15 Steam Next Fest Games You Must Try

Steam Next Fest has become a favorite seasonal event at Valve’s gaming storefront. This special event will help gamers discover the coolest upcoming titles from indie studios, and we’re looking forward to it. Next Fest will feature free demos of some of the best upcoming games. And, as tradition pervades, we once again took a thorough look at the product and tried out some of the demos. To save you time and get the best of the best, we’ve compiled a list of our favorite Steam Next Fest games to download and play. So, let’s open Steam and get started.

1. Ghost Runner 2

Ghostrunner has always been a game for the fastest and most dangerous slasher gamers . Ghostrunner 2 follows the same FPP action set in a turbulent post-apocalyptic theme that some will love and others will hate due to its difficulty. The sequel takes place after the events of Dharma Tower and sees Jack tending to an AI cult bent on destruction.

Ghostrunner 2 brings back the one-hit-kill mechanic, but spices it up with new katana actions that are more violent than ever. The game has been expanded non-linearly to cover other areas. A new bike section is also included to make exploring even more fun. So if you finished the first game quickly and want a sequel, check out this free demo during Steam Next Fest 2023.

Download Ghostrunner 2

2. Deep Rock Galactic Survivor

Deep Rock Galatic is an underground cave resource shooting game that has been extremely popular all over the world since its release in 2018. But Deep Rock Galactic: Survivor is literally a step forward from a different perspective. The next game is set from a top-down perspective , and the mechanics are simplified compared to the original.

Players, or “miners”, are dropped onto the planet Hox IV, where they must defeat hordes of oncoming enemies and finally an alien boss. DRG Survivor has an auto-fire mechanism, so you don’t need to point. However, there will be hordes of enemies, so be sure to walk around, eliminate them and mine minerals.

It might be a bit too simple for DRG veterans, but if you’re always confused by the main game but still want some action, it’s worth a try.

Download Deep Rock Galactic Survivor

3. Laika: Old through blood

Of all the games available at Steam Next Fest, Laika: Aged through Blood is a very different game. The game is, as described, a ” Western-style motorvania ” that lives up to its word. At the heart of Laika’s gameplay is a clever interconnection between lots of bike riding, deadly bloody shooting, and plenty of bullet time to go along with it.

It may seem simple, but riding your bike through an endless maze of enemies and shooting them at the same time can be overwhelming. But woven into it is a very gripping story about revenge, sacrifice, and giving back what was once lost to the tribe, making all the pain worth it.

Download Leica: Aged Through Blood

4. Magician

Diablo fans will especially love this top-down, story-driven adventure. Created as a complete RPG, Thaumaturge is set in 20th century Warsaw. In the game, a being called Thaumaturge has extraordinary perception that can detect a person’s aura, emotions, and even future actions. The main character, Victor, is a magician who is looking for a healer who can cure his illness and restore his connection to his monster friend Upil.

The game follows turn-based combat, with the player choosing specific moves and gauging the enemy’s reactions. Thumaturge is top-down, but with cinematic cut-scenes complete with skills and a complex story that ties everything together. So if you’re looking for a slightly darker RPG adventure, play this demo at Steam Next Fest.

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5.Jusanto

Jusant is a calming, melodic, and anxiety-inducing action puzzle climbing game. It seems to be set in a world where the water has receded, and the main character is on the ocean floor. Then the character sees a high mountain and decides to climb it. Climbing in Jusang is very similar to real-world scaling adventures.

You have to dynamically manage attaching carabiners and pitons to the wall, methodically squeezing the trigger to get the perfect grip, and taking breaks to build up stamina. Inside, you’ll find the perfect backdrop of calming music, great lighting, and an art style that will make you feel right at home. So if you want a peaceful yet simulated climbing adventure, give Jusant a try.

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6. Anima Flux

Anima Flux is a co-op Metroidvania featuring two hardened special agents living in a dictatorship. Their only human city is under constant invasion by organized mutants. That’s where you and your friends come into play, eliminating the mutant swarms and saving the colony.

Anime Flux remixes two genres into one : Metroidvania and couch co-op . Both characters develop differently as the game progresses and the game includes some scary locations. Although Anima Flux is made with co-op play in mind, the developers have confirmed that the game can also be played solo.

Download Anima Flux

7. The Last Exterminator

Oh yeah, for the Steam Next Fest demo list, you should at least cram some Boomer Shoots into the list. And what better game could we recommend than The Last Exterminator? In this title that has impressed the entire retro shooting community, you step into the shoes of Kira Parker, an exterminator barely scraping by. Luckily, an alien invasion begins and the only thing Kira had, her van, is destroyed.

The Last Exterminator features serious FPS gameplay inspired by titles like Doom, Blood, and Duke Nukem. It runs on its own engine and is similar to titles like SiN and Kingpin. Additionally, at launch it will offer modding options for players who enjoy it, episodic levels with numerous secrets to uncover, and serious shooter gameplay. The Steam Next Fest demo includes the first level of Episode 1.

Download Last Exterminator

8. Robocop: Rogue City

If I started talking about Paul Verhoeven’s RoboCop movie, this article would expand into a fanboy review. And I don’t want to take away such an opportunity with an editor. Naturally, given my appreciation for RoboCop, I decided to take a look at RoboCop: Rogue City, the serious FPS featuring the half-human, half-machine, all-cop hero that many of us grew up watching. I had to add it.

