Steam Next Fest February 2025: 25 Of The Best Demos You Can Download Right Now
We're headed into a busy part of the gaming calendar, and while there are a ton of new releases that'll be competing for your attention and your wallet, you can also look forward to an all-you-can-play buffet of demos during Steam Next Fest. Live now and running through March 3, several of these demos will be time-limited and only available during this brief window, so you’ll want to play them as soon as you can.
With that in mind, we've tried to highlight a number of games with demos worth checking out while they're available. This is just a small sampling of the best demos in the Next Fest; be sure to call out any others in the comments below.
As a reminder, Next Fest is one of several events planned for 2025. Valve has confirmed the dates for several more gaming festivals that'll be hosted on Steam, as well as upcoming sales. Here's a quick rundown of what you can expect after Next Fest concludes:
- Visual Novel Fest: March 3 - 10
- Steam Spring Sale: March 13 - 20
- City Builder & Colony Sim Fest: March 24 - 31
- Sokoban Fest: April 21 - 28
- Wargames Fest: April 28 - May 5
- Creature Collector Fest: May 12 - May 19
- Zombies vs. Vampires Fest: May 26 - June 2
- Steam Next Fest June Edition: June 9 - 16
- Fishing Fest: June 16 - 23
- Steam Summer Sale: June 26 - July 10
Demon Tides
It feels like we're in a new golden age of platformers, and Demon Tides looks set to be another fun entry in the genre. It looks like Super Mario Sunshine if it were designed by late Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama, and the full game will feature a seamless world to explore while making use of a deep move-set.
Post Trauma
Described as a survival-horror game inspired by the best of the genre, Post Trauma is all about solving fiendishly clever puzzles while also exploring a twisted reality full of nightmarish creatures. As Roman, a train conductor stuck in a world full of monsters, you’ll have to choose when to fight and when to flee from the dark creatures hunting you.
Vector Strike
Soccer is a popular sport enjoyed by millions worldwide, but can it be improved? Developer Chamo Games certainly thinks so, and Vector Strike is an interesting proof of concept for how double-jumps, wallrunning, and explosive telekinetic powers can make soccer even more exciting.
PUBG Blindspot
A dynamic 5v5 tactical-shooter, the game formerly known as Project ARC is now PUBG: Blindspot. Not only do you have to contend with other well-armed players in cramped corridors, you have to outwit them by playing as a team and making use of shared strategic resources to triumph.
Gothic Remake
It has been a hot minute since THQ Nordic had any new details on its upcoming remake of 2001's Gothic, but it looks like fans of the old-school RPG will be able to experience a new demo of the game for themselves during Next Fest. We're still not certain what to expect from this fantasy RPG, but back in 2021, Barcelona-based developer Alkimia Interactive did say that it was aiming to create a high-quality experience for fans of the Gothic series.
Static Dread
Lovecraftian horror meets Papers, Please, Static Dread places you inside of an ancient lighthouse and tasks you with keeping the beacon lit so that ships can find safe passage through the dark tides. Each night will have new horrors waiting for the lighthouse keeper, and it's only a matter of time before he falls victim to the Eldritch terrors that have consumed the world.
The Horror at Highrook
This occult card-crafting narrative-RPG sees a team of investigators explore a haunted mansion, and as one of them, you'll have to explore what really happened to the Ackeron family. The full game will offer several unique characters to play as--Mechanist, Plague Doctor, and Scholar--a non-linear crafting system, and plenty of dread as it's inspired by the works of HP Lovecraft, Edgar Allen Poe, and Bram Stoker.
Cattle Country
For something less suspenseful, you can check out this charming Stardew Valley-inspired game. Cattle Country invites you to explore a new frontier, as you'll get to make a home in the mountains, take on bandits, and build your own farm. As you'd expect, you'll also get to venture into a nearby town where you can make friends with the locals or enjoy more slice-of-life activities.
Lost Skies
Grappling hooks remain one of the coolest things to have in video games, and in Lost Skies, you'll get to use that humble mode of travel to swing between various islands and explore some ancient architecture. While there's more to the game--from survival elements to co-op for up to six players--it's the freedom to seamlessly traverse the world with a selection of skyships and tools that looks like it'll be a big draw for Lost Skies.
Total Chaos
Developer Trigger Happy Interactive had a heck of a debut in 2023 with its neon-soaked boomer-shooter Turbo Overkill, but for the studio's next project, it looks like horror and good ol' ultraviolence is on the menu. Set in the spooky locale of Fort Oasis, Total Chaos pits you against various monsters, and you'll need to scavenge for resources that you can use to craft weapons that can help you survive against these nightmarish and relentless foes.
Hauntsville
A survival game set in the American West, Hauntsville is all about setting up your very own homestead during a pivotal period in American history and then fighting to protect it from monsters that emerge at night. The game features dynamic systems to keep you on your toes, and with an authentic eye for detail, it's also a history lesson for the ages when you're not unloading some iron into the torso of a homicidal monster.
