The mid-summer dry spell? One might argue that such a notion is a tad misguided, especially considering the vibrant offerings this week. It’s the much-anticipated Steam Next Fest, a time when gaming enthusiasts can indulge in a wealth of demos and playtests, all designed to tantalize and tease. This week is anything but dry; it’s a veritable feast for the senses.
New Game Releases
Among the plethora of demos, several noteworthy titles are making their debut:
- Stellaris: Nomads introduces a host of migrant civilizations equipped with planet-scale spaceships, enhancing the already rich tapestry of this seasoned 4X strategy game.
- Day Trade Coach offers a stock market trading simulator complete with a live news feed and an interface that mimics a professional trading terminal. A call to all day traders: your thoughts?
- Mole takes players on a journey piloting a rather unfortunate drill, guided by the whispers of the deceased beneath the Slavic soil, featuring a unique blend of analog controls and whimsical elements.
- Alaric may appeal to those who enjoy “boomer shooters,” boasting lamplit libraries, eerie barn owls, and a metroidvania level design that encourages exploration.
In a surprising twist, a football management game set in 2026, Copa City, emerges, focusing not just on the sport but on the chaos that ensues as cities brace for an influx of enthusiastic fans.
- GoblinAmerica invites players to embody every US president on a mission to restore order and rewrite history in a “squirmy, bouncy” early access FPS, showcasing a blend of charming visuals and unsettling environments.
- The Last Salvage Squad presents towering anime robots engaging in epic battles against UFOs, promising a thrilling experience for action aficionados.
- And for the chess enthusiasts, there’s a curious proposition: what if chess were to transcend into four dimensions?
Additional titles worth noting include:
- R-Type Tactics I • II Cosmos, a remastered collection of the beloved turn-based PSP reimagining of the classic R-Type shmups.
- The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales, an action-RPG crafted by veterans of Octopath Traveller and Bravely Default, featuring real-time gameplay in stunning “2D-HD” graphics.
- Mech Spa, a unique title that focuses on nurturing mechs, offering a refreshing change of pace.
- Mythic Love: Iberian Legends, an otome visual novel that explores romance and the perils of Iberian folklore.
- The Quiet Things, an autobiographical narrative that confronts childhood trauma, aiming to foster dialogue and understanding.
Lastly, Moon River presents a short, atmospheric RPG where players navigate a river that only reveals itself in moonlight, marking the full release of a previously available demo.
As for the Treehouse team, our activities this week are as diverse as the games themselves. Mark embarks on an urban adventure, possibly within a major sci-fi universe. Julian delves into the intriguing world of fungal brains, while James cautiously opens another Pandora’s Box, hoping for minimal costs. Callum and Jeremy are preoccupied with blocky gardens and artistic explorations. Meanwhile, I find myself pondering the future of trillionaires in a world devoid of the rest of us. What about you? Any plans or exciting games I may have overlooked?
