Steam Next Fest is a fun, though sometimes busy, event for PC gamers. It happens three times a year and gives players a chance to try out a lot of new game demos in just one week. While some demos stay available for a bit longer, many disappear at the end of the festival, so there’s a bit of a rush to play everything you’re interested in. This October’s event shows players are especially drawn to certain kinds of games.
Steam Next Fest October 2025 kicked off on October 13th and runs until Monday, October 20th, giving you a few more days to try out demos of upcoming games. You can explore everything from the new *Dungeons & Dragons* game to highly anticipated farming sims like *Starsand Island*. However, the most popular demos so far suggest players are currently craving games from two particular genres – genres that aren’t usually the biggest hits during Steam Next Fest.
Horror and Simulation Games Dominate October Steam Next Fest 2025
I haven’t been able to play many demos myself lately, but I always enjoy seeing what other gamers are trying out. I regularly check the Steam charts to get an idea of what’s popular, and Steam Next Fest makes it even more interesting. This time, a clear pattern emerged: the most popular demos were either tactical simulations or horror games.
At the time I’m writing this, the top 10 most-played Steam Next Fest demos are as follows:
- Half-Sword – Medieval Combat Simulator
- Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era Turn-Based Strategy Simulator
- Final Sentence – Horror Simulation Game
- YapYap – Comedy Horror
- Everwind – Open-World Survival RPG
- Reanimal -Atmospheric Horror
- The Midnight Walkers – Extraction Shooter Horror
- Misery – Survival Co-Op Horror
- Car Service Together – Racing Simulator
- Roadside Research – Immersive Life Sim
It’s interesting to note that the most popular demos right now are mostly simulation or horror games—some, like *Final Sentence*, even combine both! The timing of Steam Next Fest in October likely contributes to the popularity of horror games, as people generally enjoy spooky content this time of year. However, looking at past October events, we usually see more variety, with popular FPS and MOBA games also ranking highly. This suggests there’s more to the current trend towards horror than just the month itself.
What’s most striking is how many simulator games are popular right now. Usually, Steam Next Fest charts are filled with MMORPGs, MOBAs, and first-person shooters, with a few other types of games mixed in. For example, last February’s top games included demos for action titles like *Mecha BREAK* and the online RPG *Fellowship*, alongside more relaxed games like *Bongo Cat*. However, we don’t usually see simulators and horror games at the very top.
We won’t know for sure which demos were the most popular until Steam Next Fest is over on October 10th. But from what I’m seeing so far, a lot of us seem to be into more chill, single-player games. Unless, of course, we’re busy getting scared out of our minds by horror titles!
This Steam Next Fest featured some surprisingly popular demos, ranging from medieval battles to car restoration games. Perhaps gamers are looking for something different after so many large-scale MMORPGs and shooters. Or maybe people are simply seeking more relaxing and laid-back experiences when they play games.
If you’re interested in trying out any of these popular Steam demos, you have until October 20th to do so for free. While a few demos might still be available after that date, it varies by game. If you’re eager to play these horror and simulation games, it’s best to give them a try in the next few days.
What demos are you most excited to try during October’s Steam Next Fest? Share your picks in the comments below and discuss them with others in the ComicBook Forum!
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2025-10-18 20:40