IMHO.

Games like ELEX

If ELEX is your kind of game, the closest matches are Gothic II: Gold Edition, Sword Hero and Risen 3 - Titan Lords — picked from the ranked list below. Reviewers single out its atmospheric, contemplative and dark. Each pick is ranked by what players of this game also play, shared genres and tags, and review-mined similarity — not a generic popularity list.

Get personalized picks →

ELEX is a 2017 action role-playing game developed by Piranha Bytes that blends post-apocalyptic science fiction with fantasy elements in a vast open world. Players navigate faction politics, make deep moral choices, and manage resources while engaging in stat-based combat that rewards strategic thinking. Reviewers note that the jetpack adds unique vertical movement to exploration, and players describe the experience as atmospheric, immersive, and contemplative with dark undertones. The writing and worldbuilding feel handcrafted, with faction systems weaving together fantasy, sci-fi, and post-apocalyptic themes seamlessly. Players highlight that exploration feels organic and rewarding, and the jetpack adds unique vertical movement to the massive open world. The game offers a substantial experience with base-building mechanics, running in a playable state on Steam Deck at $29.99, with approximately 68% positive reviews from over 5,000 Steam players.

About ELEX: 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.

2017ActionAdventureRPG29.99 USDDeck PlayableMetacritic 67Windowsby Piranha Bytes
ELEX — Steam game cover
Players highlight
Consequences for faction choices and moral decisionsExploration feels organic and rewardingFactions blend fantasy sci fi and post apocalyptic themes seamlesslyAtmosphericContemplativeDark

Players who liked ELEX also play

Steam players who put hours into ELEX also tend to own these titles — a signal called collaborative filtering. imho.run cross-references millions of library ownership patterns to surface games whose real audiences overlap, regardless of whether their genre tags match.

  1. Gothic II: Gold Edition

    WHY THIS

    Shares faction politics and an atmospheric mood with ELEX.

    Top pick for ELEX fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares Action and RPG with ELEX.

    Gothic II: Gold Edition brings together the excitement of Gothic II and the add-on Night of the Raven to your fingertips!

    2005ActionRPG19.99 USDSteam ↗
  2. Sword Hero

    WHY THIS

    Second-strongest match for ELEX fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares Action and RPG with ELEX.

    A truly interactive open-world RPG, packed with dozens of dynamic systems like NPCs with Daily Routines and memory system, Crime and Reputation, a limb-based Directional Combat system and many more. Become a well-known Hero, a feared Villain or anything in-between.

    ActionIndieRPGSteam ↗
  3. Risen 3 - Titan Lords

    WHY THIS

    Shares an atmospheric mood with ELEX.

    Third-strongest match for ELEX fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares RPG with ELEX.

    The world has been abandoned by its gods and is scarred from the rampage of the Titans. Humanity is struggling to regain strength. You, however, have more pressing concerns: your own life has been shattered and you must set off to reclaim what is lost amidst the darkness spreading throughout the world.

    2014RPG14.99 USDDeck PlayableSteam ↗
  4. Risen

    WHY THIS

    Shares faction politics and an atmospheric mood with ELEX.

    Ranked #4 for ELEX fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares RPG with ELEX.

    Delve into a gritty, raw and atmospheric fantasy world in which every action has a consequence. In the epic world of Risen, filled with mysterious earthquakes, fearsome monsters and unimaginable treasures, forge your path with the sword, learn the art of staff fighting or become a powerful mage.

    2009RPG14.99 USDDeck PlayableSteam ↗
  5. Gothic® 3

    WHY THIS

    Shares a dark mood with ELEX.

    Ranked #5 for ELEX fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares Action and RPG with ELEX.

    A nameless hero becomes a legend! Myrtana, a world in upheaval: overrun by orcs from the dark lands in the north, King Rhobar is defending Vengard, the former stronghold of the humans, with his last troop of followers.

    2009ActionRPG19.99 USDDeck PlayableSteam ↗
  6. ELEX II

    WHY THIS

    Shares faction politics and an atmospheric mood with ELEX.

    Ranked #6 for ELEX fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares Action and Adventure with ELEX.

    In this sequel to the vintage Open World RPG ELEX, Jax must once again unite the free people of the Science-Fantasy world of Magalan against a new threat - the Skyands, who want to change the face of the planet forever.

    2022ActionAdventureRPG49.99 USDSteam ↗
  7. Terminator: Resistance

    WHY THIS

    Shares an atmospheric mood with ELEX.

    Ranked #7 for ELEX fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares Action and Adventure with ELEX.

    Terminator: Resistance, is a first-person shooter set during the 'Future War' scenario that was only glimpsed at in the iconic films, 'THE TERMINATOR' and 'T2: JUDGMENT DAY'. The machines are destined to lose, but at what cost?

