Steam Next Fest, the weeklong digital game festival that allows you to try a variety of demos for upcoming and unreleased games, is over. Which, let’s be honest, is a bit of a bummer – especially when you consider that some of the demos that debuted during the event are no longer available for download. This sadly includes some of our personal favorites as well, such as the endlessly atmospheric Lovecraftian detective game, Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss – if you missed it during the event, you’re out of luck.
But don’t worry, not all has been lost: many games actually “survived” the Fest, and are still available for you to try. If you’re wondering which ones are worth your time, wonder no more – below is a list of some of the coolest demos of the most recent Steam Next Fest… in our opinion, anyway. And the best part is that you can still play them! (at the time of this article’s writing, at any rate)
[Update] (March 9, 2026) Unfortunately, the demo for John Carpenter's Toxic Commando has since been removed from Steam.
Altered Alma
A fast-paced action adventure that combines gorgeous pixel art, metroidvania-inspired gameplay, a thrilling cyberpunk world and even dating sim elements. Fans of the genre will probably want to give this one a try.
DownSouth
A surreal platformer where you play as South, a purple bean exploring nightmarishly twisted dystopian cityscapes while making various moral decisions. If you're looking for something insanely unique and decidedly different, you’ll want to check this out. Trust us.
Iron Blight
An intense survival horror game that has you explore an Eastern Bloc town infested by bloodthirsty zombies. Just remember: every bullet counts.
Follow Us
A two-player cooperative horror game where each player has a very specific role to play. One of them stays within the safe confines of a van, providing guidance and information, while the other player is out there trying to explore the level, with all its unique dangers and challenges. The key to survival is simple: communicate and work together as a team. (Or die trying.)
The Occultist
A first-person adventure game with a supernatural twist. In it, players take on the role of paranormal investigator Alan Rebels as he travels to the mysterious island of Godstone in order to uncover its darkest secrets...
REPLACED
A cinematic cyberpunk action game about an AI trapped inside a human body. The game's gorgeous 2.5D visuals are backed up by a combat system reminiscent of the Arkham series, with parries, dodges and stylish finishers.
John Carpenter's Toxic Commando
A 4-player co-op FPS about teaming up and fighting hordes upon hordes of vicious, zombie-like monsters, either on foot or in a vehicle. The game's stunning visuals, intense gameplay, and focus on 4-player teamwork make this one an easy game to recommend if you've got three other friends to party up with.
