Hey everyone! I’ve just spent the last couple of weeks exploring Ylva in Elin, the long-anticipated successor to the cult classic roguelike RPG Elona. If you’re into cozy survival, crafting, turn-based action, and a generous dash of offbeat humor, stick around. I’ve broken down my thoughts into a few bite-sized sections—grab your favorite drink, settle in, and let’s chat!
Overall Impressions
Elin wears its Elona roots on its sleeve but still feels unique. From the start, the open-ended freedom stood out. One moment you’re a monster hunter, the next a farmer, or even a home-builder overlooking a map full of surprises. Unlike other sandbox roguelikes, this one leans toward survival and crafting over dungeon crawling. Take it slow and it’s forgiving. Rush in recklessly and chaos follows. Reviews calling it a “roguelike Stardew with a twist” feel spot-on. Once you find your pace, the game becomes surprisingly soothing.
Gameplay Mechanics
The turn-based, tile-by-tile movement makes the world shift only when you do. It creates a calm, thoughtful exploration experience. Crafting and survival mechanics feel intuitive, with rewarding systems for gathering, cooking, and upgrading gear. Mod support adds even more freedom—adjust difficulty or dive into playful themes like Konosuba-inspired chaos. The game is flexible enough to suit many playstyles.
Not everything works smoothly, though. Harsh random “RNG deaths” can frustrate players, especially early on. Getting mauled repeatedly by a boar feels unfair. The crafting system, though robust, suffers from clunky menus once you’ve unlocked multiple stations. A streamlined tabbed interface would make resource management smoother.
Standout moment: I once wandered into a misty marsh at dusk, drank swamp water by accident, and ended up face-to-face with a pack of hungry Elea beasts. I barely made it out alive, but the tension—mixed with serene music—made my heart pound in the best way.
Story and Characters
Elin builds its lore around myths told by humans and Elea spirits. There’s no forced main quest—you carve your own path. NPCs have short dialogue trees packed with quirky lore. One goat herder swears he saw ghosts. A scholar obsesses over Elea prophecies. You piece together Ylva’s history through journals, ruins, and chatty townsfolk. The world feels alive, not scripted toward one ending. If you prefer a tight, character-driven plot, you might miss that structure. For me, the freedom was a dream.
Visuals and Graphics
Elin sticks with charming pixel art that reminded me of classic JRPGs, but with a softer color palette. Forests glow emerald green in the daytime and turn ink-black at night, lit only by your campfire. Buildings and dungeon tiles have just enough detail to feel handcrafted without overwhelming your eyes. It’s not hyper-realistic, but it doesn’t need to be: the art style nails that cozy, laid-back vibe. I played on both Windows and Linux (shout-out to Lafrontier for solid support!), and performance was rock-steady.
Sound and Music
The soundtrack features gentle piano tunes, some ambient bird calls, and the occasional dramatic drum hit when you stumble into danger. My favorite track is the “Evening Camp” theme—soft strings and chimes that make you want to sip tea while monitoring your hunger bar. Sound effects are crisp: chopping wood feels satisfying, and critters scuttling in the grass send just enough of a shiver up your spine. There’s no voice acting, but the written dialogue is so charming I didn’t miss it.
Difficulty and Replayability
Elin isn’t a cakewalk, but it’s fair once you learn its rhythm. You may die from exhaustion (rumor has it someone even keels over after a steamy encounter!), or get roasted by nasty critters if you rush in unprepared. But permadeath feels more like an invitation to try a new build than a punishment. I found myself starting fresh with different classes—archer, beast-tamer, alchemist—just to see how the map and loot tables changed. Between random dungeon layouts, character builds, and user mods, I’m already itching to dive back in next weekend.
Developer Trivia & Behind-the-Scenes
Lafrontier is a small team (really small—think two or three folks) who worked on Elona mods years ago. They spent over three years revamping the engine, rebuilding assets, and rewriting code so Elin could run smoothly on modern PCs and Linux-based systems. There’s an official Discord where the devs hang out and drop hints on upcoming content—new monster packs and quality-of-life updates are in the pipeline. Knowing they listen to player feedback makes me excited for the future.
Final Thoughts
Elin has quickly become one of my permanent favorites. It’s that rare roguelike that feels more relaxing than stressful—because you control the pace, you craft your own stories, and the world only moves when you do. Some UI tweaks and a gentler early ramp might help newbies, but if you’re at all curious about a laid-back survival RPG with deep crafting—and a good dose of unexpected humor—give Elin a shot.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
This cozy adventure thrives on its player-paced, turn-based world that moves only when you do, creating a calm and strategic experience. With deep crafting and survival systems, every step feels rewarding—whether you’re gathering resources, cooking by the fire, or upgrading equipment. The charming pixel art and soothing soundtrack amplify the relaxing atmosphere, while robust mod support ensures high replay value with endless ways to tweak and personalize your journey.
Still, a few drawbacks hold it back. Harsh RNG moments, like sudden early-game deaths, can break immersion and feel unfair. The user interface also becomes overwhelming at the start, especially as new crafting systems unlock. While these issues don’t overshadow the core gameplay, they highlight areas where smoother onboarding and more forgiving mechanics could make the experience even more welcoming.
That’s it from me—thanks for reading! If you’ve already tried Elin, let me know about your first boar fight or most unreal death in the comments below. Until next time, happy adventuring!
