During Steam Next Fest, our workplace becomes quite lively since we strive to test numerous demos and select the most intriguing ones. It’s always refreshing afterwards to reflect on the games that made a lasting impression, and to understand how they collectively depict the forthcoming slate of releases.
It’s particularly intriguing to find out which demos were the favorites among everyone, and this time around, there’s an exciting variety of games to choose from.
Leading the rankings is a game that falls under the “soulslike” genre, demonstrating that this type of game continues to be popular. Our writer, Tyler Colp, wasn’t overly enthusiastic about Vindictus: Defying Fate, describing it as “quite well made”, but he did mention that it effectively captures the pacing of the “soulslike” genre. However, it appears that many of you were more eager to try it out for yourselves.
Typically, multiplayer games have created quite an impact once again. This time, Wildgate earned its runner-up position – blending first-person shooter (FPS) excitement with space-themed antics reminiscent of Sea of Thieves proved to be an enticing blend during our testing this month. It’s interesting to note that Jump Ship landed at the third spot, as it shares a similar concept. It seems we all harbor dreams of being part of an interstellar starship crew with friends.
Also in the top 10 are multiplayer horror game MIMESIS, and long-awaited, Stalker-esque MMO PIONER, demonstrating the power of both spooky co-op with friends, and unnecessary capital letters.
There are quite a few items on the list that came as surprises. To be honest, I wouldn’t have guessed a rhythm action martial arts game would rank fifth, but it seems Dead as Disco has proven to be popular, earning its success. As Harvey mentioned, it’s visually vibrant and responsive, making for an enjoyable experience.
He showered equal praise on Dispatch, which ranked 15th on the list. This is a distinctive adventure game that revolves around working at a dispatch office for superheroes. It excelled in both its storytelling, reminiscent of Telltale’s cinematic style, and its unexpectedly detailed management simulation aspects. The demo was undeniably one of the standout impressions from Next Fest.
It brought me great joy to notice that many of you explored Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound and Absolum. Publisher Dotemu is solidifying its position as a contemporary ruler of retro side-scrollers, with these games – the first being a challenging action-platformer, the second blending 2D combat with roguelike elements. I was genuinely impressed by both during an early preview event, so it’s heartening to see them receiving the broader recognition they deserve now.
My pick of the list, though, is Ball X Pit, at a very respectable 12th place. Combining Breakout with elements of roguelikes, auto-battlers, and even city-builders, it’s one of those games that you only have to play for five minutes to know that the full release is going to eat up 100 hours of your time. The demo’s still available for this one—you’ve got to check it out.
If you’re curious to see the full top 50, it’s available to peruse on Steam’s Next Fest page—check it out, and double the length of your wishlist.
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2025-06-19 17:18