Steam Next Fest concluded recently, and so did our explorations of the many freely playable demos of the festival. Now, I realize it can be a difficult and fairly time-consuming process to sift through all these potentially interesting games to find the really worthwhile ones – which is precisely why we did it for you! So, in case you’re wondering which games you should put on your wishlist or keep an eye on, here’s a handy-dandy list of our personal favorites. Let’s get started!
Radiolight
A first-person adventure game that could probably be described as „Firewatch, but horror”, Radiolight was one of my favorite titles from the fest. Set in 1985, the game places you in the role of a policeman trying to investigate the mysterious disappearance of a young child – however, the deeper you venture into the forest, the stranger everything gets, and it soon becomes fairly evident that something supernatural might be at work among the trees.
Centum
And the „what the heck did I just play” award goes to… Centum! Bizarre and otherworldly, this unique adventure game takes you to a bleak world and gives you an experience unlike any other. The writing is superb, and the mood is consistently grim – honestly, if looking at the screenshots piqued your curiosity, I say give this one a go. It’s a real gem if you’re into morbidly unorthodox experiences.
Deliver at All Costs
An isometric GTA-esque game where you drive around and deliver packages in the 1950s. It’s got a wacky atmosphere and lots of destructive environments, so if literally driving through buildings – and then making them collapse – is something that gets you fired up, look no further than this game. The pure chaos it provides is quite a thing to behold.
Kathy Rain 2: Soothsayer
A sequel to the 2016 first installment, Kathy Rain 2 now pits our rebellious detective against a serial killer known only as the Soothsayer. The game’s pixel art visuals are eye-poppingly gorgeous, and the demo did also feature some neat puzzles, including a questionnaire where you had to manually type in the solutions after doing some detective work. If you’re at all interested in point & click thrillers, give this one a go.
Twisted Tower
Twisted Tower doesn’t really try to hide its BioShock-flavored inspirations, but that’s okay. The demo was a blast, so if you’re looking for a fast-paced FPS with bizarre locales and enemies that feel both playful and sinister (with slight American McGee’s Alice vibes), this one should fit the bill. Combat felt tight and satisfying, and there’s even a grappling hook mechanic with some mild puzzles, if you’re into that. So, you know, it’s not all shooting. Just mostly shooting.
Gal Guardians: Servants of the Dark
A metroidvania about demon maids who embark on a quest to revitalize their recently defeated master. Much like the previous Gal Guardians, Servants of the Dark also operates with two characters: one focused on melee combat, the other on ranged pew-pew action. This one’s an easy recommendation if you like cute anime girls, pixel art, metroidvanias, or all three.
Moadra
And while we’re on the topic of metroidvanias... let’s say you don’t want one with anime girls. Let’s say you want one with a sufficiently dark and grim atmosphere, as well as an art style that feels reminiscent of H.R. Giger’s macabre designs. In that case, Moadra might be for you.
Chorus of Carcosa
Okay, so my initial impressions of this game were less than pleasant, partially because I found some of its voice acting to be rather grating. Thankfully, Chorus of Carcosa quickly turned things around, and became a thoroughly pleasant and sufficiently creepy experience – there’s even a part that seemingly draws inspiration from Dr. Who’s Weeping Angels, as well as a decently tense stealth segment at the very end of the demo. Overall, I had a good time with it.
Into the Dead: Our Darkest Days
A zombie survival game taking place in the 1980s – however, what makes it particularly interesting is how the camera emulates the perspective of a side scroller game. That perspective really adds a lot to the overall feel and mood of the experience, and I did greatly enjoy cleverly navigating through the 2.5D environments of the game to sneak past zombies, scavenge for supplies or look for potential escape routes.
