Valve is currently hosting the “Steam Next Fest” from June 10th until June 17th, offering hundreds of games to try out with new betas and demos for upcoming releases.
Alongside the demos, there are special offers on games with discounted prices, which might pique your interest. However, my primary focus is on the demos for upcoming games.
I’m fed up with mundane AAA announcements from major corporations that feature progressive, unattractive androgynist characters or focus on identity politics or are simply developed by those who harbor hatred and resentment towards their own audience. This ultimately dooms their games, such as BioWare’s upcoming release of Dragon Age: The Veilguard.
Frankly, my enthusiasm for gaming has waned due to the influx of games made primarily to adhere to ESG/DEI policies for easy capital financing rather than for consumer enjoyment, I’d be lying if I said otherwise.
I wish for the entire industry to crash and burn, a scenario that seems increasingly likely based on Sony’s PlayStation chief architect Mark Cerny’s comments. He predicted that game development timelines will only lengthen, as games have became unsustainable from a business perspective due to astronomically high costs, resulting in countless developers laying off workers or dissolving entire studios after one commercial failure.
For game developers to course correct and move away from this diversity and equality agenda, consumers would ultimately have to wait several years to see the results. Until then, we are stuck with a never-ending stream of unattractive, androgynous creations and forced narratives, as corporations prioritize political pandering over consumer satisfaction.
They will all falter one by one; it’s only a matter of time.
In the meantime, I relish indie games. They are the last hope for gamers seeking cheap, simple fun, made by developers who create games out of passion rather than as a means to push an ideology (mostly).
Indie developers aim to flex their creativity and produce smaller games that cater to niche audiences, and I admire that, for better or worse.
That’s why we’re here. Steam’s Next Fest celebrates upcoming games, allowing gamers to explore and experience new releases through playable demos to generate excitement and hopefully boost sales. I’ve compiled a list of games with available demos that you might be interested in trying.
From action-packed racers and first-person shooters to artsy exploration games, simulators, and the occasional eroge, there are countless options to choose from this time around. To help you get started with some new games, here are a few recommendations:
AKIMBOT, developed by Evil Rapture, is one of the many games on this list that we’ve previously covered. This artsy action-adventure game, featuring platforming elements, aims to evoke nostalgia reminiscent of Ratchet & Clank and Jak and Daxter. With plenty of enemies to smash, explosions, and weapon enhancements, it’s definitely worth checking out.
ASKA, developed by Sand Sailor Studio, is a Viking-themed open-world survival game that supports cooperative play for up to four players. It combines the open-world survival crafting experience with colony simulation, allowing you to command and organize NPC villagers and even fight alongside them. While the game includes the option to play as immersion breaking female Vikings, you can opt to play as a male instead.
I’m just having a laugh at this point, but if you know any vibrant streamers with a strong personality, this game would be perfect for them. It’s a rather mundane game that aims to offer a somewhat realistic experience of raising an ant colony and keeping ants in general.
You need to ensure the colony is well-fed with sufficient protein and carbohydrates to keep them healthy. With what’s supposedly realistic ant behavior, you might find great enjoyment in sitting back and watching your ant farm grow from just a queen to a thriving community.
BeatRider is a charming, story-centric game developed in China, featuring strong visual novel elements. The gameplay primarily consists of typical fighting sequences with an emphasis on chaining combos. The main story progresses through random encounters, incorporating a roguelite element of randomized progression.
BLADE CHIMERA
“BLADE CHIMERA” is an upcoming action-adventure Metroidvania game developed by Team Ladybug and WSS playground, and published by PLAYISM. Set for release in 2024, the game features a dark, cyberpunk world infused with occult themes.
In “BLADE CHIMERA,” players assume the role of Shin, a demon hunter who has lost his memories. With the aid of Lux, a demon who has been transformed into his sword, Shin embarks on a journey to regain his lost skills and unravel the mystery of his missing wife. As the game progresses, Lux changes form according to the skills Shin recovers, granting access to new areas and enhancing his abilities.
The game’s narrative unfolds in a dystopian future where humanity is embroiled in a war against demons. Shin, awakened from a cryopreserved state, emerges as a pivotal warrior in this conflict. Gameplay involves navigating a desolate world, wielding various weapons such as the Lumina Sword, daggers, and guns, and utilizing a skill tree system to unlock new abilities.