Is This Seat Taken?
An answer to one of the oldest questions that has plagued mankind over the centuries, Is This Seat Taken is a charming little puzzle game where you get to play matchmaker. It's a game that's all about putting people in the right seat, as you'll have to do some human-organizing across crowded buses, bustling cinemas, and other levels where space is at a premium.
Camper Van
If you've considered an escape from the rat race, then there's a pretty good chance that you've eyed a few ads for camper vans. They are a bit on the expensive side, but fortunately, you can own a digital version of that classic ride in Camper Van: Make It Home. Another game full of organizational puzzles, you'll get to customize the interior of your dream home-on-wheels before you set off on a reflective journey to help recharge your soul.
Everhood 2
The first Everhood game in 2021 was wonderfully weird, and naturally, its upcoming sequel is looking to crank up the bizarre factor to 11. Billed as an "unconventional ARPG" with rhythmic combat, the full game will have over 100 musical tracks for you to battle across and trippy visuals to complement its strange story.
Fumehead
A hero-focused turn-based RPG set in a dystopian underground world, Fumehead will let you take control of the characters Jack and Ami as they face off against an alien disease that has begun to corrupt their world. If you're a fan of RPGs with complex gameplay systems, then Fumehead might satisfy your hunger for a deep tactical-RPG experience.
Empyreal
Set in a far-flung corner of the galaxy, Empyreal is an action-RPG that features a complex combat system and formidable foes to test your skills out on. The full game will offer customizable characters, tons of weapons, and an ancient world to explore.
Deliver At All Costs
There's a thrill to be had in games that feature destruction physics, and Deliver At All Costs looks like a fun take on the delivery genre. As the go-to driver in the town of St Monique, you'll need to deliver all kinds of packages to their destinations as quickly as possible and without asking too many questions. Set in 1959 as the Cold War starts to heat up, you can expect to cause plenty of destruction and deal with the consequences later. Sure, the local fuzz might want to lock you up after your attempt to Tokyo-drift through a store brought the whole joint down, but at least you got your package to its destination in time!
The King is Watching
City-building games can be exciting, especially when you've managed to craft a metropolis that runs like clockwork even when you're not taking an active hand in its development. The King is Watching puts an interesting twist on that idea, as not only will you have to run a kingdom, but you'll have to keep an eye on your local peasants to make sure that they're not slacking off. Every system is interconnected, and with its minimalist design, it looks like a fascinating dip into ye olde medieval management.
Nitro Express
2D run-and-gun games are as popular as they used to be, but every so often a new entry in the genre pops around to grab your attention. Nitro Express doesn't look complicated, but it does look cathartic thanks to its anime-inspired art direction, legions of enemies, and an arsenal of weapons to master.
A-RED Walking Robot
Anyone looking to jump into a digital toybox can check out the demo for A-RED: Walking Robot during Next Fest, as this looks like a fun combination of puzzles and obstacle courses. It's up to you to pilot a cute little wind-up robot through these levels, as you'll race against the clock to get the little mechanical fella through each stage.
Wartorn
Wartorn has a great elevator pitch, as this game is a fusion of real-time tactics and roguelite influences. As you'd expect, you'll need to put together a team of talented spellcasters to take on the forces of darkness, pay careful attention to the ever-shifting battlefield, and make use of squad combos to emerge victorious.
Hyperslice
Sure, your spaceship might look like a Windows 95 mouse cursor going through a Goth phase, but in Hyperslice, that little ship is a force to be reckoned with. After all, why bother with lasers when you can slice through enemies with your spacecraft and turn them into projectiles in turn? A fast-paced roguelike, you'll need quick reflexes and the right upgrades if you want to survive for a lengthy time in Hyperslice's sci-fi arena.
Wildkeeper Rising
Wildkeepers Rising looks like an interesting new addition to the Survivors-like genre, thanks to an interesting ace up its sleeve to help set it apart from other games in this category: collectible monsters! Imagine Vampire Survivors meets Pokemon, and you'll have a good idea of what to expect here as you'll get to discover and tame powerful creatures that can assist you in battle.
Monster Train 2
The original Monster Train was a big hit, and for the sequel, developer Shiny Shoe is building on that success with new clans, enemy factions, challenges, modes, and more. In case you missed the first game, you can check out the demo that serves as a fun crash-course into this deck-building roguelite ahead of its full release later this year.
Radiolight
Something strange is going down in the small town of Ashwood Creek, and as a police officer, it's up to you to figure out this mystery as you journey into the unknown. Radiolight looks like the kind of game that'll keep you on the edge of your seat with its haunting design, and if a constant sense of dread sounds like a good time to you, then you'll want to grab this demo and start exploring the darkness around you. Think fast, run faster, and trust no one in this spooky slice of '80s mystery.
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