Set sail with pirates, flip tables, cast spells in the Wild West, build tiny homes on wheels, and dive into espionage. Steam Next Fest’s top demos await.
2026’s first Steam Next Fest has arrived, bringing with it a wave of free demos to dive into from 23 February to 2 March. With hundreds of games vying for attention, deciding where to start can feel overwhelming. As the weekend approaches, which titles are actually worth your time? After hands-on sessions with a wide range of demos, from the downright silly to the genuinely extraordinary, here are the ones that stood out to us.
Windrose
One of the most popular demos this time around is Windrose, by developer Windrose Crew. It’s a PvE crafting survival game that can be played solo or with friends. It’s so popular that it has overtaken Pragmata’s demo in terms of player interest, and has garnered more than 1 million wishlists since the demo went live.
There’s a good reason this indie gem is shaping up to be a promising title. The game opens with pirates taking over your ship, leaving you stranded on an island where you have to fend for yourself. It sounds like a typical crafting survival setup at first, but parts of the gameplay feel reminiscent of Sea of Thieves, Rust, and other pirate-themed adventures.
Windrose blends sea and land exploration with combat, ship management, resource gathering and survival mechanics. The first few hours can be fairly grindy, especially when it comes to crafting and materials, but because it’s PvE, there’s no pressure to outpace anyone else. It’s the kind of game that you and your friends can sink time into at your own rhythm.
It’s not flawless and could use some polish in places, but it’s an easy weekend time-sink if you’re in the mood for something pirate-flavoured. Windrose does not have a release date just yet.
ZERO PARADES: For Dead Spies
From ZA/UM, the creators of the critically-acclaimed Disco Elysium, ZERO PARADES: For Dead Spies is billed as an “espionage RPG”. The art style will feel instantly familiar to fans of the studio’s previous work, with similarly moody backdrops and map layouts that echo that distinct painterly look. This is not a fast-paced experience, but for anyone drawn to espionage, murder and mystery, it will likely be right up your street.
The writing, though, is where it truly flexes. It is cheeky, layered with double and triple meanings, laced with innuendos, and often delivers an unexpected, hearty laugh. It is razor-sharp and deliberately clever, the kind that makes you pause just to appreciate how a line was put together.
How you interact with the world depends on your responses, the skills you have built up, and a bit of luck tied to dice rolls. Each decision carries consequences that can shape your character, whether that manifests as anxiety, delirium or other psychological shifts. Because every choice feels so loaded, there is a constant temptation to pick the unexpected option just to see what unfolds. You will keep wondering what happens if you do not click the obvious answer.
ZERO PARADES: For Dead Spies is slated for release in 2026.
Far Far West
Another crowd favourite this Next Fest is Far Far West by Evil Raptor. This chaotic PvE shooter throws cowboys, spells, and futuristic tech into the same dusty arena and somehow makes it all click. It is a surprising amount of fun, bolstered by beautifully-realised environments, striking frames, and music that lingers long after a run ends.
Even in its alpha build, the gameplay loop already feels confident. There is no time limit breathing down your neck, and it is dangerously easy to sink an entire evening into back-to-back sessions, whether solo or with up to three friends. The blend of Wild West gunfights, explosions, spellcasting and even robots feels deliberate and cohesive, rather than stitched together for the sake of it.
Movement is fluid and responsive, giving combat a satisfying snap. The towns between runs are colourful and lively, cutting through the usual Western monotone. From the quirky robot designs to the psytrance-infused Western tracks that kick in when things get heated, the game has a strong sense of style. Progression is smooth and straightforward, level design rewards exploration with interactive elements, and mechanically it feels crisp throughout. For players who enjoy movement-heavy shooters like Apex and Deadlock, or the smooth, replayable gameplay loops of Helldivers 2 and Deep Rock Galactic, there is something very moreish about how Far Far West comes together.
Far Far West releases in 2026.
Damon and Baby
For RPGs that solo players would enjoy, Damon and Baby by Arc System Works is a promising entry. In this game you are Damon, a Demon (heh, well) who gets a condition where a child is attached to him and cannot be separated from him literally. When the game began, I thought it was another dungeon-crawling platformer, but as I progressed, I realised it was more than that.
The game involves puzzle-solving, twin-stick shooting, and a bit of physics as you explore a diverse world that changes perspectives (side scrolling to overhead third-person).
Of course, since you’re taking care of a baby, there’s some other quests involved, like finding recipes and ingredients. The characters you meet along the way all have very unique and sometimes charming personalities, and the towns and small corners of respite all suddenly make the game feel like pockets of a cosy game. The most interesting part is learning more about Damon, how he’s literally bonded with a human child, and his struggles against human prejudice, all while trying to get his powers back and climb to the very top of the demonic hierarchy system.
