Steam Next Fest: A Showcase of Unfinished Adventures
This week marks the return of Steam Next Fest, a much-anticipated event in the gaming calendar that invites enthusiasts to explore a plethora of game demos. It’s a time for gamers to indulge in the thrill of discovery, albeit often resulting in a desktop cluttered with unfinished projects. While many will download an array of demos, it’s likely that only a select few will capture their attention—unless, of course, you’re among the dedicated few like RPS supporter Mr_B, who seems to account for a significant portion of Valve’s download traffic.
This year, we’re taking a different approach by forgoing our usual wishlist feature, a decision influenced by a collective sense of nostalgia that comes with age. Instead, we’ll focus on highlighting the most exciting demos as they emerge, a shift that feels both familiar and fresh. Notably, some developers are daring to release complete games amidst the sea of prototypes and playtests. Here’s a glimpse of what’s on our radar:
- The age-old tradition of hiding spiders under cups at holiday parties has been ingeniously transformed into a video game. This quirky title comes with foil packets of power-up cards that, surprisingly, do not appear to be microtransactions. The offer of “pay 50p to skip turn” could be a tempting proposition in this context.
- Rise Of Piracy is an early access RTS published by MicroProse, allowing players to command a fleet of corsairs during the golden age of sailing. Interestingly, players can choose to engage in diplomacy and trading, making it more than just a pirate adventure.
- Emberbane presents a 2D metroidvania experience infused with elemental martial arts, likely to resonate with fans of the animated series Korra.
- Reigns: The Witcher is the latest offering from Nerial, blending deck-building mechanics with narrative elements set in the CD Projekt fantasy universe. Players step into the shoes of the infamous bard Dandelion, tasked with crafting a song about Geralt that avoids his untimely demise.
- Utawarerumono: ZAN 2 features a charming anime aesthetic combined with hack-and-slash gameplay, complete with a base management system and the amusing possibility of weaponizing squints carp.
- Spellcasters Chronicles introduces a 3v3 wizard MOBA from Quantic Dream, inviting players to engage in magical battles. Can you press X to jungle?
- Tales of Berseria Remastered is the latest revamp from Bamco, breathing new life into one of their well-regarded action-RPGs.
- Snägäri Pinball pays homage to Finland’s iconic late-night snack kiosks, where neon lights and culinary delights converge under the glow of the silver ball.
- Resident Evil Requiem is Capcom’s newest installment in the horror franchise, offering a dual experience where players alternate between third-person zombie combat as Leon Kennedy and first-person evasion as the new character Grace Ashcroft.
- Arrow World presents a unique twist on the classic sokoban genre, featuring conveyor belt mechanics that promise to ignite excitement—and perhaps a bit of frustration.
As for the RPS team, many of us are diving into the chilling world of Requiem. I’ve reached a particularly tense moment involving the formidable girlboss from the SGF demo, while Callum and Jeremy have ventured even further, sharing their thoughts on aspects currently under embargo. Meanwhile, James is also exploring the game, and we can’t forget about Mark, who is diligently working on a piece about a game involving rats, all while observing the chaos around him. What adventures are you embarking on this week?
