Elin is a roguelike open-world sandbox RPG for Steam, developed single-handedly by Japanese indie creator noa as the successor to the 2007 free-to-play game Elona. Taking place 30 years before the events of Elona, the game is a blend of a traditional roguelike system and crafting, base building and survival elements, with an emphasis on offering “a more open and chaotic experience.” Recently, noa revealed for AUTOMATON that Elin, which released in Early Access in November 2024, has sold more than 350,000 copies, with a Very Positive review score.
As noa explains, in the first two months since its Early Access launch, the game sold around 200,000 copies, and an additional 150,000 copies over the course of 2025. This means that, as of early January 2026, the game has sold over 350,000 copies in total. While the high initial sales figures came as quite the surprise for noa, the developer says monthly sales have remained at a stable level even after the immediate post-launch numbers died down. They argue this kind of growth is even more important to them than having sudden peaks, as their goal is to steadily grow Elin’s playerbase.
Speaking of the playerbase, noa reveals that Japanese players account for 35% of overall copies sold, with the United States having the second largest playerbase at 24%, followed by China at 16%. Last but not least, the developer mentions that 3% of Elin’s players are from Canada. While it’s no surprise that the game is most popular in Japan, data from the past couple of months actually shows that the game is currently selling more overseas than in Japan, with 33% of overall copies sold in the US, followed by China at 16% and finally Japan at 15%.
As noa’s previous title Elona had many core players overseas, the developer hopes that Elin will follow in its footsteps and reach players in many countries around the globe. While the game currently only has Japanese, English and Simplified Chinese support, noa says they are currently focusing their efforts on promoting Elin in the West and expanding its playerbase.
Elin is out in Early Access on Steam.
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