7 demos to try before Steam Next Fest 2024 ends

Steam Next Fest is back once again with a week-long celebration of video games and hundreds of demos to try. From major upcoming releases such as Homeworld 3 to unique and interesting debuts from indie developers, there’s a lot to play and not enough time to try it all out.

Don’t worry: we’ve got your back. We’ve delved into the mountain of new demos released in the lead-up to this year’s Next Fest and put together our list of the seven demos you need to play before Next Fest ends. From breakout hits like Children of the sun And Mullet Mad Jack to more time-sensitive demos like the action-adventure Metroidvania Stories of Kenzera: Zauthese are the best demos of exciting upcoming games that you should take the time to try out before Steam Next Fest ends on Monday February 12.

Developer: Rene Rother
Date of publication: TBA

You remember the one from 2008 Popular? You know, that one movie where James McAvoy played the son of an assassin who had the ability to “curve” the trajectory of bullets in the air? Well, this tactical puzzle shooter is something like that, but set in a hallucinatory world that looks like something straight out of a Suda51 game.

Players take on the role of a troubled young girl with telekinetic psychic abilities who embarks on a one-woman campaign of revenge as she works her way up to assassinate the leader of a cult. You only have one bullet left, but don’t worry: you have the option to slow down time after each kill so that your bullet bounces off to kill any remaining targets. The result is an experience that combines the patient precision of games like this Sniper elite And Hitman: sniper with the grungy aesthetic chaos of Hotline Miami.

Developer: Headgear games
Date of publication: 2024

Empty body has been on our radar for a while, with an expected release date sometime in 2024. Players take on the role of Mica, an unlicensed black market courier who crash-lands in a walled neighborhood on the outskirts of London on a mission to capture her find missing partner.

The demo lasts about half an hour and plays like a contemporary version of the classic Silent Hill Blade Runner, where players use a variety of scavenged tools and an augmented reality heads-up display to navigate the dilapidated area to progress. It’s a strong first impression Empty body‘s creepy atmosphere and throwback mechanics, one that makes us even more excited for the game’s eventual release.

Developer: Hamer95
Date of publication: TBA

Fans of old school cyberpunk anime should check out the demo Mullet Mad Jack, a fast-paced, roguelike FPS that combines a throwback vaporwave aesthetic with a core gameplay mechanic that drives attention to the attention economy. Players take on the role of Mullet Madjack, a ‘moderator’ bounty hunter who specializes in killing nefarious ‘Robillionaires’ while live streaming their executions to his adoring fans.

You’re on a mission to save the planet’s most famous influencer from her robot captors, battling through groups of enemies in randomly generated levels to reach your goal. There’s a catch, though: you live (literally) for 10 seconds at a time, and the only way to replenish your rapidly dwindling health is to chase away bad guys. If you like stylish, satirical and violent games, like Neon white, UltrakillAnd Hotline Miamiyou should definitely check this one out.

Developer: Ironwood Studios
Date of publication: February 22

Pacific Drive, the upcoming “STALKER with a car” immersive sim from Ironwood Studios, will be released later this month. If, like me, you’re itching to enter a supernaturally transformed version of the Pacific Northwest, or are just curious to see what the game actually feels like to play, then there’s a new demo available for you to try out before the game comes out.

Players take on the role of an unnamed character who, after being mysteriously transported within a vast walled area known as the Olympic Exclusion Zone, must search for a way to escape as he traverses the world in his dilapidated station wagon. Scavenge materials, collect parts, and upgrade your vehicle to overcome the slew of environmental hazards this anomalous region has to offer.

Developer: Monster and monster
Date of publication: 2024

If you enjoy the calm, engaging gameplay of American truck simulator or the working class sci-fi stories of games like Hard Space: Shipbreaker or anime-like Cowboy Bebopyou should definitely check out the demo Star truck drivera car space sim where you traverse the winding highways of the galaxy while transporting cargo and taking in all the dazzling cosmic vistas the universe has to offer.

From the cockpit of your rocket-powered big rig, you’ll traipse across the stars, stockpile wares to trade and sell, talk to your fellow truck drivers on the radio, and even jump into a spacesuit to repair damage to your truck or just float around for a bit. The demo lasts about 20 minutes and is overall a relaxing and unique spin on the car sim genre.

Developer: Friedemann
Date of publication: 8 March

Summer house, which we previously mentioned on our list of indie games to look out for in 2024, is a small building game from solo developer Friedemann. It’s essentially a sandbox city builder where players can create small, picturesque homes in an equally picturesque, customizable environment. There are no rules or restrictions, just cute NPCs and a good atmosphere. If that sounds like you, you can try out the game’s demo ahead of the full release of Summer house on the 8th of March.

Developer: Surgent Studios
Date of publication: April 23

Fans of Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown have to keep their eyes on it Stories of Kenzera: Zauthe upcoming debut title from Surgent Games run by Abubakar Salim (Assassin’s Creed origins). The game made a big splash when it was announced at last year’s Game Awards, and the Steam Next Fest demo certainly builds on that momentum. Players take on the role of a young shaman who, grieving the loss of his father, embarks on a journey on behalf of the god of death in exchange for his father’s soul. You traverse beautiful levels, solve puzzles and fight enemies using two different powers.