Solo indie developer noa published Elin State of the Game – May 2026 via Elin’s Steam store page on May 22. Elin State of the Game is a community letter published monthly by the Elin State of the Game editorial team. Seeing as AUTOMATON helped make this newsletter, we hope you’ll enjoy it as an article as well!  

Read on below for the full Elin State of the Game – May 2026: 

Greetings, fellow adventurers! This is the Elin State of the Game editorial team.

We’d like to share Elin-related news that have been sent in from all over Ylva this month as well.

This is the May issue of “Elin State of the Game,” out on Nyan Nyan Day (the 22nd), as always. New green leaves are sprouting in North Tyris – is it summer already?

This Nyanth’s Update

Check it all out!

Last month, many new items were discovered in North Tyris. Exploring Nefia and the towns might lead to unexpected discoveries.
Also, a “new type” of Big Daddy has apparently been identified. Be extremely careful when challenging it.
(For details on all updates, see Ylvapedia)

A close-range type has been completed?

A new close-range type has been seen among the Big Daddies that wander around Nefia and the fields as if guarding something.
Occasionally, you might find two Big Daddies on the same floor, but if one becomes hostile, the other will attack simultaneously!
It’s best to be vigilant of your surroundings before challenging them.

Crowbar

Good news for muscle-brained adventurers who find lockpicking a hassle!
The all-purpose item “Crowbar” has arrived, which can instantly pry open any treasure chest. While the contents aren’t guaranteed to be intact, it will be useful when you have to force it open.
It should be easy to craft if you have a “Handyman’s Table.”

This land is a giant treasure island

What adventurer wouldn’t be thrilled to hear that new treasures have been discovered?
Reports have come in of previously unconfirmed items being obtained from monsters encountered in Nefia!
This Flying Nimbus can also be used like a minecart, but it makes a light, bouncy sound when you ride it. Darting around the base is sure to be a thrill!

Items from a Foreign School

There have been reports of sightings of new items besides those obtainable from monsters. Here’s one of them.
This is a swimsuit for schoolchildren, used in a faraway foreign land. It offers almost no protection, but it seems ideal for water sports.
But some of the items in the image don’t look like swimsuits at all…?

New “Floor Decor” tile added

A new type of tile, “Floor Decor,” has been added, allowing you to take your base building to the next level.
By placing them on top of the floor, you can create things like curbs for paths and flowerbed borders. While being small, they can significantly enhance the overall look of your map depending on how you use them.

Rumors of the “Unseen Hand”

In the city of North Tyris, a random attacker disguised as a resident occasionally causes trouble. While dangerous, it’s not beyond the guards’ control.

However, rumors of an “Unseen Hand” that silently creeps up and eliminates its targets in darkness have persisted for ages. Is “he” human? Does he even exist?

The mysterious deaths occurring during the Festival of the Dead in Port Kapul are also whispered to be the work of the Unseen Hand.

Notice

Official Illustration Introduction ~ Lumiest Gallery

This illustration by Elin illustrator NZ is a character design for Slan, the Shadow of Palmia, who is staying at a remote castle in the far north while traveling for his studies.
The illustration includes details such as a size comparison with a Gluttonous Walrus, the details of his clothing, and the weapons he carries, allowing viewers to imagine how he actually looks while adventuring.

Official Music Introduction ~ Palmia Records

Next up is a piece by Elin composer NINO.
This time we’re introducing the hymn “Kizuami of Trickery.”
The gentle melody and the frequent, intricate phrases offer a glimpse into Kizumi’s personality, revealing that he is both a kind older brother who cares deeply for his younger sister, Horome, and also has a whimsical and playful side.

Hi, it’s NINO!
The hymn “Kizuami of Trickery” is a love song.

Elusive and unpredictable.
He appears whenever he wants,
and vanishes with the falling maple leaves.

This song is said to have been a love letter
sung by a shrine maiden whose heart was stirred by Kizuami.

Appearing occasionally to cause mischief
and disappearing capriciously, Kizuami became a familiar god
to the people and their children.

As the song of Kizuami was passed down,
parts of the love letter were lost,
and now it has become the “Maple Leaf Song”
that children love to sing.

Community News

Lumiest Art Tourism Journey 2

We’re announcing the doujin event “Lumiest Art Tourism Journey 2,” themed around Elin and its predecessor Elona!
Although it’s last minute, the event is still accepting circle participants. Wouldn’t it be great to participate in this gathering of adventurers overflowing with creative energy?
General participants who do not exhibit their own works can attend for free without prior registration.
The details of the event are as follows. (The following is a quote from the announcement)

“Lumiest Art Tourism Journey 2”

This is an event focusing on Elona and Elin, the games created by noa (lafrontier)
https://pictsquare.net/5s5bnzr1211n97cnu08ltlnsetas8bvo

*This event is not affiliated with the official creators.
*This is an unofficial fan-organized event.

[Event Overview]
[Date and Time]
Event Date
June 6, 2026, 10:00 AM – June 7, 2026, 11:50 PM

Circle Participation Fee
¥1,500

Circle Participation Application Period
November 23, 2025, 10:30 PM – May 24, 2026, 11:00 PM

[Circle Participation]
★Regarding Circle Participation
You can exhibit and distribute fan-made works based on Elona and Elin.
Please be sure to check the guidelines regarding fan-made works based on Elona and Elin.

Mommy!