    2019ActionAdventureRPG39.99 USDSteam ↗
  8. Gothic 1

    WHY THIS

    Shares an atmospheric mood with ELEX.

    Ranked #8 for ELEX fans by collaborative filtering across millions of Steam libraries. Shares Action and RPG with ELEX.

    War has been waged across the kingdom of Myrtana. Orcish hordes invaded human territory and the king of the land needed a lot of ore to forge enough weapons, should his army stand against this threat. Whoever breaks the law in these darkest of times is sentenced to serve in the giant penal colony of Khorinis, mining the so much needed...

    2001ActionRPG19.99 USDSteam ↗

Reviewers mention these as similar to ELEX

Surfaced from review text: when other players write 'if you liked X, try Y', we catch the name and resolve it back to a Steam game.

  1. The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt

    WHY THIS

    Shares an atmospheric mood with ELEX.

    Reviewers of ELEX cross-mention this title as a similar play. Shares RPG with ELEX.

    You are Geralt of Rivia, mercenary monster slayer. Before you stands a war-torn, monster-infested continent you can explore at will. Your current contract? Tracking down Ciri — the Child of Prophecy, a living weapon that can alter the shape of the world.

    2015RPG39.99 USDDeck VerifiedSteam ↗
  2. Risen

    WHY THIS

    Shares faction politics and an atmospheric mood with ELEX.

    Reviewers of ELEX cross-mention this title as a similar play. Shares RPG with ELEX.

    Delve into a gritty, raw and atmospheric fantasy world in which every action has a consequence. In the epic world of Risen, filled with mysterious earthquakes, fearsome monsters and unimaginable treasures, forge your path with the sword, learn the art of staff fighting or become a powerful mage.

    2009RPG14.99 USDDeck PlayableSteam ↗
  3. The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind® Game of the Year Edition

    WHY THIS

    Shares an atmospheric mood with ELEX.

    Reviewers of ELEX cross-mention this title as a similar play. Shares RPG with ELEX.

    The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind® Game of the Year Edition includes Morrowind plus all of the content from the Bloodmoon and Tribunal expansions. The original Mod Construction Set is not included in this package. An epic, open-ended single-player RPG, Morrowind allows you to create and play any kind of character imaginable.

    2009RPG14.99 USDDeck PlayableSteam ↗
  4. System Shock

    WHY THIS

    Shares an atmospheric mood with ELEX.

    Reviewers of ELEX cross-mention this title as a similar play. Shares Action and Adventure with ELEX.

    A first-person fight to the death in the depths of space!

    2023ActionAdventure39.99 USDDeck PlayableSteam ↗
  5. Gothic 1

    WHY THIS

    Shares an atmospheric mood with ELEX.

    Reviewers of ELEX cross-mention this title as a similar play. Shares Action and RPG with ELEX.

    War has been waged across the kingdom of Myrtana. Orcish hordes invaded human territory and the king of the land needed a lot of ore to forge enough weapons, should his army stand against this threat. Whoever breaks the law in these darkest of times is sentenced to serve in the giant penal colony of Khorinis, mining the so much needed...

    2001ActionRPG19.99 USDSteam ↗
  6. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim

    WHY THIS

    Shares an immersive mood with ELEX.

    Reviewers of ELEX cross-mention this title as a similar play. Shares RPG with ELEX.

    EPIC FANTASY REBORN The next chapter in the highly anticipated Elder Scrolls saga arrives from the makers of the 2006 and 2008 Games of the Year, Bethesda Game Studios. Skyrim reimagines and revolutionizes the open-world fantasy epic, bringing to life a complete virtual world open for you to explore any way you choose.

    2011RPG19.99 USDDeck PlayableSteam ↗
  7. Kingdom Come: Deliverance

    WHY THIS

    Shares an atmospheric mood with ELEX.

    Reviewers of ELEX cross-mention this title as a similar play. Shares Action and Adventure with ELEX.

    Story-driven open-world RPG that immerses you in an epic adventure in the Holy Roman Empire. Avenge your parents' death as you battle invading forces, go on game-changing quests, and make influential choices. Explore castles, forests, villages and other realistic settings in medieval Bohemia!

    2018ActionAdventureRPG29.99 USDDeck PlayableSteam ↗
  8. DARK SOULS™: REMASTERED

    WHY THIS

    Shares an atmospheric mood with ELEX.

    Reviewers of ELEX cross-mention this title as a similar play. Shares Action with ELEX.

    Then, there was fire. Re-experience the critically acclaimed, genre-defining game that started it all. Beautifully remastered, return to Lordran in stunning high-definition detail running at 60fps.

    2018Action39.99 USDDeck PlayableSteam ↗

Cheaper alternatives

Games in the same vein priced at least 40% below ELEX at current Steam store prices.

