Steam Next Fest is in full swing, giving PC gamers a chance to try thousands of upcoming titles for free. The week-long digital event on Steam runs through March 2 and lets players download and play demos from unreleased games, watch developer livestreams, and take part in Q and A sessions with the people making the games.
Steam Next Fest happens several times a year, but this edition is one of the largest to date. The official festival page lists more than 3,400 playable demos from every genre you can imagine. The store organizes games into sections like Recommended For You and Trending Picks, along with genre categories such as RPG, Simulation, Strategy, Horror, Action, and Hero Shooters. There are also filters for Sub‐Genres, Themes, Moods, Multiplayer Support, Platform Compatibility, and more to help players find exactly what they want.
Every demo in the festival is free to download and play while the event is live. That gives players a chance to explore games they might not otherwise try, from big indie projects to hidden gems from small teams. Once you find something you like, you can add it to your wishlist so Steam notifies you when the full version is released.
Vacation Cafe Simulator (Image: Alice Games)
There are too many demos to list them all, but some of the most talked about titles include Vacation Cafe Simulator, where players build and manage a café and restaurant in Italy, and Pratfall, a co-op adventure where friends fall, dig, and explode their way down into dangerous caves in search of a lost dog. Horror fans are trying out What Is The Ghost, an investigative game that sends players into haunted locations to gather evidence and survive eerie encounters.
Scriptorium (Image: Yaza Games)
Scriptorium offers an entirely different pace, turning medieval art creation into its own unique gameplay experience. Action lovers are digging into Mecha BREAK, a futuristic combat game. Dark fantasy release Morbid Metal blends melee combat with deep progression, while Realm of Ink combines roguelike gameplay with an ink wash visual style.
KAISERPUNK (Image: Overseer Games)
Strategy and simulation fans have plenty to choose from as well. Synergy and KAISERPUNK give players tactical decision-making and city-building options, and narrative fans are exploring story-rich experiences like The Mermaid Mask, a detective adventure game, and Tavern Keeper, a cozy-chaotic simulator, all waiting to be tried before they launch.
Tavern Keeper (Image: Greenheart Games)
The length and depth of demos vary. Some are short, while others let players dive deep into early versions of the game. Many developers are also hosting livestreams throughout the week to show off their projects, give updates, and answer questions from players live.
Gamers can jump in, head to the Steam Next Fest page on Steam, browse the demos that catch their eye, and download them for free. With thousands of titles available now through March 2, there are endless ways for a player to discover their next favorite game.
0 Comments