All articles tagged with #steam next fest
As Steam's February Next Fest winds down, Valve’s data shows Marathon leading the top-played demos after its server slam, followed by titles like Burglin' Gnomes, Windrose and Vampire Crawlers. The piece situates the moment within Valve’s broader plan for 2026: 22 themed fests on top of Next Fests and seasonal sales, adding up to 29 promotions this year and keeping a steady stream of events shaping players’ calendars.
Steam’s February 2026 Next Fest runs Feb 23–Mar 2 and offers 30 highlighted, free demos to download now (with hundreds more in the showcase), giving players an early look at a range of titles from strategy and horror to roguelikes and shooters, ahead of upcoming sales like the Steam Spring Sale.
Steam Next Fest February 2026 goes live with dozens of PC VR demos, including Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Empire City and Echoes of Mora, with demos available through March 2 at 10am PT.
New Blood CEO Dave Oshry outlines Dungeons of Dusk, a Doom/RPG-inspired dungeon crawler by Federico Szymanski, slated for mobile, PC, and consoles later this year with a Steam Next Fest demo. The game emphasizes simple, addictive on‑screen real-time combat and is designed to sit canonically between Dusk episodes. Oshry says they may skip traditional Early Access here, opting for a direct release, though an episodic approach could be possible later. Day‑one availability across PC, handhelds, and consoles (Switch/PlayStation/Xbox) is planned, with a vertical mobile UI, and there are discussions about keeping the soundtrack largely from Dusk with potential new tracks. David Szymanski has final approval but isn’t heavily involved day‑to‑day. Beyond Dungeons of Dusk, New Blood is juggling Blood West DLC, Ultrakill updates, Tenebris Somnia, and more console ports, while maintaining its founder‑driven, non‑mainstream approach to marketing and community.
Kotaku’s The Sicko’s Guide to Steam Next Fest February 2026 spotlights a curated batch of indie demos (including Corn Kidz 64, Downsouth, RUBATO, Blast Cats, PSI, Subjectivation, ChainStaff, Bad Pixels, and ᴛᴜᴍᴏʀ ɴᴇᴄʀᴏꜱɪꜱ ꜰᴀᴄᴛᴏʀ:// αᴍᴇɴ) and discusses how Steam’s discoverability can obscure hidden gems. The piece advises creators and players to bolster discovery by following developers, checking itch.io, adding demos to the wishlist, and exploring Backlogged pages to tailor Next Fest to personal tastes.
Steam Next Fest October 2025 features a week-long showcase of dozens of PC VR demos, including titles like Thrasher, Wanderer, and BattleGroupVR2, with some demos supporting optional VR and others being flatscreen-only. The event runs until October 20, 2025, and highlights upcoming releases and updates across various VR games.
Docked, a port-focused simulation game by Saber Interactive, showcased a demo at Steam Next Fest emphasizing container handling and heavy machinery operation, with gameplay centered around moving containers using cranes and other port equipment, though full port management features are still to be revealed.
The article reviews the Bus Bound demo showcased at Steam Next Fest, highlighting its focus on city bus driving in Emberville, with realistic AI traffic and a laid-back vibe, but questioning its long-term appeal and depth compared to other simulation games, with a full release expected in 2026.
Steam Next Fest June 2025 offers a wide array of 25 game demos across genres like roguelites, puzzles, action, and strategy, providing gamers with a chance to try new titles before their official release, just before the upcoming Steam Summer Sale.
Image Power will showcase a demo of their game Haunted House Renovator during Steam Next Fest from June 10-17, following successful playtests and surpassing their Kickstarter funding goal. The game involves restoring haunted houses by dealing with paranormal elements and decorating them. Console versions are also planned.
Tribes 3 Rivals, the highly anticipated multiplayer shooter, has received a positive reception and is set to launch in early access on Tuesday March 12 via Steam. Developed by Prophecy Games, the game offers fast-paced gameplay with jetpack flight and 'skiing' mechanics, and features a competitive 7v7 mode and a more casual 16v16 format. With a discounted launch price of $17.99, it aims to honor the series' legacy while introducing fresh elements to keep gameplay exciting and engaging.
Steam Next Fest offers PC gamers the opportunity to sample early preview demos from the comfort of their homes. Among the standout demos are Backpack Battles, a game focused on inventory management and automatic battles, and Balatro, a compelling roguelike experience based on crafting the best poker hands and managing a delicate economy of in-game deals.
Dungeonborne was the most played game during February's Steam Next Fest demo, with over 19K concurrent players, propelling it from the top 500 to the top 50 most wishlisted games on Steam. The developers, Mithril Interactive, expressed gratitude for the feedback and outlined plans to address challenges identified during the playtest. Other popular demos included Stormgate, Pacific Drive, Homeworld 3, and Backpack Battles, showcasing the diverse range of games that captured players' interest during the event.
The recent Steam Next Fest was dominated by two massive strategy games, Homeworld 3 and Stormgate, which raised concerns about overshadowing smaller indie games that could benefit more from the event's discoverability. While the festival aims to provide exposure for up-and-coming titles, the presence of these highly anticipated games, with established fan bases and significant press coverage, raised questions about the fairness of the event's charts and the potential impact on smaller developers.
Steam Next Fest 2024 is offering a plethora of video game demos to try out, including standout titles like Children of the Sun, Hollowbody, Mullet Mad Jack, Pacific Drive, Star Trucker, Summerhouse, and Tales of Kenzera: Zau, each offering unique gameplay experiences ranging from tactical puzzle shooting to immersive sim and automotive space sim genres. With the event ending on Feb. 12, gamers are encouraged to make time to explore these exciting upcoming releases before the fest concludes.