Ever since suspicious potions began circulating in North Tyris, numerous illustrations of moms have been drawn.
This time, we asked adventurers to send us illustrations of moms. Despite the short notice, we received a large number of illustrations, and the entire editorial team is deeply grateful!
We hope you enjoy the different interpretations of the theme!

This is only a part of the activities and works by adventurers that make the Elin community livelier. If any creator names are incorrect, we would appreciate it if you could let us know.

We’re still accepting fan work submissions from adventurers for “Elin State of the Game”!
We’re accepting submissions in various formats, including illustrations, photos, music, videos, and housing screenshots. We’d love to see your work grace the pages of “Elin State of the Game”!

Derivative Works Form

Architecture of the Month

Housing is life. In fact, it’s deeper than life itself.
Today we’re showcasing this vacant lot and warehouse. At first glance, it might just look like a rundown piece of land, but…?

Believe it or not, a mysterious research lab is hidden underground!
This map cleverly utilizes elevation changes to seamlessly connect the building’s roof and ground, successfully creating a pseudo-underground structure.
Beyond the intriguing structure, the scattered objects form a narrative, allowing you to imagine everything from the experiments to the researchers’ daily lives.

Adventurer Q&A Box

Thanks to all the adventurers who’ve sent in messages through the reader submission form!
Now it’s time for the Adventurer Q&A Box!

Developer noa will personally answer the questions submitted through the form!

Q: Pole dancing would suit the beautiful Keeper of the Garden very well. Are there any other movements that would look great animated for the Keeper of the Garden? （By mo、original in Chinese）

Since she’s already blindfolded, how about a watermelon-breaking game? It might be thrilling for the viewers too.

While not as flashy as pole dancing, I think scenes like mochi pounding (with her large upper body movements), kneading dough while cooking, or stumbling and dropping a large stack of books she held to her chest would make for some charming animations.

Q: Will it be possible to recruit bosses in the future? At least give us Isygarad’s profile. Even just his first-person pronoun…! It’s information I need for fan fiction…! (By Chika, original in Japanese)

Currently, we don’t plan on allowing the recruitment of bosses that might interfere with the scenario or multi-size bosses that could cause glitches. Isygarad is also an important character in the main story, which makes it even more difficult. It’s a long way off, but there’s a slim chance he might become a companion as a bonus feature after clearing the game.

Isygarad’s first-person pronoun is defined as “ore” in the game data, but I’m considering making it a bit more arrogant, like “ware”.

Q: I have a question about Raina. I’m curious about what’s on her back. I thought the yellow thing on the left was a tattered cape, but I’m starting to think it might be part of her hair. If it is hair, is it tied in a ponytail? I’d like to know for reference for fan art. (By HydroKirby, original in Japanese)

We asked the artist, Zanshi, directly. He said the portrait shows her back hair, and he also gave us a rough sketch, so be free to take a look.

Q: Are there any plans on making a roadmap, or a list of features that are planned?（By Fyrol）

There are currently no plans for that. Unfortunately, even if I create a roadmap, I don’t think things will proceed according to it at all, and setting a schedule would only create pressure to meet deadlines. I want to continue Elin for a long time, so I believe that developing it at a comfortable pace and in an enjoyable way will ultimately lead to delivering a better product to everyone.

Q: I found the Slime race update very refreshing. It reminded me of Rimuru, a character from a certain anime. Rimuru has the ability to evolve infinitely and acquire the abilities of creatures he swallows, which really sparks the imagination. In the future, will the Slime race be able to remove limitations with tools or something? I think the idea of ​​them continuously evolving is really cool. (By Mohsal, from China (original in Japanese))Rimuru…? No, I’m not familiar with that slime.

I don’t know anything about him, but I think the concept of starting out as a wobbly, weak creature that unexpectedly becomes an incredible being like a demon lord or god is quite appealing.

Our stance in Elin is that it’s okay for some races to be strong and other weak (like in that SMAP song, “Sekai ni Hitotsu Dake no Hana,” everyone is unique), and we prioritize the fun and flavor of playing as a particular race over its relative strength compared to other races. In that sense, while slimes are already quite strong in the late game, it might be interesting to see an update that brings them even closer to godlike status.

Q: I am a 3d vtuber who wants to make content with the game but I worry that its hard for viewers to keep track of everything thats going on. Do you have any suggestions for a format that would be easy for viewers unfamiliar with the game to digest?（By Eris Thanewood）

Streaming Elin to be on the more challenging side. For example, if there was a theme for each play session, such as “Today I’m building a house,” “I’m going to see a festival,” or “I’m going to conquer a dangerous Nefia,” it might be easier for viewers to follow. It would also be good to briefly display the goal of the day on the screen. Also, a chill stream where the main focus is just chatting and life updates, while slowly playing the game in the background, may be a good idea too.

We’re still accepting questions from adventurers for “Elin State of the Game!”
While we may not be able to feature all of them due to space limitations, we will read through all submitted questions and continue to answer them in future issues.
The entire editorial team is eagerly awaiting your questions!

General Submissions Form

Developer News

Hello everyone, this is noa.

For this issue’s “Mommy” feature, we went with the motto “Strike while the iron is hot!,” which unfortunately turned into a brutal request with a one-day deadline. Thank you so much for all the illustrations despite the short notice!

We’d love to do more fun projects like this. In the “Elin State of the Game,” we also want to actively feature community events like Elona & Elin-only events and VRC tours, so please feel free to send us any announcements or projects!

Social network link
エリンだより (Elin State of the Game)