11 Games we can’t wait to try out at Steam Next Fest this weekend

This week is the third and final Steam Next Fest of 2025 and, as always, we are excited to try out new game demos. What makes Next Fest particularly special is that since a game is only allowed to exhibit at one event ever, you end up with the vast number of new demos being indie games (although occasionally a major title does work its way in there).

Here are 11 titles we’re going to be sampling from this year’s event.

The Legend of Khiimori

There have been a lot of historical adventure games in the past few years and while Legend of Khiimori looks to be in a similar vein to titles like Assassin’s Creed: Shadows and Ghost of Yotei it’s more of a survival/resources entry. You play as a courier in 13th century Mongolia where you have to breed and care for your horses, improve your archery skills (to hunt wildlife, not slay enemies) and strategically deliver packages across a harsh yet gorgeous Mongolia landscape. If you enjoy the demo you won’t have to wait long for the game itself — The Legend of Khiimori releases in early access on November 4.

ReLooted

ReLooted was one of our Summer Game Fest faves and we’ve been itching to give it a whirl. A combination heist game/metroidvania based upon the recovery of African artifacts from museums, players will get to plot their route first before they attempt to retrieve their target. The mechanics are clever and the gameplay looks frenetic and fun. Add in the fact that the game includes real-life artifacts with included historical information and this will be a day one must play for me.

Ghost Hunter Simulator

The truth is out there — or it’s all a giant scam — and you’re ready to reveal it to the world. Ghost Hunter Simulator has you take on the role of social media ghost hunter as you try to build a following by exploring real-life or recreations of popular fiction-based haunting locales. The gameplay simulates ghost hunter-style shows and uses the same tools to confirm or debunk the supernatural. Ghost Hunter Simulator comes out later this month in early access with additional content to be added over time.

The Killing Stone

It is the 17th century and in a remote region of the Arctic Circle stands the Svangård Mansion and its residents are under a hereditary curse. As a master of the dark arts you journey there to learn the truth of the curse and to perhaps save the souls of those living there — with card battles at The Killing Stone. Ok, that sounds a little odd but it works because the demons are always ready to gamble if it means they may get a little extra out of the deal. The game design blends well with the setting, and there’s even an option to play with period 17th century English voiceover and text!

Cloudheim

Ragnarok has shattered the world and you have been picked to be the one to help rebuild it from the back of a massive ancient flying turtle. Cloudheim is an action adventure game with graphics inspired by the modern Legend of Zelda games but with crafting/shop-running mechanics in addition to the standard combat and puzzle system — and you can play with up to three other players in online co-op. It looks amazing and it’ll be interesting to see how the devs expand the world.

Cubetory

Have you ever wanted to play Satisfactory or Factorio but didn’t feel like taking the time from your building to fight off the local antagonists? Cubetory might be the game for you! While the graphics look simple the the building options look amazingly complex so those with the urge to automate should be able to scratch that itch. After you try out the demo you won’t have to wait long for the full game as it releases on November 17.

Stellar Rhythm

Stellar Rhythm is a 2D space shooter married to a rhythm game with weapons firing to the beat and supermoves that remix the soundtrack. As an old-school R-Type fan (five weeks until R-Type Delta: HD Boosted comes out!) and a modern rhythm game fan this game is aimed straight at me. Stellar Rhythm looks frenetic and kinetic and presuming the difficulty isn’t too hard — which is always a concern for old-school shoot ’em up fans as our reflexes aren’t as great as they used to be — this should be a blast to play.

Steel Century Groove

Sticking with rhythm games the next title we’re planning to try is Steel Century Groove which is a dancing game where you pilot giant mechs in dance battles. Frankly “dance battle mechs” is enough to make me want to try this game, but the fact that you’re building up an entire dance squad of mechs is amazing. Steel Century Groove is set to release in January of 2026.

Servant of the Lake

The newest game in the Rusty Lake series is Servant of the Lake, a point-and-click adventure that has you solving puzzles, keeping the house tidy and assisting the Vanderboom family with their alchemical endeavors. The art and gameplay is definitely throwback but the Rusty Lake and Cube Escape developers are experts at the genre so a new entry is always worth checking out.

Skate Story

A skating game with a twist — you’re a demon composed of glass and pain doing sick flips and ollies through the underworld on your quest to eat the moon so that you can be freed. Skate Story sounds wild but its success will be in how fun the skating is, which is why it’s the perfect game to demo just to be sure the gameplay is fun. The bizarre theme also makes this a must try for me, and Devolver Digital can always be trusted to deliver a quality product. Skate Story releases on December 8.

Ledgerbound

There’s a lot of dangerous work out there for adventurers to do and a smart insurance company knows how to make sure they can still turn a profit when a party fails to survive — and sometimes that involves sending the workers out to kill the monsters themselves. Ledgerbound is definitely taking a tongue-in-cheek approach and already has a top notch voice cast lined up including Cherami Leigh and Matt Mercer. Honestly I may not even bother with the demo and just patiently wait for it to come out next year.

That’s a lot of games to sample, but fortunately developers often keep the demo available until the game releases — and sometimes beyond even then. Not all demos stay up past the end of Next Fest, however, so make sure you try out the ones you’re most excited for now while you have the chance.