CheckMag | Five cool Steam Next Fest demos to check out
Steam's Next Fest is back with many playable teasers for upcoming games. With so many options to comb through, finding something worthy of one's attention can turn into a hassle rather quickly. Hopefully, the list below will save the reader some time.
Heartworm
Heartworm is a retro-style survival horror adventure that takes inspiration from genre classics like Resident Evil and Silent Hill but adds modern quality-of-life changes into the mix. The game's surreal art style brings the classic low-poly dread of the PS1 era back to life in style while the story explores themes of loss and solitude as you battle strange creatures in another world. The combat system is also unique, borrowing a page from Fatal Frame and making you use your camera as a weapon. The best thing about this demo is the passion put into the project. Everything is stylized to look retro, with small callbacks to genre classics. Everything from the look of the main menu to the inventory screen oozes charm and plays out like a loving homage to horror gems of the 90s.
Ys X: Nordics
The next instalment in the long-running Ys action RPG series by Nihon Falcom, Ys X, once again puts you in the shoes of series mainstay Adol as you explore the Obelia Gulf. The twist this time is the new Cross Action System that lets you switch between Adol and newcomer Karja and combine their attacks to build up a Revenge gauge to unlock even more powerful blows. The soundtrack is set to please most gamers, with tons of high-energy rock to get you hacking and slashing. While graphics have never been the series' high point, the game does at least look much better than Monstrum Nox. The studio did a fantastic job with character design, with most things on the screen having much greater detail than in previous entries. For series fans, this teaser is a must-play.
Dieseldome: Oil and Blood
... is a hybrid movement shooter that combines the mechanics of dispatching one's enemies with bullets and a heavy dose of Vampire Survivors. All you need to know is that it's a frantic shooter where you're on the move all the time and kill increasingly huge waves of enemies to earn the love of a bloodthirsty crowd.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Splintered Fate
Originally released for Apple Arcade in May 2023, this isometric multiplayer action game lets you become one of the iconic Turtles and kick your enemies' butts. The game has multiple build types to try out and offers fast-flowing and generally addictive combat.
Knights in Tight Spaces
Set in the same universe as the studio's last game, Fights in Tight Spaces, Knights continues down that path with a very addictive roguelike deck builder that will keep you on edge with its smart turn-based tactical gameplay. Gradually unlocking new ability cards over time can be so much fun. The slower pace of combat makes every wrong decision hurt that much more, which is a nice contrast to the euphoria you feel when you finally figure out the right strategy. Much like it is with Fights, there are bonus challenge objectives to achieve, and the game features a satisfying visual style that looks like a medieval painting coming to life right before the gamer's eyes.