Rogue City contains an original story that takes place between RoboCop 2 and RoboCop 3 . Play as Alex Murphy, a literal walking tank, solving crimes and eradicating evil gangs in futuristic Detroit. The gameplay is AA standard, with the stiffness of Teyon’s Terminator titles, but you can ignore all that thanks to the fun gameplay.

The Steam Next Fest demo includes three linear levels and an open hub world to explore. So take my word for it and give RoboCop: Rogue City a try. You won’t be disappointed.

Download Robocop: Rogue City

9. Detective Dotson

It’s unrealistic to think that no developer has explored something as vibrant and quirky as Bollywood or the modern Indian setting so noticeably. The Dotson Detective Development Team in India recognized this and sent the two a beautiful love letter. In “Detective Dotson,” he plays a junior detective living in modern-day India who gets caught up in big trouble.

You collect clues, explore beautifully recreated Indian locations, solve cases, and live out quirky and fun experiences. The game will also include an episodic prequel show, which will be a multimedia project. Indian pop culture is rarely represented in video game form, but the demo only got us excited for the final title.

Download Detective Dotson

10. Mr. Peppermint’s Revenge

We’ve come a long way since the days when Kunio-kun and Capcom dominated side-scrolling fighting games. As the gameplay landscape changed, attention to the genre waned. However, few developers realize that the love and appreciation for fighting games still exists. Mr. Peppermint’s Revenge, that’s what it is. It takes inspiration from classic Korean crime dramas like the Revenge series, and the inspiration is obvious.

This is a hardcore side-scrolling violent game in which we play as a hard-boiled detective to take revenge against his and his sister’s kidnappers. Vengeance of Peppermint claims that any act of cruelty in the final game will cause Peppermint’s mind to collapse and the game to change. It’s brutal with art inspired by the Kunio-kun games and smooth combat animations. For those who love Korean thrillers, this demo is a godsend and a must-try.

Download Mr. Peppermint’s Revenge

11. Japanese Drift Master

Horse racing fans have always wanted Japan to be the stage for their races. Especially arcade racing fans. That dream was shattered when Forza Horizon 5 was set not in the narrow alleyways and neon-lit streets of Tokyo, but in the vibrant streets of Mexico. Fortunately, many indie developers are working on creating that experience themselves. And Japanese Drift Master is one such great initiative.

A play on words for the Japanese Domestic Market (JDM), this game lets you customize and create your dream drift car and race it around the island. Featuring an atmospheric small town with lots of traffic, a dynamic day/night cycle, a robust car customization system, and a single-player story with a foreigner trying to make a name for himself in the drifting scene, JDM is the perfect arcade I’m trying to fulfill my desires. A drifting game set in Japan. This game will allow you to experience the impressive and powerful Japanese car culture.

Download Japanese Drift Master

12. My work is not finished yet.

The name “My Work is Not Yet Done” may be quite unusual, but the plan is impressive. what we love. This is a story-driven, investigative horror game that combines the survival and simulation genres. This story depicts the last days of a surviving scientific expedition in a remote and missing region of a sinking country.

The game boasts a non-linear plot that explores the collapse of human identity. In addition, there are unlimited research and analysis operations, ghostly radio signals, and ever-changing landscapes restored by nature. It has stylish art , vividly reminiscent of the 1-bit art style previously seen in World of Horror, developed by Panstasz. This is a horror game that deserves attention.

Download My work is not done yet

13. Empty Shell

Another tradition we wisely follow here when creating the Steam Next Fest list is adding HyperStrange titles. The reason is simple. They publish and develop notable titles. ‘Empty Shell’ is one such title and will be released in just a few days.

Developed by CC ARTS, Empty Shell is a top-down survival rogue-lite shooter set in a dark industrial environment. It takes place in a secret facility on a Japanese island, and you play as a volunteer. These volunteers sign contracts for unsafe recovery work. Each time you die, you take on the position of a new volunteer, with randomly generated equipment and a map to explore.

You can optionally solve puzzles and collect logs that provide background for the story. Empty Shell manages to introduce a tense atmosphere to the Steam Next Fest demo, and we recommend it for that reason. Also, progress from the demo will be carried over to the final title.

download empty shell

14. Silent Train

It’s always fun to play co-op horror games. It provides some memorable moments, and honestly, who doesn’t like seeing someone close to them play a video game and get a little scared? The upcoming co-op horror game Silent Rain will provide that experience.

A cooperative horror game where you team up to explore a haunted house. This is also the title of Hide and Seek, where you have to protect yourself from a mad doctor who roams the mansion. You and your friends will work together to solve puzzles and challenges while unraveling the mysteries of this creepy mansion. The demo gives you a glimpse of what’s to come. Take note if you want to play horror titles with your friends.

download siren train

15. Dad, please forgive me 2

Forgive Me Father, developed by Byte Barrel, brings several new features. Bringing you a new story inspired by Lovecraftian mythology. It delivers satisfying first-person shooter (FPS) gameplay with light RPG mechanics through skill trees. And it brings a unique art style inspired by old pulp fiction and comic books. Forgive Me Father 2 is similar in a good way.

Continuing the story of the Priest character from the first game, it once again throws you into the midst of spooky horror. The game comes with a dynamic madness system, a new story, and an original dynamic soundtrack. The moment-to-moment gameplay is similar to its predecessor, but it aims to provide an enjoyable experience. After all, why change something that works? It’s a fun demo, so give it a try.

Download “Dad, please forgive me 2”

That concludes the list of Steam Next Fest 2023 demos. Each of these demos got us excited for the final release. Have you tried any of the demos that impressed you? Let us know in the comments below.