertaining in all the wrong ways and merely more of the same. Despite the critical reception, ELEX II was among the top three best-selling games released in 2022 on GOG.com, indicating a niche but dedicated audience. Its legacy is tied to Piranha Bytes' distinctive design philosophy, which persisted despite technical and narrative shortcomings.

Did You Know?

• ELEX II was Piranha Bytes' last game released before the studio later closed.
• Combat uses a stamina system where attacking or defending drain stamina.

Gameplay & World Design

In ELEX II, players step into the boots of Jax, a survivor navigating a post-apocalyptic world where science and fantasy collide. The game unfolds from a third-person perspective, blending action and role-playing mechanics into a single seamless experience. The world is fractured among six distinct factions, each holding a unique philosophical stance on how humanity should rebuild. Central to this conflict is elex, a mysterious substance of extraterrestrial origin that grants its wielders abilities comparable to magic. Depending on which faction a player sides with, they lean toward either arcane power or technological advancement. Combat in ELEX II revolves around a stamina-based system: every swing, block, or defensive maneuver drains Jax's finite energy pool, and once it runs dry, he is left completely vulnerable. Exploration is elevated by a jetpack that lets players traverse the open world with vertical freedom. As Jax levels up, his attributes grow, unlocking access to superior gear and equipment. The overarching threat binding the narrative together is an invasion by techno-organic aliens, forcing the warring factions to set aside their differences and unite under Jax's leadership.

Development & the Final Chapter for Piranha Bytes

ELEX II was crafted by Piranha Bytes, the studio behind the Gothic and Risen series, using their in-house proprietary Genome Engine. The title was published by THQ Nordic and launched on March 1, 2022, arriving simultaneously on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Windows PC. This multi-platform rollout ensured the game reached a broad audience across both current and previous-generation consoles as well as desktop systems. What makes this project particularly poignant in the broader context of the studio's history is that it represented Piranha Bytes' final game before the company's closure. For a team that had built its identity around gritty, character-driven action RPGs spanning well over a decade, ELEX II served as both a capstone and a farewell. The game carried the weight of being the last creative output from a developer whose work had defined a particular niche in European role-playing games. Its development thus took on an added layer of significance for fans who had followed the studio since the early Gothic titles, knowing that no further Piranha Bytes original would follow.

Critical Reception & the Debate Over Familiarity

ELEX II landed on Metacritic with a decidedly mixed reception, and the critical conversation largely centered on whether the game's adherence to a familiar formula was a strength or a liability. Rock Paper Shotgun acknowledged the title as compelling despite its clunkiness, noting that Piranha Bytes was still producing games with the same structural issues seen in the Gothic and Risen series. While they found those flaws forgivable given the studio's identity, they expressed genuine discomfort with the writing, describing every character—including Jax himself—as cold and unpleasant to engage with. IGN took a sharper stance, arguing the game felt frozen in the mid-2000s and had effectively ignored every design innovation that had emerged in the RPG space since Gothic 3. Their review singled out dialogue that read like a low-budget B-movie and a combat system they described as imprecise and frustrating. RPGSite was perhaps the harshest, labeling ELEX II a poorly executed retread and recommending it only to the most devoted fans of the original. RPGFan echoed this sentiment, calling the sequel enjoyable in the most ironic sense and ultimately offering little that felt new or different.

Series Context & Commercial Performance

As the direct sequel to the 2017 original ELEX, the second installment returns players to the same protagonist, Jax, continuing his story in a world now threatened by a new and far more dangerous adversary. The narrative premise builds on the foundation laid by its predecessor: a fractured, post-apocalyptic landscape where humanity must rally against an extraterrestrial incursion. By retaining the same central character, the game creates a sense of continuity and personal stakes that distinguishes it from a fresh start. Despite the mixed critical consensus, ELEX II found a solid commercial foothold. On the digital distribution platform GOG.com, the title ranked among the top three best-selling games released in 2022. This achievement is notable given the game's polarizing reception and the fact that it was developed by a studio that would soon cease operations. For the dedicated community that had followed Piranha Bytes through Gothic, Risen, and the first ELEX, the strong sales figures on GOG suggested that the studio's loyal fanbase remained willing to support their work even as the broader critical establishment was less forgiving. The game thus stands as both a commercial success within its niche and a bittersweet final entry from its creators.