“BLADE CHIMERA” is acclaimed for its beautifully animated pixel art, which adds a rich, atmospheric quality to the game’s dark and futuristic setting.
Blazing Trail is an action-packed, pixelated top-down shoot ’em up. You control a nuclear-powered vehicle armed with missiles, machine guns, and lasers, battling through endless swarms of terrorists across six unique levels. The game exudes retro vibes, reminiscent of classic arcade games, and supports up to two-player co-op for added fun.
CATO is an adorable puzzle platformer where you control both a black-and-white cat and a piece of buttered toast to solve puzzles. When the cat and toast combine, they create an anti-gravity effect that allows for rolls and jumps to progress through the game.
Crashlands 2 is a vibrant open-world crafting RPG where the main goal is friendship. To progress, you’ll meet and befriend a diverse range of characters, helping them achieve their goals to acquire new crafting recipes. All of this unfolds in the goofy alien world of Woanope.
Deathgrip is a fast-paced sci-fi vehicular combat racer. You’ll pilot the fastest and most lethal hovercrafts imaginable, navigating tight tracks filled with split paths, jumps, obstacles, and narrow passages while being barraged by machine gun fire and lock-on missiles. You’ll need to pitch and roll to dodge attacks and fight back to win.
DUCKSIDE is another game we’ve covered before. If, unlike me, you actually have friends, you can immerse yourself in this wacky open-world survival game that pits players against each other in a hostile environment. It’s essentially Rust with ducks wearing fancy hats. You must gather resources, build a base, gather more resources, and vent your frustrations on other players by raiding their homes, likely hurling insults all the while. It’s goofy fun.
Open-world survival games are on the rise, and Descending The Woods aims to combine such elements, offering a survival horror experience intertwined with farming simulation.
The game centers around the pitch-black, foggy abyss of the woodlands, where ghosts prey on the unfortunate. Your makeshift home is the only place blessed with sunlight, but night remains dangerous everywhere. You must work together to collect resources, with farming being the main form of progression. You can capture and breed animals, craft and purchase weapons, set up surveillance systems, and install as many lights as possible to survive the night.
Have you ever played games like “My Summer Car” or “The Long Drive” and wondered what they would be like with an eerie twist? Junkyard Journey lets you sustain yourself nutritionally as you hitch together and modify your car with whatever you find across your journey. You’ll drive through various landscapes in a world seemingly inhabited by the undead. Find food, fuel, weapons, and mechanical parts to maintain your vehicle or possibly swap to another along the way.
Dungeons of Hinterberg is an Austrian creation that attempts to mimic a cartoon style with its simplistic design, bright vivid colors, and use of screen tones. Despite this, it looks like a well-thought-out action-adventure RPG featuring magic, swords, dungeon exploration, puzzles, and rail grinding as you slay a variety of monsters. If you can overlook its art direction, Dungeons of Hinterberg looks to be one of those obscure titles that might be featured at this year’s ESG award show hosted by Geoff Keighley.
Enotria: The Last Song is a Souls-like game inspired by Italian folklore. You play as the “maskless one,” an individual without a role in a world ravaged by Canovaccio. The game features three distinct regions and 100 different enemies, offering around 40 hours of gameplay for completionists.
While the Souls-like genre is often overused, these games have a unique appeal, whether it’s the thrill of overcoming extraordinarily hard bosses or immersing oneself in dark, gritty worlds. Enotria aims to stand out with its unique masks mechanic, allowing players to take on the roles of their enemies simply by wearing their masks.
Farmer’s Dynasty 2 puts you in the countryside on a humble farm, immersing you in all things agriculture. From cultivating fields and growing crops to raising livestock and cutting down trees, you’ll build your prestigious farm. Drive a variety of tractors and other vehicles while experiencing day and night cycles and seasonal changes, which likely affect the crops you can grow.
Farwell North is an artsy indie game where you play as a vibrant Border Collie aiming to “restore color to desolate islands.” This atmospheric journey lets you explore land and sea, uncover hidden areas, and free wildlife from harm, offering a story-rich experience about saying goodbye.