  1. Terraria

    WHY THIS

    Priced ~67% under ELEX on Steam right now. Shares Action and Adventure with ELEX.

    Dig, fight, explore, build! Nothing is impossible in this action-packed adventure game. Four Pack also available!

    2011ActionIndieAdventure9.99 USDDeck VerifiedSteam ↗
  2. Stardew Valley

    WHY THIS

    Priced ~50% under ELEX on Steam right now. Shares RPG with ELEX.

    You've inherited your grandfather's old farm plot in Stardew Valley. Armed with hand-me-down tools and a few coins, you set out to begin your new life. Can you learn to live off the land and turn these overgrown fields into a thriving home?

    2016IndieSimulationRPG14.99 USDDeck VerifiedSteam ↗
  3. Lethal Company

    WHY THIS

    Priced ~67% under ELEX on Steam right now. Shares Action and Adventure with ELEX.

    A co-op horror about scavenging at abandoned moons to sell scrap to the Company.

    2023ActionIndieAdventure9.99 USDDeck PlayableSteam ↗
  4. Left 4 Dead 2

    WHY THIS

    Priced ~67% under ELEX on Steam right now. Shares Action with ELEX.

    Set in the zombie apocalypse, Left 4 Dead 2 is a co-operative action horror FPS takes you and your friends through the cities, swamps and cemeteries of the Deep South, from Savannah to New Orleans across five expansive campaigns.

    2009Action9.99 USDDeck VerifiedSteam ↗
  5. Hollow Knight

    WHY THIS

    Priced ~50% under ELEX on Steam right now. Shares Action and Adventure with ELEX.

    Forge your own path in Hollow Knight! An epic action adventure through a vast ruined kingdom of insects and heroes. Explore twisting caverns, battle tainted creatures and befriend bizarre bugs, all in a classic, hand-drawn 2D style.

    2017ActionIndieAdventure14.99 USDDeck VerifiedSteam ↗
  6. People Playground

    WHY THIS

    Priced ~67% under ELEX on Steam right now. Shares Action with ELEX.

    Shoot, stab, burn, poison, tear, vaporise, or crush ragdolls in a large open space.

    2019ActionIndieSimulation9.99 USDDeck PlayableSteam ↗
  7. Portal 2

    WHY THIS

    Priced ~67% under ELEX on Steam right now. Shares Action and Adventure with ELEX.

    The "Perpetual Testing Initiative" has been expanded to allow you to design co-op puzzles for you and your friends!

    2011ActionAdventure9.99 USDDeck VerifiedSteam ↗
  8. Fallout: New Vegas

    WHY THIS

    Priced ~67% under ELEX on Steam right now. Shares Action and RPG with ELEX.

    Welcome to Vegas. New Vegas. Enjoy your stay!

    2010ActionRPG9.99 USDDeck PlayableSteam ↗

Free alternatives

Free-to-play games that recommended players of this title also tend to enjoy.

  1. Doki Doki Literature Club!

    WHY THIS

    Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it.

    The Literature Club is full of cute girls! Will you write the way into their heart? This game is not suitable for children or those who are easily disturbed.

    2017IndieFree To PlayCasualFreeDeck PlayableSteam ↗
  2. Life is Strange - Episode 1

    WHY THIS

    Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it. Shares Action and Adventure with ELEX.

    Episode 1 now FREE! Life is Strange is an award-winning and critically acclaimed episodic adventure game that allows the player to rewind time and affect the past, present and future.

    2015ActionAdventureFreeDeck PlayableSteam ↗
  3. Ultimate Custom Night

    WHY THIS

    Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it. Shares Action with ELEX.

    Welcome to the ultimate FNAF mashup, featuring 50 selectable characters and custom difficulties!

    2018ActionIndieFree To PlayFreeSteam ↗
  4. ENA: Dream BBQ

    WHY THIS

    Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it. Shares Adventure with ELEX.

    Experience surreal environments and inexplicable characters as ENA in a new wild world.

    2025IndieAdventureFreeDeck VerifiedSteam ↗
  5. Indigo Park: Chapter 1

    WHY THIS

    Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it. Shares Action and Adventure with ELEX.

    Explore the abandoned childhood wonder of Indigo Park! Guided by Rambley the Raccoon, help restore power to the destroyed amusement park while you run from the reason it shut down.

    2024ActionIndieAdventureFreeDeck PlayableSteam ↗
  6. The Looker

    WHY THIS

    Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it.

    You wake up, alone, on a strangely familiar island full of puzzles that will frustrate and annoy you.

    2022IndieFreeDeck PlayableSteam ↗
  7. missed messages.

    WHY THIS

    Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it.

    ‘goth gf’s iPhone’ airdrops you - accept or decline? A love/horror story about life, death, & memes.

    2019IndieSimulationFree To PlayFreeDeck PlayableSteam ↗
  8. NGU IDLE

    WHY THIS

    Free-to-play pick from the same recommendation pool — no purchase to try it. Shares Adventure with ELEX.

