Role-playing games, or RPGs for short, are meant to be just that. A game about playing a specific role. More often than not nowadays, it feels like our decisions are predetermined. We're no longer playing as a specific role; we're just playing as a customizable character and following through a story. Actions sometimes have consequences, but other times? They're just actions with nothing that happens afterward.

That's where Elin has completely and utterly shocked me. It looks like something that may have come out in the early 90s, with grid-based movements and somewhat jittery animation. But when it comes to actually playing a role and living the life? Elin does it better than almost every other game I've ever played. I'm roughly 30 hours in, still searching up guides on what to do, and I'm loving every second of this ride.

The World of ‘Elin’ Is Dense, So Don’t Be Surprised if You Don’t Know Where To Go Next

I'm going to preface this article with one piece of information — Elin is incredibly dense, confusing, and mysterious. There are only two things that are certain about your time with the game, and that's Death and Taxes. Yes, you need to pay taxes to live in the world of Elin, and if you don't, you'll be hunted down and will need to fight to survive. Even with its minimal animations, fights are tense. But, unlike most other games that may just toss you in jail and slap you on the wrist for tax evasion, Elin will punish you.

Elin seemingly came out of nowhere. A sequel to a Japanese free-to-play game, this $20 investment is something that I strongly suggest, especially for those who are craving an incredibly deep RPG. Character customization, customizable portraits, names, character lore, and even information about your parents. Everything about Elin is meant to be a story that YOU create, rather than a story that the developer intended. I don't think two players will ever have the same turn of events, unless they're specifically trying to make it happen.

Live on the Land, Start a Brothel, Do Whatever the Hell You Want, Wherever You Want To

The thing that I respect so much about Elin, however, is how much freedom the player has. If I want to go on a murderous rampage in town? I can do so — as long as I'm strong enough. If I want to "get some tail", as the game so gently puts it, I absolutely can. No matter where I am, I'm able to do whatever the hell I want, whenever I want to do it. This sense of freedom is incredibly daunting at first, and will absolutely make players feel like they're unstoppable. The first time you get murked by a Hermit Crab, though? That's when you realize that you're maybe not as strong as you could be.

There is also a lot of micromanaging that needs to be done in Elin, and it's not always clear what you should be doing. That's part of the charm, in my eyes. Hunger genuinely matters, and you'll slowly become dizzy and unstable if you're not eating. If you drink too much Ale, you'll get drunk, and your controls will get messed up and mixed up. Running your own little town comes with its perks and issues, and it's completely up to you how you want to do things.

‘Elin’ Is for the Curious Mind, and You Should Leave No Corner of the Massive Map Unexplored

Elin feels like the gift that keeps on giving. Not only are the things that you can do completely unrestricted, but exploration is also as free as you'd like it to be. Keeping in mind that you've got to watch your hunger and your sleep meters as you venture throughout the world, you can go wherever you'd like, whenever you'd like. Sure, some random encounters where you need to fight creatures may put a dent in your plans, but whip out that sword and put them in the dirt.

Getting through the world of Elin can be terrifying at times, to be fair. The first time I went to pay my taxes, I was lost beyond belief. The game doesn't hold your hand and give you a simple way to navigate it. You have to pay attention to what people tell you, to directions, or depend on guides from other helpful players to slowly start to figure out what the world of Elin has to offer. It's a community-driven effort on the Steam discussions page to help newer players get their feet wet, and I absolutely adore that about the game.

Don’t Be Afraid To Check the Internet if You’re Struggling With Something in Elin — It’s Bound To Happen Eventually

Even roughly 30 hours in, I'm still finding myself jumping on the web to try and figure out how to do something here. The game is incredibly confusing, but it's not a detriment in this situation. Remember pouring through forums back in the day for help? Or when you could call a hotline and get some assistance through a game? That's what the whole vibe of Elin feels like. A comforting, confusing, and genuinely astonishing piece of media that feels both incredibly old and refreshingly new at the same time.

It's a beautiful thing, to say the least. Folks in these forums don't chastise or mock other players. The community of people around Elin has been incredibly positive, even if they're role-playing as the most diabolically horrible person to ever exist. They just want to make sure that everyone is playing the game and enjoying it. Seeing as the world feels like it's about 3 seconds from exploding at any given point now? I'm happy to see a group of people getting together for something like this.

Is ‘Elin’ a Game for You? Potentially! Just Be Patient if You Jump in and Try It

Elin could really be a game for anyone, if you think about it. It's somewhat cozy. There are plenty of things to do. But a lot of it requires your time and attention. If you're planning on jumping in and becoming hopelessly devoted to the passion project of a single developer? Be sure that you have plenty of time and patience to get through it. I'm still confused and lost, but I'm having the time of my life playing Elin.

There's something to be said about games like this. Games that completely take you by surprise and shock you with their quality. Elin is unlike anything I've ever experienced in my life, and it's one of the deepest and most engrossing RPGs I've ever seen. Somehow, all of this was brought to life by one person, and the endless bounds of their creativity will never cease to shock me. I could easily see myself dumping hundreds of hours into this and still finding brand-new things to see and do. That's how massive Elin is, and why I need to sing its praises from the rooftops.

Oh, if you do start playing? Be sure to equip your sword. If you don't, you'll just toss it at enemies and lose it forever. I absolutely didn't do that, no way.