Steam Next Fest came and went, and as is tradition here, we dove into its pool of demos, hoping to discover a few interesting gems. As always, our experiences were a bit of a mixed bag: from genuinely promising survival horror titles through somewhat lackluster projects to games that outright refused to properly work, we most certainly saw both ends of the quality spectrum. Below are the titles we had the most fun with – games that we ourselves would recommend that you try.
Industria 2
Ironically, one of our favorite demos from the Fest ended up being a sequel to a game that we wrote a fairly scathing review for a few years ago. That said, the Industria 2 we tried was a genuinely atmospheric and well-crafted experience that seemingly managed to improve upon its predecessor in every way, offering satisfying survival horror gameplay, a brilliant atmosphere, and gameplay mechanics that focus on conserving ammo and scavenging for resources as the player tries to make every bullet count. A very pleasant surprise, all in all.
GlitchSPANKR
One of the first things we tried when Next Fest first launched was GlitchSPANKR, and boy did we make the right choice with this one. Starring a young boy who literally goes into his 90s computer to hunt down a pesky – yet oddly talkative – virus with a fly swatter, developer TheClassifiedX’s project gave us quirky writing, surprising twists and a bizarre sense of humor that never failed to shock and entertain. If you’re looking for something out of the ordinary, this is it.
The Dark Rites of Arkham
A pixel art point & click adventure from the developer of An English Haunting and Nightmare Frames, The Dark Rites of Arkham – as its name implies – will have you investigating Lovecraftian secrets. This, too, is certainly a promising project to keep an eye on – we just wished the demo was longer. Much longer.
Warhammer 40,000: Mechanicus II
This sequel to 2018’s Mechanicus is a turn-based tactical RPG set in the dark and grim future of Warhammer 40,000, featuring an intriguing plot and solid characters that align well with the complex lore of the 40k universe. Overall, we found it to be an enjoyable tactical experience that will likely satisfy fans of the genre and/or the setting.
Final Sentence
A surprisingly inventive party game that combines typing with… battle royale elements. You’re in a huge room with dozens of other players: there’s a typewriter in front of you, and a gun held to your head, loaded with a single bullet. You type in the necessary sentences as fast as you can, but beware: if you keep making mistakes, the guard standing at your desk will pull the trigger. No pressure, eh?
Painted in Blood
A boomer shooter with a fantastic art style, Painted in Blood was a nostalgic trip down memory lane. Its retro-inspired visuals, fast-paced FPS action and gritty atmosphere grabbed our attention immediately, making it one of the more memorable demos of the Fest.
Unmourned
Aside from one or two annoying jump scares, Unmourned was a fairly atmospheric horror experience with some genuinely good ideas and great visual tricks; additionally, the game’s main antagonist actually felt both creepy and menacing, which is always a plus in a game like this.
Species: Unknown
A co-op horror game with gameplay that feels like a combination of Alien: Isolation and Lethal Company. The setup is simple: you and your friends board a derelict spaceship to try and complete specific objectives while being hunted by the monster that killed the crew. It sounds great on paper, but the demo’s lack of variety (one level and only two creatures) made it a disappointingly short-lived experience that we didn’t feel to need to replay. With more content, though, it could be a great game to play either alone or with friends, and we still maintain that it’s worth trying at least once.
Ground Zero
Korean Resident Evil. No, really. Ground Zero imagines a post-apocalyptic scenario where most of South-Korea was devastated by a catastrophic event, turning the country’s inhabitants into flesh-eating zombies. It also features fixed camera angles, item management, and pretty much all the things you would expect from a retro-style, RE-inspired game.
Ire: A Prologue
We’re still not entirely sure how to feel about this one, but the start was… promising enough. The dark corridors of the old ship you explore in the demo are decently atmospheric, albeit the “hide from the monster” mechanic is given no time to shine, as the demo ends right as the apparent stalker/big bad arrives, leaving us with more questions than answers.
Bio Goddess: Doomsday Begins
Yes, it's just a Resident Evil clone with a pretty girl protagonist, and it is slightly rough around the edges, but we enjoyed it for what it was. It could end up being a decent zombie shooter with a bit more polish.