Rather than Rock and Stone First Dwarf is all about Smash and Bash, it’s a simple action RPG focused on base building and exploration with dwarfs inside mech suits. Despite its promotional artwork looking a bit artificial, it’s worth a look for its unique concept.
Goblin Cleanup is a quirky cooperative cleaning simulator where you play as goblin maids tasked with cleaning and rearranging objects inside a dungeon before adventurers arrive. Reset traps, feed mimic chests, and expect up to 4-player co-op chaos. This game is sure to attract VTubers as the dungeon itself is still awash with traps that are still active, you must navigate across your deadly surroundings while cleaning up the place.
I’ve previously touched upon this unique dating simulator, set to release on July 11th, Hookah Haze boasts stunning pixel artwork of captivating heroines. In this game, you assume control of a hookah bar where you’ll encounter three eccentric girls, forming relationships with them over time.
You’ll interact with customers by serving them various flavors, leading to conversations with the heroines. The day kicks off with posting information on social media; your recommended flavors will influence who visits your store that day. With its delightful pixel artwork and charming smoke puff animations, the game promises an immersive experience.
The trial version offers a story independent of the main game, allowing you to enjoy it without any commitments. While the main game’s storyline remains shrouded in mystery until its release, it’s anticipated to delve into darker and more ominous themes.
Until July 11th arrives, the trial version promises to hook you with its hookah-themed gameplay and the endearing charm of the three eccentric girls.
I Am Your Beast
I Am Your Beast is a fast-paced first-person shooter set in the North American wilderness and military complexes. It offers a revenge thriller narrative with a fully voiced story campaign across over twenty levels.
Illusion Carnival is a 2.5D RPG with a vivid and striking color palette and art style. The game is set in a pop-up book-like amusement park, with levels reminiscent of carnival games. You’ll encounter various characters and enemies as a lost soul in a realm with no death and no escape.
Iron Meat is perfect for fans of old side-scrolling arcade shooters like Contra. This retro-themed 16-bit game pits players in an apocalyptic future where you must blast through various stages and bosses to uncover the horrors behind secret experiments on the Moon.
Kaiserpunk combines typical city-building simulation with grand strategy, set in an alternative 20th-century world. Build your city from scratch, establish an economic powerhouse, and engage in battles across air, land, and sea.
Maid Cafe on Electric Street is a delightful gem that I’ve mentioned before. In this game, you’re tasked with managing a maid café in Nipponbashi, Osaka. As you run the café, you’ll meet and converse with various members of the maid staff, and who knows, you might even find love along the way.
What truly sets this game apart, aside from its lush pixel artwork, is the opportunity to explore Nipponbashi, complete with real-life stores for added authenticity. Additionally, you can take one of the maidens out on dates to restaurants, movie theaters, parks, and more. With four charming
Metal Slug Tactics offers a dynamic tactical RPG with a “roguelike” feel, bringing a new twist to the iconic run-and-gun series. Experience early access to this long-awaited continuation of the Metal Slug series.
Mirage Feathers is a rail shooter featuring adorable loli girls. Resembling games like After Burner, you pilot a cybernetic loli in the “feather program,” experiencing fast-paced combat and destroying waves of enemy aircraft.
You know that modern AAA game development is completely fucked when meme games and asset flips exhibit more passion. Monke Simulator proves this by offering a fast-paced first-person shooter experience that not only activates your neurons but also takes you on a thrilling adventure. In this game, you’ll play as a monkey armed with various weapons, committing war crimes and other outrageous acts. Your mission? Collect all the bananas and embark on a chimp crusade unlike any the world has ever seen.
Neko Odyssey is a game tailored for cat lovers, which happens to feature pixel artwork, a personal favorite of mine. It’s a delightful 2D casual game that captures the essence of Japanese animation in its art style.
The goal is simple: search for feline mischief-makers across the land. Various locations in a small town are teeming with cats, and your objective is to hunt them down and snap pictures of them engaging in interesting activities or simply taking a nap, so you can share these adorable moments on social media.
Non Stop Drive is exactly what it sounds like: a game where a bomb is strapped to your car, and you must navigate traffic at high speeds to avoid exploding. It’s a literal interpretation of the 1994 film Speed.
I’ve mentioned Old School Rally before, and it’s exactly what the name suggests: a retro-styled rally game that takes you back to the days of V-Rally and Colin McRae Rally on the original PlayStation.
