I played over 50 demos, and these are my top 10. Narrowing down the list was quite a difficult task. There were many games deserving, so I gave some an honorable mention, as it was too hard not to include them somehow. For demos for games releasing soon, check out the article here. None of these games has a release date yet.

10. Aussie Bogan Hero

Metroidvanias have always been a popular genre. Being able to explore a 2D map and eventually clear it fully after going back and forth is oh so satisfying. One of the games that really drew me into the genre was the Guacamelee franchise. Aussie Bogan Hero is the game for you if you want a game like that, but in the Aussie Outback. The demo allowed the player to take the role of Davo, who lives in Dusty Springs and must save his local pub by going on a crazy walkabout.

9. Reanimal

From the creators of Little Nightmares 1 & 2 comes a co-op horror platformer. In this slice of the game, you meet the main characters and guide them through this bleak island, while demoing the single-player companion controls, traversing a train, navigating by boat, and rescuing your friends. The game gave me vibes of Split Fiction meets Little Nightmares, and I am here for it. Looking forward to checking this one out with a friend when it eventually releases.

8. Earth Must Die

I’m always a sucker for a good point-and-click game. Throw in good comedy, a zany setting, and appealing artwork, and you’ve got a winner. Touted as a cast of British comedy royalty, the demo was full of zingers that would go over a child’s head but make an adult chuckle quite a lot. You are the ruler of an intergalactic empire. What zany adventures will you get into, VValak Lizardtongue (the second V is silent)?

7. Big Hops

NextFest always seems to have those hidden gems that most people are not talking about before, during, and after the event. For me, this is that game. Playing as a young frog out with your family, you explore a vibrant world. Using your tongue for traversal and combat, collect fruit to solve puzzles, find collectibles, and trinkets. I look forward to meeting a zany cast of characters while hopping along.

6. Sleep Awake

This first-person psychological thriller puts you in a world where you have to try and stay awake. If you fall asleep bad things could happen. Blumhouse Games found a gem when they picked up this one. The demo took you through Earth’s last city, watching people attempt to stay awake in some very trippy ways. At one point, the player goes by a wall of pictures showcasing all who are missing, including your brother, Bo. You are eventually forced to sleep by the game’s story. The player is then thrown into a mind-bending alternate dimension where things are definitely not what they seem. Why are people getting taken while they sleep? Why are there groups of men in hazmat suits acting like sleep enforcers? I will be keeping my eye on this one.

5. YapYap

If you want to know what the next multiplayer internet phenomenon will be, then check out my other NextFest article on games coming very soon. But until you read that meet YapYap. In YapYap, you and up to 5 other friends play the minions of a Wizard. They have ordered you to go ransack and rob a rival Wizard. With your trusty branch that acts as a wand, climb a tower while causing destruction, stealing valuables, avoiding traps, and fighting monsters. You can also use your voice to cast spells. As you advance, you will learn other spells to increase the amount of chaos you and your friends will cause.

4. Star Trek: Voyager – Across the Unknown

This is a Trekkie’s dream game. Take the role of Captain Kathryn Janeway and relive the events of Star Trek: Voyager. Get flung into the Delta Quadrant. You must repair and manage the ship much like the way The Alters or X-Com have their bases, like an ant farm. You will have to scan and scavenge systems and planets for resources, as well as make crucial decisions such as away teams and ship combat formations. If you ever wanted a What If? series for Star Trek, then check out this demo and wishlist the game on Steam.

3. Shadow of the Road

In a world where feudal Japan is infused with technology, the player takes on the role of two samurai. Along with others in your party, you must help bring the empire back to its traditional Shogun roots. You must face the emperor’s troops, who are supplied by the British East Nippon Company with war machines and guns. There are also hints of mysticism. In one battle of the demo, you fight an eye demon at the same time, you have to fight ambushing ninjas. The members of your party use swords, bows, headbutts, and mysticism to fight off their foes. During the turn-based combat, there are many options for combat for each character. If you enjoy turn-based games, this one will delight you.

Outside of combat, it seems the two main protagonists can go down different paths based on actions and conversation. Each character has their own skill tree as well. These add more RPG elements to what seems like an already feature-rich turn-based tactics game.

2. Heroes of Might & Magic: Olden Era

When this game booted up, I heard “Old Apartment” by Barenaked Ladies playing because this one took me back to my olden days. In 2006, I spent many hours playing Heroes of Might & Magic 5 in one of my first apartments, living on my own. From the map and the movement to the combat and city hub screens, everything about Olden Era feels nostalgic. This is what the devs were trying to do. From just the short amount of time I spent with the demo, I can easily say they have succeeded.

