10 Games You Need To Play During Steam Next Fest

Publisher Studio ?lan has become known for delivering great sapphic visual novels for years now and Love in a Bottle from developer lovelandisle is no different. Following Ankora the Love Demon, Love in a Bottle is another delightfully queer romance visual novel filled with beautiful art and characters you will want to go on as many dates as possible with. The game is set to release this April, so get a taste of what’s to come while the demo is still available.

Though it was released in 2019, the original Kind Words was a balm for the soul once the world went into lockdown during the covid pandemic. The simple but incredibly touching idea of letting players write letters to each other led to some truly special moments. But it also seemed like a game that didn’t need a sequel. The demo for Kind Words 2 will put aside those fears as the sequel opens up the world of Kind Words to even more heartfelt connections thanks to an explorable world with new features like chatting with friends.

There used to be a specific type of meditative game that would release on PlayStation—games filled with beautiful art design and rhythmic gameplay loops that put players into a trance. The two that come to mind are Flower and Hohokum, which released in 2009 and 2014, respectively. Flock is keeping that energy alive with its dreamlike landscapes that players navigate while herding rare and elusive creatures. I dare you not to get hypnotized by the demo.

I am an absolute sucker for any game that requires the player to do some deductive reasoning. Duck Detective looks to be that type of game, with the comedic twist of taking place in a world of anthropomorphic animals and a duck doing his best Sherlock impression. Like The Case of the Golden Idol or Return of the Obra Dinn, Duck Detective offers up a mystery to players and invites them to go over clues with a fine-toothed comb and put the pieces together in a satisfying gameplay loop.

Out of all the games I’ve tried out so far during Steam Next Fest, INDIKA might win the award for “best vibes.” The third-person narrative game puts players in the shoes of a nun in 19th-century Russia who is constantly haunted by the devil. This game isn’t outright a horror title, but it is unsettling beyond belief. It includes intriguing mechanics like praying the devil away and leveling up skills like “Guilt.” It’s sure to be a one-of-a-kind experience.

Until Then gives off heavy A Space For the Unbound vibes thanks to its stunning pixel-art and story that is achingly relatable with a touch of magical realism. Following high schooler Mark as he completes mundane tasks like homework, piano lessons, and constantly scrolling social media while also balancing relationships with friends and family, Until Then’s world will pull you in immediately and you won’t want to leave.

Combining platforming and cooking, Magical Delicacy looks perfect for every Kiki’s Delivery Service fan out there. Much like 2023’s Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood, Magical Delicacy takes place in a fascinating world full of witches and magic that is a joy to learn more about, but it’s a much more upbeat and laid-back experience that focuses on a gorgeous town and diverse cast of characters.

The rise in PS1-inspired horror games, like the astonishing Signalis, is one of the best trends in the indie space. Crow Country is shaping up to be another great example, using chibi-style character models reminiscent of the original Final Fantasy VII and putting them in a haunted theme park. The survival horror game has the puzzles and exploration you expect from one inspired by Resident Evil, but the flourishes of Crow Country’s setting makes it a fresh take on the haunted house formula of horror games.

Real-time strategy games are not a thing of the past. At least that’s what the team at Frost Giant Studios—comprised of ex-Blizzard devs—are hoping to prove with Stormgate. Bringing modern sensibilities to the genre while retaining what makes games like Warcraft III great, Stormgate is the big-budget return to RTS that fans have been waiting for. As part of Steam Next Fest, players can hop into the open beta and get a taste of what Frost Giant is cooking.

One of the funniest games I’ve played in recent memory, Times & Galaxy shows off its biting satire while also offering a genuinely fun gameplay experience. Players take the role of a robot journalist assigned to a struggling space newspaper. One part detective game and one part job simulator, Times & Galaxy sends players out on assignments where they need to collect as much information and then choose how to present a story to the paper’s readership to boost sales. The writing in this game is top notch and incredibly sharp in its commentary on the state of media.

And that’s our ten picks of what you shouldn’t miss at Steam Next Fest, but it barely scratches the surface of what’s available. What demos did we miss that you think we should check out?