While I’m unsure if it’s worth your money compared to simply emulating those classics, if Old School Rally surpasses V-Rally 2 in terms of available tracks, cars, and possibly a track builder, it will definitely be worth the investment.
Parking Garage Rally Circuit is a quirky retro-themed arcade racing game set in a multistory car park. Master drift controls and timing to gain speed boosts, similar to Crash Team Racing. It’s simple fun.
Poetry of Blood: Eclipse is a 2D rogue-lite platformer action game with beautiful pixel artwork. As the heroine “Yue,” codenamed Ishtar, you’ll fight various enemies using different weapons, equipment, and mechs, exploring a futuristic world and uncovering hidden secrets.
Project Castaway is a first-person survival open-world crafting game where you run amok as a castaway in the Pacific Ocean. Gather resources, build a shelter, and survive the hostile environment. If you enjoy games like Stranded Deep and The Forest, this is for you.
Psionic Sentry: Infinite is a Chinese-developed third-person action shooting roguelike featuring voluptuous maidens. Battle enemies, learn their attack patterns, and choose from randomized skills. Developed by a single person over two years, it features attractive women and engaging gameplay. Find the developer on Twitter @PsionicSentry.
I don’t particularly like the design of the protagonist, but “REKA” aims to offer a unique single-player experience featuring a young apprentice witch. The main reason I was drawn to this game is the hilarious chicken-legged cottage that serves as your home throughout the playthrough, reminiscent of Howl’s Moving Castle.
In “REKA,” you’ll venture through various landscapes, complete quests, forage for ingredients, and practice your witchcraft, all from the comfort of your mobile chicken-legged home.
“Rebellion: GODSOUL Awakening” is a card battle game developed by U-Secret Studio, combining strategic card gameplay with an engaging narrative set in a fantasy world. Players partake in turn-based card battles, where strategy and deck building are essential. Each card features different characters, abilities, and spells to be used against opponents.
Players can build and customize their decks to align with their playstyle. The turn-based battles require strategic deployment of cards to outmaneuver and defeat opponents. The game emphasizes tactical thinking and planning, with each card possessing unique attributes and effects.
The game showcases high-quality artwork and animations. Each card and character is intricately designed, enhancing the game’s visual appeal.
Riven, developed by Cyan Worlds, is a remake of the 1997 original and acts as a sequel to the acclaimed game Myst. Set in the visually captivating world of the Age of Riven, players embark on a puzzle-filled adventure, delving into mysteries and uncovering the intricacies of its narrative.
Striden offers a unique twist on the multiplayer looter shooter genre, diverging from mainstream conventions. In this fast-paced game, five teams of four compete in approximately 30-minute matches, vying for resources, strongholds, and anti-radiation medicine to earn points and secure victory.
Unlike typical titles, Striden introduces a variety of classes including Assault, Engineer, Medic, Scout, and Support, reminiscent of a well-known EA multiplayer shooter. However, what sets it apart is its dynamic weapon system, where players acquire guns through looting parts during matches. These weapons span multiple historical eras, ranging from World War I and II to the Cold War.
Is it a game worth investing time in? Likely not, but currently, Striden offers a free playtest opportunity for those interested.
In “Sea Fantasy,” players immerse themselves in an action-packed RPG experience set in a fantasy realm where fishing plays a pivotal role. With 70% of the continents submerged due to human conflicts, the looming threat of the Black Dragon’s resurgence, an ominous bio-weapon from past wars further adds to the world’s turmoil.
As the protagonist, your task is to save the world through the art of fishing, aiming to reel in over a hundred diverse creatures using your trusty rod. While the game is slated for release in February 2025, a demo version is already available for players to dive into and experience firsthand.
Screw Drivers is a physics-based action racing game that lets you unleash your creativity by crafting vehicles from a wide array of parts. From trucks to tanks and even airplanes, the only limit is your imagination. Imagine configurations like 16 wheels with propellers and 50 engines, anything is possible with Screw Drivers.
The game also features online play, allowing you to race against your friends’ creations and share your own designs via the Steam Workshop. Although the full launch is scheduled for early access on June 20th, you can experience a free demo during Steam’s Next Fest.
