The 25 Steam Next Fest Game Demos You Need To Download Right Now
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Most of the big summer game showcase events are over, and if you couldn't make the trip out to LA to go hands-on with upcoming titles, don't worry, because hundreds of upcoming games are just a download away. Steam Next Fest is back, and once again, it shines a light on many games scheduled for release in the not-so-distant future. The event runs from June 10 through June 17, and playing everything on offer is pretty much impossible.
If you want to use your limited time wisely before Steam Next Fest ends, check out our picks for 25 terrific games to try out. There's a wide variety of in-development titles, and we've barely scratched the gaming iceberg with the selection of picks below.
Thank Goodness You're Here
More British than afternoon tea, Thank Goodness You're Here plays like a very weird Saturday morning cartoon set in the Northern English town of Barnsworth. As a traveling salesman of variable--but mostly tiny--size, it's up to you to complete odd jobs, explore the quaint little town, and eventually meet the mayor. The game has colorful hand-drawn animation, plenty of dialogue, and in-jokes for days.
Weyrdlets
A virtual pet game, Weyrdlets plays like a combination of Animal Crossing and Tamagotchi. Not only do you have an adorable companion you can customize with cool clothes and accessories, the little critter will even bring some chaos to your desktop when you let it roam free while you read the news, watch some Netflix, or find yourself endlessly scrolling through Instagram Reels.
Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn
The developers of Ashen are back and looking to encourage some deicide in Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn. Stuck in a hostile land governed by cruel gods, the battle for humanity will be decided with gunpowder and magic as you fight to reclaim the world.
Cato
Could humanity solve the energy crisis using nothing but the power of the buttered cat paradox? That's debatable, but what is definite is that Cato is a silly and fun platforming game where you control both a cat and a slice of buttered toast to solve puzzles. Watch out for Isaac Newton's police force, because the laws of gravity are about to be broken.
Rubato
Rubato calls itself an experimental, 2D physics-based take on the collect-a-thon genre where you play as a frog. We call it one of the weirdest games on this list and one that you'll want to go into as blind as possible.
Seafrog
You can never have too many skateboarding games, and Seafrog lets you gleam the cube across a collection of huge skatepark-like ships. As in the best games to feature skateboarding, finding your groove is a treat as you kickflip past cute-but-deadly enemies, sail over hazardous challenges, and pretend to be Superman.
Riven
Out later this month, the remake of Riven looks like a grand return to the one of the greatest puzzle games of all time. First released in 1997, the remake rewards careful observation as you embark on a story of intrigue and betrayal. It looks visually superb and the brain-teasers are still wonderfully cerebral.
Metal Slug Tactics
Metal Slug Tactics is headed in a new direction for its explosive return, but so far, it looks like it was worth the wait. Not only does this dynamic tactical RPG look like it was ripped straight from a NeoGeo arcade cabinet with its faithful art direction, the game also throws in roguelite elements to keep you on your toes when you hit the battlefield.
The Operator
If you're convinced that a lifetime of NCIS and Murder She Wrote marathons have given you detective skills that could rival Batman, you'll want to check out The Operator. As a new member of the FDI, you'll use the division's cutting-edge software to dig for clues, solve puzzles, and uncover the truth behind murders and cyber-attacks.
Dungeons of Hinterberg
The Austrian Alps await in Dungeons of Hinterberg, and seeing as how you're armed with a tourist guide and a sword, this demo makes a great case for trying out a chill slaycation. As Luisa, you'll get to explore dungeons, snowboard down glaciers, and cap your day off with a hot mug of coffee as you solve the mysteries of Hinterberg.
The Alters
A sci-fi game with a rich blend of adventure, survival, and base-building elements, The Alters tasks you with escaping a desolate planet in a far-flung corner of the cosmos. That's a job for more than just a single survivor to take on, and thanks to an army of Alters that protagonist Jan Dolski creates, he can both work and reckon with his past decisions to save his present-day self. It's a trippy concept, but one that works surprisingly well.
Oddada
A toybox full of musical charm, Oddada is a chill game where you're left on your own with a selection of gadgets, gizmos, and funky melodic toys. What will you create with these tools, and better yet, what will you share when you've created your own unique musical tracks?
