The Summer 2025 Steam Next Fest just wrapped up, featuring more amazing game demos that anyone could possibly enjoy — but I did my best!
Over the last week, I played over 20 demos for upcoming indie games. The Steam Next Fest may have ended, but all of these demos are still available.
Here is a list of the best demos I played from Steam Next Fest. From underwater city builders, to side-scrolling beat’ em ups, and workplace comedies.
In other words, you need to check out these demos, and wishlist the games to put them on your radar as soon as possible!
Absolum
What is it: A roguelite beat ’em up set in a an original fantasy world
Why I liked it: It’s Streets of Rage meets Hades! Aboslum features the arcade beat ’em up style of the best modern examples, such as Streets of Rage 4. But when you die, you’re reborn back at the safe hub, where you can permanently grow your skills and start with more powerful gear to get a leg up on the next run. The roguelite brawler also doesn’t skimp on the production value, with rich, colorful artwork, and full voice acting. Plus, multiple playable characters, including a sword-wielding elf and a gun-toting dwarf.
When is it coming out: TBA
Battle Suit Aces
What is it: A lane-based card battler wrapped in an anime-infused galaxy
Why I liked it: Let’s be honest — card battlers are a dime a dozen these days. Battle Suit Aces is less concerned with deckbuilding and more concerned with kickin’ butt with giant mechs, anime-style! Each mech character has certain attacks, energy costs, and abilities. During battle, players must manage the five-space battleline to maximize their attacks, and minimize damage versus a dangerous alien threat called the Frenzied. Between battles, the crew of the Zephyr explore the galaxy for ancient ruins and answers to the Frenzied’s attacks. Full voice acting compliments the 90s anime character designs
When is it coming out: TBA
Dice Gambit
What is it: An XCOM-like, dice-based tactical strategy game that’s all about family
Why I liked it: The screenshots do not do Dice Gambit justice. One of my favorite genres, tactical-strategy, is cleverly mixed with throwing dice, and sprinkles in a bit of the social links upgrades from Persona. As the head of a family of Inquistiors, your randomized hero must vanquish the nasty enemies that plague a Spanish-inspired city, while hobnobbing with fellow nobles. You’ll also need to actually start your family! Get married and pass on desirable traits and abilities to your offspring. In tactical combat, heroes roll dice to activate attacks, moves, defends, and special abilities, adding an intriguing layer to the tactical decision making.
When is it coming out: 2025
Dispatch
What is it: A Telltale-esque narrative adventure and management sim in a modern superhero world
Why I liked it: Featuring the talented writers and designers behind our favorite Telltale adventure games (The Walking Dead, Tales from the Borderlands, etc), comes Dispatch, an original story that satirizes office comedies and superhero stories. Fallen hero Robert is the new dispatcher at SDN, and he must learn to manage his crew of volatile ex-criminals into a fighting team — all by sitting behind a desk. The strategy layer is a clever real-time mix of responding to calls, choosing the right heroes, and engaging in mini-games and story choices. The cutscenes, art style, and voice acting during the story-driven moments are incredible, and I was laughing out loud at the characters’ antics. The real crime is how short the demo is!
When is it coming out: 2025
Hotel Galactic
What is it: A colony/management sim themed around a hotel on a peaceful asteroid
Why I liked it: It’s impossible not to get drawn in by the Studio Ghibli-inspired art style. Hotel Galactic is a bit of a misnomer, in that the hotel isn’t very space-y. But it is incredibly charming. Armed with a few resources, some helpful workers, and a terraformed asteroid, players build up their peaceful hotel, constructing and placing furniture, growing plants, serving meals, and changing the linens. The demo only shows a fraction of the different hotel guests, rooms, and management tasks, but it’s easy to see the incredible potential of this impressive hotel sim.
When is it coming out: July 24, 2025
Life Below
What is it: An underwater strategy sim with survival elements
Why I liked it: Life Below plays like an old-school real-time strategy game, with workers, expanding bases, research, and expansion. But instead of crafting armies to wage war, we’re bringing life back to the ocean, stabalizing temperature and ph, and supporting biodiversity. There doesn’t mean there isn’t danger, however, as environmental factors pose a serious threat to your underwater ecosystem. I also appreciate the narrative focus and earnest message of conservation and environmentalism, backed by some personable water sprites.
When is it coming out: TBA
Mina the Hollower
What is it: A retro action-platformer from the developers of Shovel Knight
Why I liked it: If Shovel Knight was a modern NES Ducktales, then Mina the Hollower aims its retro-loving gaze at heavyweight classics The Legend of Zelda and Castlevania. Mina is a mousey heroine who is summoned to an island to restore the crazed machines and rescue its citizens. Like Shovel Knight, players are equipped with a specific ability, burrowing. Mina can quickly hop underground to avoid attacks, get around enemies, and sneak through tiny passages. The platformer also infuses roguelite elements, with meaningful death abated by permanent level ups and character progression. And the Shovel Knight folks definitely don’t disappoint when it comes to the 8-bit aesthetic.
When is it coming out: Oct. 31, 2025
Neon Inferno
What is it: A retro-inspired, yet nicely modernized, side-scrolling shooter
Why I liked it: Neon Inferno knows exactly what it is: Cyberpunk Contra! The 2D shooter features two playable characters (and co-op!) in a war-torn, street gang-ruled future. Gameplay features some neat additions to the classic run-and-gun formula, including background shooting, dodge rolls, and bullet deflections. By expending energy, players can enter bullet time after deflecting bullets, and even change their direction. Multiple difficulty levels increase the number, type, and health of enemies. Though the demo is way too short (featuring only the first level and boss fight), I’m already sold on its high-paced action and saturated art style.
When is it coming out: October 1, 2025
Wander Stars
What is it: A roguelite, RPG-fighting game with a cheeky sense of humor
Why I liked it: The Dragonball Z-inspired art and animation really sold me on Wander Stars, but it’s also a fun game. Our young heroine Ringo battles bad guys using the Kiai fighting style, which means she builds attacks using literal worlds, such as “Fire,” “Super,” and “Strike.” Words have different power levels, cooldowns, and special effects, and enemies have their own weaknesses and resistances, resulting in a satisfyingly deep, yet easy-to-understand combat system. The story moves quickly, and I dig the board game layout to map exploration, giving the player choices on battling enemies, finding treasure, or talking to the delightfully wacky cast of characters.
When is it coming out: August 1, 2025
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