    NGU Idle is a Free To Play Idle game that's full of weird humor, tons of upgrades and hundreds of hours of content! Try out NGU Idle today and experience the joy of Numbers Going Up!

    2019IndieAdventureSimulationFreeDeck PlayableSteam ↗

More from Piranha Bytes

Other recommendable Steam games by Piranha Bytes, ranked by review count so the studio's hits land first.

  1. Gothic 1

    WHY THIS

    Shares an atmospheric mood with ELEX.

    Another title from Piranha Bytes, the studio behind ELEX. Shares Action and RPG with ELEX.

    War has been waged across the kingdom of Myrtana. Orcish hordes invaded human territory and the king of the land needed a lot of ore to forge enough weapons, should his army stand against this threat. Whoever breaks the law in these darkest of times is sentenced to serve in the giant penal colony of Khorinis, mining the so much needed...

    2001ActionRPG19.99 USDSteam ↗
  2. Gothic II: Gold Edition

    WHY THIS

    Shares faction politics and an atmospheric mood with ELEX.

    Another title from Piranha Bytes, the studio behind ELEX. Shares Action and RPG with ELEX.

    Gothic II: Gold Edition brings together the excitement of Gothic II and the add-on Night of the Raven to your fingertips!

    2005ActionRPG19.99 USDSteam ↗
  3. Gothic® 3

    WHY THIS

    Shares a dark mood with ELEX.

    Another title from Piranha Bytes, the studio behind ELEX. Shares Action and RPG with ELEX.

    A nameless hero becomes a legend! Myrtana, a world in upheaval: overrun by orcs from the dark lands in the north, King Rhobar is defending Vengard, the former stronghold of the humans, with his last troop of followers.

    2009ActionRPG19.99 USDDeck PlayableSteam ↗
  4. Risen

    WHY THIS

    Shares faction politics and an atmospheric mood with ELEX.

    Another title from Piranha Bytes, the studio behind ELEX. Shares RPG with ELEX.

    Delve into a gritty, raw and atmospheric fantasy world in which every action has a consequence. In the epic world of Risen, filled with mysterious earthquakes, fearsome monsters and unimaginable treasures, forge your path with the sword, learn the art of staff fighting or become a powerful mage.

    2009RPG14.99 USDDeck PlayableSteam ↗
  5. Risen 3 - Titan Lords

    WHY THIS

    Shares an atmospheric mood with ELEX.

    Another title from Piranha Bytes, the studio behind ELEX. Shares RPG with ELEX.

    The world has been abandoned by its gods and is scarred from the rampage of the Titans. Humanity is struggling to regain strength. You, however, have more pressing concerns: your own life has been shattered and you must set off to reclaim what is lost amidst the darkness spreading throughout the world.

    2014RPG14.99 USDDeck PlayableSteam ↗
  6. ELEX II

    WHY THIS

    Shares faction politics and an atmospheric mood with ELEX.

    Another title from Piranha Bytes, the studio behind ELEX. Shares Action and Adventure with ELEX.

    In this sequel to the vintage Open World RPG ELEX, Jax must once again unite the free people of the Science-Fantasy world of Magalan against a new threat - the Skyands, who want to change the face of the planet forever.

    2022ActionAdventureRPG49.99 USDSteam ↗
  7. Risen 2: Dark Waters

    WHY THIS

    Shares an atmospheric mood with ELEX.

    Another title from Piranha Bytes, the studio behind ELEX. Shares RPG with ELEX.

    Set several years after the end of Risen, raging titans have devastated the world and pushed humanity to the brink of existence. Subsequently, monstrous creatures have risen from the watery depths of the sea and their attacks have brought all seafaring to a grinding halt.

    2012RPG9.99 USDDeck PlayableSteam ↗

Frequently asked about ELEX

Does ELEX run on Steam Deck?
ELEX is rated Playable on Steam Deck — it runs, but expect some manual adjustments (control remapping, text size, or graphics settings) for the best experience.
How much does ELEX cost?
ELEX is listed on Steam at 29.99 USD (current store price; Steam sales may reduce this temporarily).
What games are most similar to ELEX?
Based on Steam play patterns and shared genres/tags, the games most often recommended alongside ELEX are Gothic II: Gold Edition, Sword Hero, Risen 3 - Titan Lords.
Who developed ELEX?
ELEX was developed by Piranha Bytes and published by THQ Nordic.

imho.run ranks Steam game alternatives using a mix of collaborative filtering (ALS / iALS / EASE / LightGCN), content scoring over genres, categories, Steam tags, developers, and publishers, plus AI-extracted vibes mined from review text. The page above is generated in seed mode anchored on ELEX.

For library-aware picks tuned to your specific taste, sign in with Steam on the home page.