Shadow of the Ninja – Reborn is Tengo Project’s long-awaited remake of a cult classic, cherished by fans for over 33 years. This delightful retro side-scrolling action fighter thrusts you into a world where you wield your trusty katana against a myriad of enemies.
Navigate six large, intricately designed stages filled with traps and challenging platforming puzzles that promise to keep you engaged. Five of these stages are beautifully remade, while the sixth offers a special bonus.
The remake also boasts the return of the original composer from the NES title, adding a nostalgic touch to this modern experience.
Smash Girls is an energetic action game where players participate in fast-paced battles with distinctive characters. It showcases vibrant graphics, diverse fighting techniques, and a range of modes, including single-player and multiplayer options. Players can personalize their characters, unlocking special abilities to enrich their combat prowess. The game aims to deliver an immersive and competitive experience for action genre enthusiasts.
Specifically, players can choose from four heroines, each with unique fighting styles, to conquer and “smash” their way through challenges. The erotic animations are basic Live2D.
“Ultimate Zombie Defense 2” is an action-packed co-op zombie survival game that harkens back to the classic round-based Zombies mode of older Call of Duty games.
The twist here is players must construct and fortify their bases while battling waves of the undead. Set in modern-day Europe, the game includes robust base-building mechanics, customizable weapons available for purchase on walls, unique boss encounters, and adrenaline-pumping metal music.
Players can team up in four-player co-op or brave the challenges solo. With a familiar nod to iconic Call of Duty Zombies, complete with a variety of traps, defenses, and weapon attachments, the game promises an exhilarating zombie-slaying experience.
“Underground Garage” is a car mechanic simulator that plunges players into the realm of illegal street racing and customized vehicles. Beginning as a car mechanic, players work on a diverse range of cars, enhancing them with interactive parts. The game offers both single-player and multiplayer modes, enabling cooperative garage management and semi-open world driving.
Wrapped in a dark narrative centered on Deb’s quest for vengeance, the game includes procedurally generated content, ensuring limitless gameplay experiences. It evokes memories of titles like Street Legal Racing: Redline.
“Victory Heat Rally” is a vibrant, retro-inspired arcade racing game developed by Skydevilpalm and published by Playtonic Friends. It channels the nostalgic essence of classic racing titles like “OutRun” and “Sega Rally” through its colorful visuals and fast-paced gameplay.
In this game, players can select from 12 unique “anime styled” characters and customize 12 cars to compete across 36 stages set in 12 distinct locations. Emphasizing high-speed racing with dynamic power-sliding mechanics akin to “Mario Kart,” the gameplay offers modes such as arcade, time attack, and rally mode. Additionally, split-screen multiplayer enhances competitive excitement.
Known for its lively arcade-style graphics and captivating soundtrack, “Victory Heat Rally” provides a demo version featuring four tracks, ensuring ample replayability and a taste of its thrilling racing experience.
I swear, the creators of this game must have been on something, but “WHAT THE CAR?” is a whimsical and amusing racing game developed by the Danish studio Triband.
In this unconventional title, you maneuver a car equipped with human legs, adding a distinct twist to the traditional racing genre. The game features quirky and entertaining mechanics like platforming, minigames, and comical leg expansions, ensuring gameplay remains fresh and unpredictable.
Players navigate through diverse tracks and obstacles, steering the legged car in ways that require both skill and creativity. The physics-based movement often leads to chaotic and entertaining situations, and the game’s levels are crafted to consistently surprise and delight players.
Witchroid Vania: A Magical Girl’s Fantastical Adventures
I’ve covered this game before, but “Witchroid Vania: A Magical Girl’s Fantastical Adventures” is an action-packed Metroidvania developed by CyberStep, Inc. Players assume the role of a magical girl navigating through a whimsical world brimming with enemies, puzzles, and treasures.
The game unfolds in a vast, interconnected world where exploration and backtracking are essential. Armed with magical abilities, the protagonist combats foes and solves environmental puzzles. Advancing through the game unlocks new skills and items, enabling access to previously inaccessible areas—a hallmark of the Metroidvania genre.
Featuring vibrant pixel art and a charming, fantastical aesthetic, “Witchroid Vania” captivates with its colorful graphics and endearing character designs and animations.