Hollywood Animal
The film industry can be ruthless, and Hollywood Animal recreates the golden age of cinema with a strategy game focused on getting films made by any means necessary. As the head of a movie studio, you'll have to pick your financiers wisely, crush other studios, and persuade film stars to sign long-term contracts. Outside of the sleazy side of the industry, you'll also be investing in your production facilities as you work toward revolutionizing the film industry.
Disco Samurai
Set in a cyberpunk world, Disco Samurai is all about finding your rhythm in combat and cranking up the volume as you crack some skulls. You and your enemies are synchronized with the beat of the music so you'll have to combine attacks, parries, dashes, and other abilities in time with the beat if you want to survive.
Arranger
Billed as a role-puzzling adventure, Arranger follows the story of Jemma, a small-town misfit on a journey of self-discovery. The art style is adorable and the story is interesting, but what sets this game apart is that it takes place on an interconnected grid that determines everything. Similar to a Sokoban game, you'll have to arrange and connect movement, combat, and exploration together in this imaginative adventure.
Tactical Breach Wizards
Ever seen a wizard with a gun? Well, yes, probably as that was a game last year, but Tactical Breach Wizards puts a novel spin on the fusion of the magical and firepower with a turn-based tactical approach. From the minds that brought you Heat Signature and Gunpoint, Tactical Breach Wizards lets you use an arcane arsenal to clear rooms of enemies.
Creatures of Ava
Creatures of Ava is a "creature-saver" game where you'll form bonds with the critters that roam the land. Using their skills, you'll be able to explore the planet and solve environmental challenges as you drive back the corruptive influence of the Withering and bring beauty back to the world.
Grunn
You’ve been hired to do some maintenance work on a garden that has seen better days. There's a lot of work to be done, but all your tools are missing, you can't find the owner, venturing outside after dark is forbidden, and you're certain something sinister is watching you as you try to get on with the mother of all landscaping jobs. Good luck!
Uncle Chop's Rocket Shop
Described as a roguelite fix-'em-up, Uncle Chop's Rocket Shop gives you a manual full of DIY instructions and leaves you to your own devices on an asteroid-bound service station in the middle of nowhere. Imagine Papers, Please combined with the weirdness of Regular Show and you'll have a pretty good idea of what to expect from this oddball odyssey.
Tiny Glade
Not in the mood to stop a coup d'état or negotiate with cosmological horrors? Tiny Glade should prove to be relaxing then, as this game gives you space to build your dream castle and admire it. You don't have to worry about a Saxon invasion or surprise taxes; all you have to do is sit back, relax, and doodle your castle into existence. The game has a cozy look and feel, as well as an impeccable sound design as your structure takes shape.
Kill Knight
This twin-stick shooter will make you sweat, as Kill Knight throws you into a meat grinder of demons and too many damn bullets. Facing a relentless army of monsters, you'll need to make tactical use of your arsenal and limited resources, brutally execute anything that gets in your way, and survive insurmountable odds.
Dungeons and Degenerate Gamblers
If Balatro has you hungry for a few hands of aces and faces, check out Dungeons and Degenerate Gamblers. This roguelike Blackjack adventure will see you challenge a tavern full of colorful locals, and with the rules of the game frequnetly shifting, you'll need a little luck to help you climb through the rankings.
Bloodless
Samurai games are all the rage, but Bloodless puts an interesting spin on that era with combat designed to be as non-lethal as possible. Set in the lands of Bakugawa, you'll have to help ronin Tomoe confront the ghosts of her past, end Shogun Akechi's reign of terror, and master a deep fighting style to knock out enemies. You're going to need some good reflexes for this one!
What the Car
Imagine being a car with legs! That's the gist of What the Car, and now that it's no longer an exclusive for Apple Arcade subscribers, PC users can check it out. It's bizarre stuff as you race around levels as automobile abomination, although this is par for the course when you're playing something from the developer of What the Golf and What the Bat.
Fowl Damage
You've probably played a hundred 2D platformer games in your lifetime, but what about a 2D platformer where you're an egg and you have to be careful of fall damage? That puts an intense twist on a familiar genre as you navigate through levels and do your best not to make egg-related puns.