Seeing as Steam Next Fest ends about 12 hours from now, I’d like to describe / review some demos I’ve been played over the week. Hopefully, at least some of these games haven’t been mentioned before, apologies for bumping the thread:

• No, I’m not a Human: Easily my favorite demo of Steam Next Fest. The game presents a kafkaesque scenario in which you must let in humans, but keep out “Visitors” from your own home. The game is intentionally (and consistently) ugly, in a way where even the humans are ugly. The game has a collage like aesthetic, much like the creepy Nickelodeon show Angela Anaconda. This is my favorite type of horror (eerie and weird!), all without resorting to cheap methods like jumpscares. Aspects of the demo are randomized, so there’s lots of replayability.

• Bloodthief: Oh man. As a fan of games like Dusk, Ultrakill, Celeste, and Super Meat Boy, this is a game that was made for me. It’s like a precision platformer in first person with hack and slash elements… I am going to spend a lot of time on this when it comes out lol

• Ball x Pit: basically Atari breakout combat (against tetris shaped enemies) with roguelike elements. Also, you craft and build outside of combat. I’m interested to see how these different genre elements will play out in the final release.

• Bits & Bops: Beautiful rhythm based game, thats fun, charming, and family friendly. Apparently a spiritual successor to Rhythm Heaven, which I have not played. Has a native Linux build. I encountered some bugs (the game would sometimes freeze when transitioning from tutorial to game, or restarting a stage)

• Project Arrow: Puzzle platformer with some precision platforming elements and combat (involving a bow and arrow). Adorable cat protagonist. Synthwave soundtrack, plays great with mouse and keyboard.

• The Adventures of Sir Kicks A Lot: Surprisingly deep immersive sim with hack and slash elements. Despite the Minecraft aesthetic, the animations are surprisingly fluid and funny at times. There’s some DNA of Dishonored and Thief in here, where you are rewarded for creativity.

• Kity Builder: Simply adorable. It’s a calm game in which you are free to build on a remote island. In fact, there are no limits: you do not have to gather resources, farm materials, or grind to build. You can also place as many buildings as you like (and you have to, to get around the island)

• Dispatch: Surprising depth to the hero dispatch mechanics. Funny cutscenes (although the humor might not be for everyone). Cutscene interactions remind me of the Telltale games (to be expected, since some of the employees worked on this). Has a star studded cast that makes it feel like you’re playing a high budget TV show

• Platypus Reclayed: Remake of older 2004 game. Side scrolling ship shoot-em up with hi-res clay models, and has 2 player local coop. Pretty fun.

• Evolve Lab: Async multiplayer rougelite in which you (auto-) battle sea creatures that you can upgrade between rounds. Pretty fun for the small amount of time I played

• Forestrike: Roguelite martial arts game in which each battle can be rehearsed infinitely in your character’s mind (before actually trying it in the real world). You are encouraged to rehearse extensively, since what happens in a real world fight (like getting hit, or having a hostage die) is permanent in your run. An interesting, political story is teased in the demo.

• Pigface: Very dark, gritty immersive sim in which you play as an assassin, taking contract jobs. Atmosphere almost feels like Manhunt, although not quite as dark. Feels more like a PS2 game than PS1. AI could use some work but the potential is definitely there.

• Wander Stars: Animation and character designs are an obvious love letter to DBZ. Gameplay is turn based combat, where you arrange words to create your attack. You know how in anime they shout words before their attacks? The combat is literally that lol. Note that it’s a roguelite so dieing puts you at the beginning of a map (or forces you to load). I’m somewhat mixed on this structure (for this type of game), but we’ll see how it goes when the game releases.

• Öoo: Cute puzzle platformer and metroidvania where the title looks like the main character lol. You use bombs to break obstacles and reach certain areas.

• Ratatan: Rhythm based roguelite where you command a small group of creatures to fight bosses and other enemies. It definitely has a “kawaii” aesthetic, so not for everyone. Overall really fun

• The Drifter: Point and click game with an interesting story and great voice acting. I won’t mention more, to avoid spoiling the story

• Demonfo: The only VN on my list. It is also a point and click game. Interesting story that kind of reminds me of Urban Myth Dissolution Center. Surprisingly funny, at times.

Special mentions:

• Undermine 2 and Neon Abyss 2: I’ll be honest, I thought these were only ok as singleplayer experiences. However, they look like they might be fun games to play in online coop.