(18+) X-Angels
“XAngels” is an adult-themed action game developed by PlayMeow Games. It blends visual novel elements with card battle gameplay featuring erotic animations and explicit sex scenes. Players interact with various female characters, engage in combat, and navigate a storyline rich in romantic and sensual themes.
The game offers a branching narrative with multiple dialogue options, allowing players to cultivate relationships with different characters. Alongside visual novel segments, “XAngels” features action-packed card battles accompanied by enticing animations. Your choices throughout the game influence its outcome and multiple endings, enhancing replayability.
“Yuri Sword Saga” blends classic RPG features with dynamic action combat. Players partake in real-time battles utilizing diverse sword techniques and magical powers. The game boasts a captivating storyline with deep character growth. Embark on Yuri’s quest, overcoming trials and unveiling mysteries.
Customize Yuri’s abilities, weapons, and armor to suit individual play styles. Interactions with other characters shape the narrative and forge unique relationships. Player choices wield influence over the storyline’s direction and outcomes.
That wraps up the June 2024 edition of Steam’s Next Fest, featuring a total of 49 showcased games spanning various genres and demographics, ensuring something to suit every taste. Given the current state of the gaming industry, now is the ideal time to spotlight these smaller games that might otherwise go unnoticed. Many of them are crafted with care and passion by small teams or individual developers, focusing more on creativity than enforcing specific agendas or ideologies.
If you somehow miss your chance to play these games during the demo period, there’s no shame in simply opting for piracy to get your toes wet or to get a better understanding of the game upon its full release, so long as you’re more than happy to compensate the developers of the games you’ve enjoyed because they’ve earned it.
As an added bonus, particularly because this game had the misfortune of pissing me off dearly, I’ll give you one bonus game demo available right now that you should avoid.
Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown
I had my doubts about this game from the moment it was announced in 2020. Modern games, especially those leveraging nostalgia, often disappoint. Nacon acquired the Test Drive Unlimited franchise rights and handed them to KT Racing, known for their mediocre racing titles.
Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown has been heavily promoted since its 2020 announcement, with shills like BlackPanthaa endorsing it, Nacon suspiciously orchestrated a gameplay reveal event featuring BlackPanthaa and the like. Despite their efforts, the game appears more like an attempt to emulate The Crew and Forza Horizon rather than staying true to the innovative design and attention to detail that Eden Games pioneered.
My expectations were already low, but even so, the footage I’ve seen hasn’t impressed. As the game nears its September release, a preview demo recently surfaced unexpectedly. I hoped to be proven wrong, but unfortunately, Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown reaffirms my initial skepticism.
The main issue I encountered with this game was its performance and graphical glitches. It runs and feels like a poorly optimized Unreal Engine 5 game: the framerate is abysmal, textures are fucked, and objects dither. These issues may be resolved with a future driver update, but my Radeon graphics card seemed to discourage me from playing further due to these technical problems.
Beyond performance, Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown heavily emphasizes its online features as a live service game. Set in Hong Kong, a departure from the expansive Hawaiian island and Ibiza settings of its predecessors, the game’s map feels constrained and lacking vitality. Traffic spawns and disappears abruptly, making the roads feel lifeless. It seems the game relies on server-based traffic rather than creating a dynamic environment.
Further disappointment arises from races with no opponents and the removal of iconic features like the car wash, replaced with basic petrol stations for repairs. Many vehicles are recycled from past games, giving the roster a stale feel combined with outdated car models that stand out like a sore thumb versus new additions.
The handling is another letdown, with delayed responsiveness and a tendency towards oversteer, which is impossible to control and correct.
The inclusion of destructible objects adds realism but proves frustrating on narrow city streets, where collisions with obstacles drastically reduce speed. Overall, Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown feels lackluster and fails to capture the essence of its predecessors. Developed by Kylotonn, known for licensed WRC titles and games like V-Rally 4 and FlatOut 4, this game feels overly ambitious and underdeveloped despite being years in production.
Given its focus on online play and live service elements, I doubt it will find lasting success. Personally, I found the game so disappointing that I reverted to playing Test Drive Unlimited 2, even resorting to mods like Project Paradise 2 for its online features, which still host more players than Solar Crown.
Alternatively, you might consider waiting for JDM: Rise of the Scorpion’s demo on July 18th, a prequel to the upcoming JDM: Japanese Drift Master.
