Afterburner Studios' action-platformer mixes hard-hitting melee, Metroidvania exploration and a cute dragon sidekick, and I really, really enjoyed it.
Our take Keep an Eye On It
I went into Elta: Defy All Gods not knowing much, and came out wanting more. The combat is sick. It feels like an intense boxing match, like a fight club.
Watch the video preview
Elta: Defy All Gods RAW IMPRESSIONS: Combat That Feels Like a Fight ClubThe combat is sick. It's like a fight club.
CMoney, OnPoint 4 Gamers
What it is
Elta: Defy All Gods is an action-platformer from Afterburner Studios, the indie team behind Dreamscaper, published by Focus Entertainment. You play as Elta, chosen by your people to find your lost god, stranded on a hostile planet with a new draconic companion. It mixes free-form melee, martial arts and magic attacks with platforming and sci-fi exploration across three science-fantasy worlds. It launches February 2, 2027 on Xbox Series X|S and PC (Steam) for $29.99, and a free slice of the opening is playable now on all platforms. What I played was a pre-release build, so details may change before launch.
The combat hits
This is where Elta shines. You chain combos, air dash, and when you land a perfect dodge you can counter right back. The last hit in a fight slows down for a beat, which makes every win feel huge. The sound design sells it too. Every hit lands with a physical, heavy impact that’s just so satisfying. I was out there boxing whole groups of enemies and loving it.
Exploration that doesn't get you lost
You start to see the Metroidvania side quickly. You explore, unlock new abilities like wall running and grappling, then reach places you couldn’t get to before. I like that yellow gates show you what’s accessible right now, so you’re not banging your head against the wall wondering what to do. And the little dragon is a cute touch. It gives you powers, and the items you pick up feed into it, so it never feels like it’s in the way.
A look of its own
I really like the art style. It’s got that drawn-but-3D look, a bit like Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, but leaning more 3D than drawn. Some areas are just stunning. On Xbox Series X|S you get a Quality mode at 30fps with better graphics and lighting, or a Performance mode at 60fps. I played in Quality mode and it felt fine to me.
Verdict: Keep an Eye On It
What has you most interested in Elta?
Vote and see what other Xbox fans think.
Like having a say? Get OnPoint Weekly or argue it out on Discord.
Elta: Defy All Gods feels like a big game on a smaller budget, the kind that punches above its weight. Hard-hitting combat, smart exploration and a style of its own. I really, really enjoyed this, and you should try it out yourself before it launches in February.
This is not a review, so there’s no score here.
Screens from a pre-release build. Featured image: OnPoint 4 Gamers.
