Steam Next Fest, Valve’s semi-regular celebration of Upcoming matchesIt’s back for another week of dev talks, livestreams, and an intimidating set of “hundreds” of demos that will likely frustrate even those most committed to completing it.
The proceedings are now underway and will continue until next Monday, June 26th, and Valve has sent a dossier Full list of available demos and live streams For those who are eager to dive straight in. But just in case you’re paralyzed with decision-making, here are some potentially promising places to start – based on some of the games Eurogamer has been fueling their growing excitement – below.
The list isn’t exhaustive, of course, and all of the games I’ve listed are well known quantities – it’ll take a lot of digging into Valve’s subterranean depths before the latest Steam Next Fest batch of hidden gems reveals itself. But as your search continues, perhaps the following will provide some initial inspiration—and if something catches your eye as you dig deeper, feel free to share it in the comments.
gossant
This amazing puzzle adventure from Life is Strange studio, Don’t Nod, is all about finding a way higher, taking players on a climbing journey of “Meaning” as they attempt to climb an immeasurably tall tower and uncover the mystery behind a long lost civilization. Christian actually played the show and loved it. [Demo link]
Bhutanese Palace
Balloon Studios’ Botany Manor (another place that caught Christian’s eye) is the very picture of tranquility, taking players to the titular 19th-century English home for some interesting botanicals and plant preservation. As they explore the farm and its vast grounds, they can discover seeds, pot them, and find their perfect home – with letters, newspaper clippings, and other helpful information providing clues on how to proceed. [Demo link]
camera lens
Sad Owl Studios’ Viewfinder is another one of those puzzlers built around a mind-bending premise: Players can take pictures and then superimpose them on their surroundings—at which point, everything in the image becomes a navigable 3D part of the world. We’ve been excited about this for a while now. [Demo link]
Wins
Venba by Visai Games is a narrative, culinary adventure that follows an Indian immigrant mother in Canada in the 1980s as she reconnects with her heritage by creating South Indian dishes. It’s described as a story of love and loss told through cooking and branching conversations, and if that sounds like an aperitif, Eurogamer contributor Emad Ahmed met with its developer in 2021 to find out more about Venba’s background. [Demo link]
Jumplight Odyssey
Steam may be nothing short of a spaceship management simulation, but developer Armello League of Geeks’ Jumplight Odyssey is an instantly appealing offering for a big fan of the genre like myself, blending roguelite progression with an immersive 70s sci-fi-inspired art style. -fi. anime fi. Oh, and yes, you can pet the pig. [Demo link]
Goodbye high volcano
Goodbye Volcano High is still some way off after its recent delay, but those eager to try KO_OP developer’s “hybrid cinematic storytelling game/rhythm game/interactive movie experience” — which follows a group of teenage dinosaurs as they learn to embrace and love in a swinging world Towards destruction – you can do just that with the newly updated Steam Next Fest promotion. [Demo link]
Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew
This pirate adventure from Mimimi Games feels like pure fun, combining the essence of the stealth strategy action of the studio’s games Desperados 3 and Shadow Tactics: Blade of the Shogun with some great gameplay mechanics as players explore the Caribbean in search of the legendary lost treasure of Captain Mordecai. [Demo link]
Stray Gods: The Role Play Musical
Stray Gods, from Dragon Age creator David Gaider’s Summerfall Studios, is “one part narrative-driven adventure and one part interactive musical”. The film tells the story of Grace, a young woman whose life is turned upside down after the last stalker from Greek mythology dies in her arms, and features a song by acclaimed composer Austin Wintory brought to life by a star-studded cast including Felicia Day, Laura Bailey, Rahul Kohli and Troy. Baker. . [Demo link]
hole 2
Advance-Wars strategy game based on Chucklefish, Wargroove gets a sequel brought to you by Pathway developer Robotality. His new adventure (and fun hack) extends three interwoven campaign arcs that promise new unit types and new leaders – at least some of which are set to appear in the new Steam Next Fest demo. [Demo link]
camper life
More than a decade after its original release and subsequent removal from sale, Richard Hoffmeyer’s “Kart Live” sim has been “lovingly” restored by Ad Hoc Studios for an imminent re-release. This remake remains true to the original – players will still experience the lives of three different wanderers, each with very different backgrounds – but promises new art, story content, and updated mechanics and controls. [Demo link]
underground flower
Developer Rusty Lake’s love of room escape-style point-and-click adventures is no secret — and now the studio is gearing up to return with Underground Blossom, another wistful slice of weirdness that sees players puzzle their way through Laura Vanderboom’s life and memories, gradually revealing themselves as they travel from station to station in Rusty Lake Subway System. [Demo link]
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