Without making any noise, Sony added on the PlayStation Store a new free demo designed for fans of Lovecraftian mysteries on PS5. No need for a subscription, just a few minutes of downloading to get started.
It is about Call of the Elder Godsdirect sequel to Call of the Seapuzzle adventure game released in 2020. This new episode signed Out of the Blue Gamesedited by Kwaleeuses the narrative puzzle formula, this time under Unreal Engine 5 and with a marked Lovecraftian turn. The final version arrives on May 12, 2026, but the free PS5 demo already allows you to test the complete prologue without paying a cent.
PS5: what does the free demo really offer? Call of the Elder Gods ?
The demo, released on April 23, 2026, corresponds to the very beginning of the full game. “Our story begins with a letter, a phone call, and a break-in at Everhart Manor.” developers tease about the PlayStation Store. We discover Professor Harry Everhart, of the famous Miskatonic Universityand student Evangeline Drayton, both linked to an artifact unearthed ten years earlier. This prologue sets the mood, introduces the first enigmas and already lets the cosmic threat inspired by the short story filter through. In the abyss of time.
Good news if you haven’t touched Call of the Sea : the demo re-explains the context sufficiently for newcomers to follow without problem. The basic idea remains close to the first adventure, but the tone is darker, with Harry beginning to doubt his own perception of time and reality. We are clearly dealing with cosmic horror, where the anxiety comes from what we do not understand, rather than gore or easy jumpscares.
An ambitious Lovecraftian puzzle game: why try Call of the Elder Gods now on PS5?
Like its predecessor, Call of the Elder Gods is played in first person and focuses entirely on exploration and reflection. We alternate between Harry and Evangeline to solve “multi-part” puzzles that stretch across time and space, from the mansions of New England to the Australian outback. The puzzles are based on observation, manipulation of objects and careful reading of the logbook.
The demo also shows flexible difficulty options: several levels, clues and interaction icons that can be activated or not. Enough to suit both puzzle enthusiasts and more casual players. According to the sheet PlayStation Storethe feedback is very positive, with a rating of around 4.26 out of 5 on PS5including 67% five stars.
Call of the Elder Gods on PS5: free demo, release date and how to download it
On PS5the demo is free and does not require a PlayStation Plus subscription. Voices in English, texts and subtitles in French are already there. To launch it, open the PlayStation Storesearch for “Call of the Elder Gods Demo” and download it.
The full game will be released on May 12, 2026 on PS5but also on Xbox Series, PC and Nintendo Switch 2. The progress of the demo is not announced as transferable, it is mainly used to judge the atmosphere. If you like Lovecraftian universes and puzzle games, this is a hard free trial to ignore.