Game Review - Ella 2048

Despite the title similarity and both games starring kickass cybernetic ladies, Ella 2048 has nothing to do with a certain hit game from last year. Instead, TaonPlay’s clever puzzler is a thrilling, immersive homage to anime and manga. Combining deck-building, RPG elements, and (of course) gameplay inspired by 2013 hit 2048, this game is a challenging and fun look at an extremely dystopian (and extremely sexy) future. 

Years of rampant biological warfare has all but destroyed Earth as we know it in 2048. The rich horde every resource they can, while using biochemical weapons to keep the rest of the populace living in filth. That is, if they even live at all. Mutated abominations known as Merthings have begun to emerge from the planet’s poisoned ruins, killing and destroying anything in their path. As the world’s resources dwindle and the Merthings continue to run free, our home is on the brink of collapse. 

“Okay, so I’m getting the ‘dystopian’,” you might ask, “but where’s the ‘sexy’?” Don’t worry - that’s where the Ellas come in! Created by the powerful Siena, an Ella is a genetically engineered human designed to kill and powered by sex. Throughout Ella 2048, you’ll summon a whole roster of Ellas and take them into battle against the Merthings. In between each fight, level up your favorite Ella units and boost their affection to help, erm… power them up in gorgeous 3D sex scenes. 

Those scenes are some of the most beautiful out of a Nutaku game yet. After you unlock nude models of an Ella, you’ll start moving to nastier stuff real fast. These fully 3D sequences let you tap around as your favorite Ella gets dirty in the name of science. Stylish, manga-style splash pages also lead into these scenes, which are complemented by visual novel components. Plus, you’ll also unlock alternate outfits to change each girl into. Boosting your affection is just as important as leveling up your squad - especially if you want to see all the kinky fun Ella 2048 has to offer. 

Outside of the dating and sex mechanics, Ella 2048’s gameplay is an addictive blend of traditional mobile RPGs and puzzle-solving. You’ll begin each battle with a grid and a single Ella - a “4” card. As you swipe your card around the arena, you’ll combine it with other like cards and make powerful fusions to deal massive damage against enemies. There are Ellas for each multiple of 4 going up to 2048 (no duh), and each have different elemental damages and attack types. As you progress, you’ll want to build up a well-balanced team of attackers, defenders, and healers to help aid you against the challenging foes. 

Full disclosure: Ella 2048 is tough-as-nails at points, but rewarding once you get the hang of it. You’re given a pretty capable starting roster that gets the job done until you start capturing (and summoning) better Ellas to kit your party out with, but make sure you’re diligent in upgrading and fusing your cards as you progress. If you don’t, the early boss fights will stomp your neck in like a sharp stiletto heel. But if the game isn’t tough enough for your tastes, you can unlock even more punishing difficulties after fulfilling certain conditions. These might make you hurl your phone out the nearest window, but they’re worth it - you’ll get more loot, and better odds of encountering a rare Ella. 

Still, don’t let the difficulty scare you off. After you go through the first sets of battles a few times, you’ll get the hang of how things work. Plus, the game’s Auto mode gives you a great idea of the flow of combat - just don’t rely on it too much, as handling things yourself is always the best way to go. Ella 2048 is worth sticking with, too, as the story goes some really interesting places after the early chapters. Of course, the sex is also worth sticking around for. There’s something special about finding your perfect team of Ellas and programming them for combat through hot n’ heavy fucking. Like all the best romantic RPGs, you’ll get attached to each girl through every intimate moment you spend with them. 

Ella 2048 is, ultimately, a game that’s as sexy as it is deadly. You’ll take a licking at first, but once you power up your dream team of horny androids, you’ll be kicking mutant ass and taking names before you know it. It’s one of the most compelling puzzle games I’ve touched in a minute, and the card combat scratches that classic, early aughts card combat itch. And the more you learn the ins and outs (heh) of the combat, the faster you’ll be enjoying top-tier 3D hentai sex. 

So - ready to sleep with some robots to save the world? Ella 2048 is available now.