PlayStation 5's latest free offering boasts the coolest graphics I've seen in 2026

Yet another year has almost drawn to a close and while it’s been a dreadful one for anti-consumer decisions, 2026 has delivered us a solid line-up of games.

Pokémon Pokopia, Crimson Desert, Big Walk, Mina The Hollower, The Blood of Dawnwalker, and Resident Evil Requiem are among some of the games that could be in the GOTY conversation.

And yet, the year’s most impressive graphics - at least in my opinion - can be found within a humble little free demo that’s just become available on PS5 via the PlayStation Store.

PlayStation users can now sample Elta: Defy All Gods from developer Afterburner Studios and publisher Focus Entertainment, with the demo also available on Steam and Xbox.

Elta: Defy All Gods is a single-player action-platformer - and while it may not be launching in full until February 2, 2027, its new free taster is already a standout in my mind.

“Chosen by your people to seek your lost god, you find yourself stranded on a hostile planet,” begins the game’s synopsis.

“With no way home, fight your way out alongside your newfound draconic companion. Slam every foe, defeat every god, brawl your way out of each challenge and escape - no matter what stands in your way.”

Focus Entertainment

You actually step into the shoes of an exiled warrior monk who hopes to, once again, find a place where his people belong.

As an action-platformer, Elta: Defy All Gods naturally includes plenty of platforming but it’s the combat that’s particularly moreish.

Its “free flow” concept sees you switch between three martial arts stances as you fend off groups of enemies in this beautifully crafted sci-fi world.

As you switch between techniques, you’ll build up energy which you can use to unlock new magic attacks; there are even anime-inspired finishers.

Aesthetically, it’s hard to really compare Elta: Defy All Gods to anything. Its sci-fi world has somewhat of a Star Wars feel to it, I suppose.

You’ll traverse through industrial ruins, icy clifftops, desert canyons, cloud islands, and more. Traversal consists of running, jumping, and dashing.

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Elta: Defy All Gods’ graphics make you feel as if you’ve stepped inside a painting

As I said, though, the star of the show within Elta: Defy All Gods are the graphics. There’s a painterly quality to what Afterburner Studios has created.

This isn’t a project concerned with photorealism or crispness.

Whether it’s the enemies you’re facing or the world around you, every aspect of the game is like a living work of art, crafted by the strokes of a paintbrush. It’s unlike anything else you’ll play this year, and it’s only a demo.

The demo lasts for between 45 to 60 minutes, so you’ll get a generous feel for the game.

It sees you play through the prologue where you must retrieve the lost dragon-god, Elta, from deep within a temple.

To do so, you’ll need to defeat corrupted enemies and explore the region of Lerna - and yes, there’s an awesome ending boss fight.

Save data will not transfer over to the full release but considering Elta: Defy All Gods isn’t on the way until February, you should have the appetite to play again come launch day.