Explore the Top 25 Game Demos from Steam Next Fest

As the buzz from the major summer gaming events settles, there's no need for FOMO if you couldn't make it to the industry's in-person showcases. Steam Next Fest is here to save the day, offering a treasure trove of game demos for upcoming releases, all at your fingertips. From June 10 to June 17, the digital event presents a plethora of games slated for future release, but with so many options, trying them all is a Herculean task.

To maximize your gaming time before the Steam Next Fest draws to a close, we've handpicked a list of 25 exceptional game demos you should absolutely experience. The selection features a diverse array of games still in development, providing just a glimpse into the vast gaming landscape that awaits. Here are some highlights:

"Thank Goodness You're Here"

Immerse yourself in a quirky British adventure with "Thank Goodness You're Here." Set in the fictional Northern English town of Barnsworth, you play as a diminutive traveling salesman tasked with odd jobs and meeting the town's peculiar residents. This game boasts vibrant hand-drawn animations, engaging dialogue, and a healthy dose of local humor.

"Weyrdlets"

For fans of virtual pet games, "Weyrdlets" combines the charm of "Animal Crossing" with the classic care-taking of "Tamagotchi." Customize your cute companion with trendy outfits and accessories, and watch as it playfully interacts with your desktop environment.

"Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn"

From the creators of "Ashen," "Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn" invites players to partake in a mythic struggle against divine oppressors. Armed with both gunpowder and sorcery, this game challenges you to lead humanity's fight for liberation from the clutches of tyrannical deities.

"Cato"

Imagine resolving the world's energy crisis through the whimsical buttered cat paradox. "Cato" presents a lighthearted platformer where you manipulate both a cat and a piece of buttered toast to navigate through gravity-defying puzzles.

"Rubato"

Described as an experimental, 2D physics-based collect-a-thon, "Rubato" casts you as a musical frog on a unique gaming adventure. This title stands out for its distinctiveness and encourages players to dive in with little prior knowledge for a fresh experience.

"Seafrog"

Skateboarding games have a new addition with "Seafrog," where players shred through expansive skatepark-like ships. Boasting intuitive gameplay that captures the essence of the sport, you'll navigate through adorable foes and tricky obstacles while performing gravity-defying stunts.

Riven

Set for release later this month, the remake of Riven is poised to be a glorious resurgence for one of the most iconic puzzle games ever created. Originally launched in 1997, this revamped version entices players with its meticulous attention to detail and a tale filled with deception. The game's visual enhancements are stunning, and the puzzles retain their intellectually stimulating charm.

Metal Slug Tactics

Metal Slug Tactics embarks on a thrilling new journey, transforming the classic arcade experience into a dynamic tactical RPG. The game prides itself on an art style true to its NeoGeo roots and incorporates rogue-lite features that promise to make every battle uniquely challenging.

The Operator

For those who have honed their investigative skills through years of crime show binges, The Operator offers a chance to put them to the test. Join the ranks of the FDI and employ their state-of-the-art software to unravel complex puzzles, analyze crime scenes, and expose the truths behind sinister murders and cyber threats.

Dungeons of Hinterberg

The picturesque Austrian Alps serve as your playground in the Dungeons of Hinterberg. With a demo that combines elements of combat with serene activities like snowboarding and coffee sampling, this game invites players to explore its mysteries as Luisa, armed with both a guidebook and a sword.

The Alters

In the sci-fi adventure The Alters, survival goes hand in hand with base-building as you attempt to flee a desolate alien world. The protagonist, Jan Dolski, must create and manage an assembly of Alters—clones with varying abilities—to navigate past hardships and confront the consequences of past choices.

Oddada

Oddada is a relaxing game that immerses players in a world of musical invention. With a variety of whimsical instruments at your disposal, the game challenges you to create and share your own distinct musical compositions, fostering a community of creativity and sound.

