The Best Game I Played During Steam Next Fest Comes Out This Month & You Don’t Want to Miss It

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Steam Next Fest is a highly anticipated event for gamers, but it can also be a bit much to handle. Held several times a year, it offers hundreds of playable demos for games that are still in development. It’s a fantastic opportunity to try out upcoming titles, but with so many demos available, it’s easy to feel rushed. Because these demos are often only available for a limited time, there’s pressure to try everything before it disappears, and games can start to feel similar. It really takes something unique for a game to make a lasting impression.

I rarely get so engrossed in a game that it’s hard to stop playing, but The Last Gas Station was one of those exceptions. Many others felt the same way – the demo received overwhelmingly positive feedback after being showcased in February. I was thrilled to learn the full game is finally coming out later this month! The Last Gas Station launches on Steam on April 28th, and I think it’s an indie title worth adding to your wishlist.

The Last Gas Station Is a Shopkeeping Sim with a Strong Story Hook

Management simulation games have been popular ever since the original RollerCoaster Tycoon, and they’ve become even more so recently with the rise of ‘cozy games.’ I’ve played quite a few of these – I really enjoy games where you manage a shop, hotel, restaurant, or pretty much any kind of business. But just because I like the genre doesn’t mean every management sim is a winner.

While simple management gameplay can be enjoyable, as seen in games like Two Point Museum, sometimes you crave a deeper experience with a compelling story. Even just playing the demo of The Last Gas Station made it clear that it offers exactly that – a solid narrative combined with management elements, perfect for really getting invested.

I recently played a demo for this game, and it’s shaping up to be a really interesting management sim with a surprisingly compelling story. You basically run the last gas station around after everyone switched to electric vehicles. The old manager disappeared, and as you rebuild the station and the surrounding area, you start digging into what happened to them. Let me tell you, weird stuff is going down at night, and the demo left me seriously wanting to find out what’s behind it all. I’m hooked!

Games that mix relaxing gameplay with mystery and even scary elements are becoming really popular. There are a lot of farming games that are similar to Stardew Valley, but with a spooky twist – and I plan to try them all! However, combining shopkeeping with a good story is less common, and games like Discounty do it exceptionally well. The gameplay loop of solving a mystery while managing a store and fixing up the town is perfectly cozy without being overly simplistic.

I’ve Played a Lot of Shopkeeping Sims, and The Last Gas Station Could Be Something Special

I’m really hyped for The Last Gas Station, and honestly, the pixel art just blew me away! But what really grabbed me is the idea of running a beat-up gas station. We’ve seen a lot of shopkeeping sims – convenience stores, restaurants, bookstores… even card shops! – but a gas station? That’s a fresh take on the genre, and I’m totally on board with something new and different.

It appears The Last Gas Station will offer more than just a typical gas station experience. You’ll be able to pump gas and manage a convenience store, but also rebuild businesses in the surrounding area to create a bustling rest stop. While the core gameplay shown in the demo was great, the added opportunity for exploration is a huge draw.

If you like story-focused games that aren’t rushed, or if you enjoy managing things in a pixel art style, you should definitely add The Last Gas Station to your wishlist. I’ve had it on mine since February!

The PC version of The Last Gas Station will be available on Steam starting April 28th. You can try out a free demo now before the full game launches.

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2026-04-16 00:11