Elta: Defy All Gods from Afterburner Studios launches on February 2, 2027, and a free demo is available on PlayStation 5 today. The studio describes the game as a brawlervania: an action-platformer that blends fast brawler combat with search-action exploration.
Table of contents
What kind of game is Elta?
The recipe combines the punchy combat of a brawler, the tight platforming and exploration of a search-action game, a cute dragon companion who is also the millennia-old god you worship, and a dash of anime flair. Few action-platformers have tried to blend explosive hand-to-hand fights with labyrinthine, non-linear exploration, and that is the gap the team wants to fill.
Combat and movement
Brawler fans get three martial art stances, each with its own skill tree, plus magic systems that unleash built-up energy in massive attacks. Platforming fans get a growing set of movement skills including double jump, dash, wall run and grapple. The dragon Elta also grants new abilities to hit harder and reach new places.
Inspirations
Veteran players will notice nods to Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, God of War, Darksiders and Jak and Daxter. The team traded weapon-based hacking and slashing for fluid hand-to-hand martial arts and drew creative inspiration from TV, shonen anime and especially Dragon Ball Z.
Try the free PS5 demo
The demo is out today on PlayStation 5, and the game takes place across three winding sci-fi worlds. Playing the demo is the easiest way to see if the mix of combat and navigation suits you before the February launch. The announcement does not mention multiplayer or crossplay, so Elta looks like a single-player experience.
Key facts at a glance
- Launch date: February 2, 2027.
- Free demo on PS5 starting today.
- Three martial art stances with skill trees.
- A dragon companion called Elta grants new abilities.
Why it matters
A free demo lets you test the combat and platforming before deciding, which is useful for a genre mix as unusual as a brawlervania. If the demo suits you, you can wishlist the game ahead of the February launch.
Frequently asked questions
What is a brawlervania?
It is the studio’s name for Elta: Defy All Gods, a mix of brawler combat and search-action exploration.
Is there a free demo for Elta: Defy All Gods?
Yes, a free demo is available on PlayStation 5 today.
Does Elta: Defy All Gods have multiplayer?
The announcement does not mention multiplayer or crossplay.
Background on Afterburner Studios
Afterburner Studios describes Elta: Defy All Gods as a love letter to classic action-platformers. By mixing hand-to-hand martial arts with exploration, the team hopes to stand out in a crowded genre. The demo is the best way to see how the combat, the dragon abilities and the platforming fit together.
What to do next
Download the demo on PS5, play through the first area and decide whether to wishlist Elta: Defy All Gods before the February 2 launch. We will add platform details if the studio announces them.
What to look for in the demo
When you play the demo, pay attention to how the three stances change your combat options, how the dragon’s abilities open new paths and how the controls feel during aerial platforming. These are the core ideas of Elta: Defy All Gods, and the demo is a safe way to judge them. If you enjoy action-platformers, Elta: Defy All Gods is worth a look.
More crossplay and gaming news
Looking for games you can play with friends on other platforms? Browse our crossplay game guides, check the free crossplay games and read more stories on the CanWeSquad news page.
Source: PlayStation Blog.