Hollywood Animal

Hollywood Animal takes you back to the golden era of cinema with a strategic gameplay angle. As a studio mogul, you must navigate the cutthroat film industry, make sagacious financial choices, undermine rival studios, and secure the loyalty of movie stars, while also investing in the advancement of your production capabilities.

Disco Samurai

In a neon-drenched cyberpunk setting, Disco Samurai fuses rhythmic beats with high-octane combat. The game synchronizes your movements and those of your adversaries to the soundtrack, requiring you to master the art of timing to unleash a symphony of well-orchestrated attacks.

Arranger

Arranger is a charming role-play puzzle adventure that tells the tale of Jemma, an outcast on a voyage of discovery. Its unique gameplay features an interconnected grid system that cleverly integrates movement, combat, and exploration into a captivating, puzzle-like experience.

Tactical Breach Wizards

Tactical Breach Wizards reinvents the concept of spellcasting, blending magic with strategy in a turn-based tactical game. Developed by the creators of Heat Signature and Gunpoint, this game lets you wield an array of magical powers to tactically defeat your foes and secure victory.

Creatures of Ava

Embark on an eco-adventure in Creatures of Ava, where you'll form meaningful connections with the diverse wildlife that inhabits the land. Utilize their unique abilities to traverse the planet, overcome environmental puzzles, and repel the destructive forces of the Withering to restore the world's natural splendor.

The Secret Garden's Shadow

Prepare for a daunting task as you undertake garden maintenance in Grunn. With your tools mysteriously absent, the garden's owner nowhere to be found, a ban on nighttime exploration, and an eerie presence looming, this is far more than your typical landscaping job.

Uncle Chop's Cosmic Repairs

In the roguelike adventure Uncle Chop's Rocket Shop, you're left with a DIY manual at a desolate space station. Combining the bureaucratic challenge of Papers, Please with outlandish escapades reminiscent of Regular Show, this game promises an eccentric journey through space maintenance.

Tiny Glade: Castle Creation

For those seeking serenity, Tiny Glade offers a peaceful haven where you can construct the castle of your dreams without the worries of invasions or unexpected taxes. Immerse yourself in an environment of relaxation, creative freedom, and delightful sound design.

Card-Playing Fantasy in Dungeons and Degenerate Gamblers

Dive into the world of Dungeons and Degenerate Gamblers, a roguelike that combines Blackjack with fantastical elements. Take on a tavern filled with unique characters and adapt to ever-changing game rules to ascend the ranks in this luck-based adventure.

Bloodless: The Art of Non-Lethal Combat

Set in the era of samurai, Bloodless offers a twist on traditional combat, focusing on non-lethal techniques. Step into the shoes of Tomoe, a ronin who must face her past, overthrow Shogun Akechi, and master an intricate fighting system to incapacitate her enemies with precision.

What the Car: An Automobile Oddity

Ever wondered what it's like to race in a car with legs? What the Car brings this bizarre concept to life, and PC gamers can now experience the strange thrill of maneuvering a vehicular creature in this unconventional racing game from the minds behind What the Golf and What the Bat.

Fowl Damage: A Fragile Journey

Revolutionizing the 2D platformer genre, Fowl Damage casts you as an egg navigating treacherous terrain where every fall matters. Carefully proceed through levels while resisting the urge to crack puns in this innovative and challenging twist on a classic format.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the landscape of gaming continues to evolve with inventive and diverse experiences that cater to players' wide-ranging tastes. Whether you're looking to forge connections with mystical creatures, navigate the perils of a haunted garden, run a space repair shop, build serene castles, gamble in fantastical taverns, engage in thoughtful combat, race as a legged car, or survive as a delicate egg, these games offer unique escapes from the mundane.

Each title invites you into a world brimming with creativity, challenge, and the promise of untold adventures. As developers push the boundaries of storytelling and gameplay mechanics, they remind us of the boundless potential within the realm of video games to entertain, engage, and inspire.