Damon and Baby is releasing on 26 March, with pre-order promotions available on Steam.
Outbound
Maybe you’re not in the mood to fight off waves of enemies, but still want a game that pulls you into something that feels like a relaxed, cosy, wide-eyed adventure. Outbound is well worth a look, in that case.
If you have ever wondered what it might be like to own a tiny home on wheels, driving through open landscapes, setting up camp and gradually upgrading your mobile sanctuary, this is exactly that fantasy brought to life. It begins with light survival elements, gathering basic resources and figuring out how to sustain yourself, but as more blueprints unlock, it leans further into crafting and light automation, reminiscent of Satisfactory, with a touch of resource and farm management woven in.
Foraging for berries at the start eventually gives way to properly cooking meals. You can feed, pet, and even adopt animals along the way, while building, repairing bridges, roads, and expanding your trailer to better navigate the terrain. The game genuinely feels like a holiday on wheels, equal-parts cosy routine and gentle discovery. As you continue travelling, new areas open up, each with its own atmosphere and layout, encouraging you to keep pushing just a little further down the road.
Outbound is set to release in Q2 2026.
Akatori
There is also something to look forward to for Metroidvania fans at this Steam Next Fest. Akatori by Contrast Games sees players wielding a staff to fight, jump and explore diverse realms across different eras. You step into the role of Mako, travelling through worlds that span time itself, battling formidable enemies and working to stop the Amber Storms that poison all living things.
The 2D pixel art style does nothing to diminish how beautifully crafted each area feels. Every environment in the demo is distinct, with careful detailing that gives each era its own identity. The demo also does a strong job of showcasing Mako’s growing abilities, but the real standout mechanic is her staff. Unlike many games in the genre where weapons take time to feel meaningful, Mako’s staff is versatile from the very beginning. She can string together multiple combos in combat while also using it as a tool for traversal and interaction.
The staff allows her to climb walls, hold herself in place to avoid incoming attacks, and interact with doors and objects in the environment. Enemy encounters are varied and often unforgiving, demanding quick reactions and a bit of puzzle-solving to come out unscathed. While the demo keeps much of the story close to its chest, there is enough intrigue to make the wider world, and the dangers facing Mako and her allies, feel worth uncovering.
Akatori releases in 2026.
Table Flip Simulator
Ever had so much pent-up frustration that you just want to launch something across the room and flip a table? Table Flip Simulator by YummyYummyTummy leans into that impulse, letting you unleash chaos without wrecking your actual furniture.
The game drops you into increasingly aggravating scenarios where throwing objects, and eventually, flipping a table feels like the only logical response. That said, it is not mindless destruction. Beneath the chaos sits a puzzle structure. You need to figure out how to throw specific items in the right way to meet each level’s objectives. It is part catharsis, part problem-solving exercise.
There is a cheeky edge to its setups, from dealing with overbearing bosses to absurd workplace situations.
The controls could use a bit more polish, yet that slightly unwieldy feel, along with the mostly-hilarious-looking graphics occasionally adds to the comedic chaos. Be warned though, some situations may actually feel especially irritating (like the voice acting of some characters), but it’s likely a deliberate effort to build up your frustration. For anyone looking for something genuinely different during Next Fest, this is one of the more novel picks.
Table Flip Simulator is still in development, and does not yet have a release window.
Trading Card Inspector
Trading Card Inspector by Daydream Gallery is another novel entry; one that really puts your maths, memory and attention to detail to the test. You step into the role of a newly hired employee at a company producing trading card games, tasked with quality checking and assigning valuations to the cards coming off the production line.
On paper it sounds straightforward, but the rules become increasingly complex as you progress. New conditions are layered in, demanding sharper focus with each passing day. The game has a bit of fun at the expense of the TCG industry too, with tongue-in-cheek card titles and entertaining CEO memos scattered throughout. One particularly maddening condition, “earthquake”, suddenly shifts all your cards around, even those not directly in play, completely derailing your mental calculations. It is infuriating in the moment, but undeniably clever in how it raises the challenge.
Visually, the game leans into an ultra-retro aesthetic, with art and interface designs reminiscent of DOS titles from the 1980s. It commits fully to that old-school presentation, which adds a distinctive charm to the experience.
Trading Card Inspector is still in development, and does not yet have a release date.
There are a lot more demos that are worth exploring at Steam Next Fest, and I’m excited to try more out over the weekend. Which ones have you discovered and wishlisted? The February edition of Steam Next Fest 2026 will run until 2 March, 2026.
