Platforms
- PCJul 12, 2022NAplayscoreNA0 Critics4.5122 Players
- PlayStation 5Apr 21, 2023NAplayscoreNA0 CriticsNA0 Players
- Xbox Series X|SMay 19, 2023NAplayscoreNA0 CriticsNA0 Players
- PlayStation 4Apr 21, 2023NAplayscoreNA0 CriticsNA0 Players
- Xbox OneMay 19, 2023NAplayscoreNA0 CriticsNA0 Players
- Nintendo SwitchJul 14, 2022NAplayscore3.97 CriticsNA0 Players
15 critic reviews · 0 community reviews across all platforms
Critic Reviews
XEL is a pretty-looking game and has nice music, but that’s largely where the good stuff ends. The story is poorly written and the gameplay gets boring fast, leaving you with a disappointing taste of what could have been a great game. In the end, if you as the player are not having fun, it’s not a good game. If you’re looking for a fun adventure game, there are far better titles out there.
Pimp Without The Pee · Sep 11, 2022 Reviewed on PCRead full reviewXEL is a game that understands its genre, but the development team fails to see that solid innovation is required to compete, given how crowded it is. The basic exploration and combat work well and the time stuff is an interesting addition. But much more is needed to get players interested and to keep them playing.
Cosmin Vasile · Sep 01, 2022 Reviewed on PCRead full reviewXEL is a game that is competent, has some good ideas, and enough gameplay elements to keep you playing. The sound design is well done and I do enjoy the simplistic art direction and its bright, popping color pallet. Unfortunately, it’s a game that just needed more time in the oven to hammer out the bugs and glitches that really hold this back. There are some good ideas here, but the annoyances almost outweighed what it does do well.
Jordan Hawes · Aug 01, 2022 Reviewed on PCRead full reviewBut the final verdict would sadly have to be a recommendation to wait till it’s on sale. It’ll keep you entertained for a while, but it’s also a little too clumsy at present.
LCLupus · Jul 29, 2022 Reviewed on PCRead full reviewThe lack of camera movement, the bugs, and even the inability to boost the volume made me feel like I had no control during my playthrough. It didn’t matter how cool the graphics looked or how awesome the cutscenes were. The cons heavily outweigh the pros because of a few bugs, which sadly ruined my enjoyment.
Rachel Poli · Jul 25, 2022 Reviewed on SwitchRead full reviewI think there’s a solid game here under all the technical issues, but it’s hard to say. XEL’s combat and time-based puzzles are satisfying, the setting and narrative are engaging, and its aesthetically charming. But until those issues are addressed, XEL is largely unplayable. I’ve spent way more time dealing with those issues than I have playing the game. I’d like to revisit it in the future, assuming it gets fixed.
Scott MacDonald · Jul 22, 2022 Reviewed on SwitchRead full reviewXEL has little character to enjoy, there’s no story to keep you fully engaged, and gameplay feels contrived and repetitive. And that’s before we get to the frankly abysmal state that this game was released in. I was holding off this review to see if the game would be updated before its release, but quite frankly it seems that updating and fine tuning XEL will be an effort that I personally don’t think is worth it.
Willem Hilhorst · Jul 19, 2022 Reviewed on SwitchRead full reviewIf 3D platforming, action-adventure, and puzzle games are your thing, XEL is going to fulfill your needs and then some. It comes with a compelling story, solid gameplay mechanics, and a beautiful world that is yours to explore freely. But until the bugs are solved, this incredible title is going to continue to be held back not by its design flaws, but by its mechanical ones.
Bryan Nelson · Jul 15, 2022 Reviewed on SwitchRead full reviewXEL takes many of its cues from the Zelda franchise, with combat and puzzles that keep things interesting throughout as well as a charming, fun cast of characters. However, technical glitches in the Switch version make it difficult to enjoy at launch. There is the potential for a great game in here, possibly after a hefty patch to fix some of the bugs, but despite its obvious promise it fails to live up to its potential in its current state.
Trent Cannon · Jul 14, 2022 Reviewed on SwitchRead full reviewFor the good – the visuals, audio, navigation of paths and occasional combat moments – there are tens of things in XEL that will hold you back. Bugs and glitches are absolutely rife in this world, and there’s seemingly nothing to stop them popping up on an extremely frequent basis; mostly out of nowhere, springing a surprise just as you think XEL is going to give you a pass.
Neil Watton · Sep 12, 2023 Reviewed on Series X|SRead full review
Community Reviews
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About the game
XEL is an epic 3D sci-fi fantasy action-adventure. Explore the mysterious world of XEL and help protagonist Reid to uncover her enigmatic past. Make new friends and foes along the way and collect exciting gadgets to master challenging dungeons and solve time bending puzzles.