The game has been delayed multiple times. After trying out this small slice of the game, though, I say keep doing what you all are doing. I will gladly wait for this one just so all the love can be added to it. This is a game that the fans will want to make sure is ready to go, even for early access. Make sure you add this one to your wishlist and follow along with the development. While waiting, check out the demo and increase your hype for the full release.

1. Bubsy 4D

If you know me, then you know I am way too excited for the newest iteration of Bubsy. I remember playing Bubsy in Clawed Encounters of the Furred Kind for the Super Nintendo. Then I played Bubsy II on SNES and Bubsy 3D for PlayStation. I thought the world had forgotten about that loveable cat. Then the Bubsy 4D announcement came. I scrambled to the internet and learned about the Woolies Strike Back on PC and Paws on Fire (which I now own on Nintendo Switch). The Bubsy Collection followed, and the fans rejoiced that Bubsy was finally getting his due.

The demo for Bubsy 4D was everything I hoped for. After already experiencing the demo for Demon Tides from Fabraz and loving it, I had an inkling this demo would not disappoint. Bubsy 4D takes elements from so many of the beloved platformers that inspired it. I see hints of Sonic, Mario, Crash Bandicoot, and, of course, the original Bubsy after just playing a short amount of the demo. Not wanting to spoil the whole game for myself, I made sure I did not spend too much time with the cat. I spent just enough time with the demo to decide my expectations will be met while still preserving the authenticity of this precious childhood favorite.

Honorable Mentions

• Terrifier the Artcade game – A beat ’em up side scroller game taking place in The Terrifier universe. Take the role of Art the Clown or the Little Pale Girl while you take on the police and citizens in this 90s-inspired game.
• Escape From Ever After – In this Paper Mario-inspired game, take on the Role of Flynt. The demo adds Wolfgang, the wolf from the 3 Little Pigs, and Tinder, a dragon. This charming RPG has some interesting character mechanics and an intriguing story. I will be excited to see where the full game takes us.
• Crashout Crew – The publishers for Peak have seemed to find another fun multiplayer experience to share with use. You and your friends are tasked with packing trucks as you play as a forklift that is on the clock.
• Goblin Sushi – This roguelite sushi restaurant sim, not named Dave the Diver, has an interesting concept. Unlock new recipes and ingredients as you serve the goblins at your conveyor belt sushi bar.
• Strange Brew – Everyone needs coffee, even a duck. Strange Brew is a 3D platformer where you are a duck trying to escape zombies. However, you can’t do it without a cup of joe and a caffeine fix. Escape obstacles and zombies while making sure the coffee keeps coming.

So Many Demos

Steam NextFest is always a fantastic week because so many new games are discovered. This list is only a small iota of the demos that are now out there after this event. Many games did not make the cut. In fact, because there were so many, I wrote a whole second article, which you can read here. These two lists should satisfy most gamers’ curiosity. Make sure you check out these demos. And make sure you come back for future coverage of Steam NextFest demos.

Disclaimer: All demos were played for between 15 and 90 minutes each.

The post 10 Must-Play Steam Next Fest Demos from October’s Lineup appeared first on Nerd Reactor.

October

Chicken Run: Eggstraction

October 24, 2025 – This game takes place after the recent Netflix film Chicken Run: Dawn of the Nugget. Your mission, because you have to accept it, is to free all the chickens. The demo takes you through a few tutorial missions that each have different objectives, from rescuing chickens to making your way to a specific door. You can earn up to 3 stars per mission and collect various currencies, all of which allow you to recruit and upgrade chickens as well as purchase gear for your missions. Aside from the main story, there are also co-op-only missions you can play via split screen.

Arc Raiders

October 30, 2025 – This highly anticipated extraction shooter had its open beta this weekend, which was dubbed a “Server Slam.” Set in a futuristic Earth where machines seem to have taken over, it gives off a very Terminator vibe. Arc Raiders would be at the top if this list were in ranked order.

Up to squads of three enter the world via bunkers and have to take on machines and other Raiders (real players) all before all the elevators back to Speranza close, and you are trapped on the surface. We never had a chance to see what happened after the 30 minutes. My squad either died or made it into the elevators during our runs, sometimes crawling.

The setting is gorgeous. Embark Studios (The Finals) really did a fantastic job of keeping the tone tense throughout each run. A successful run will leave you with weapons, gear, and valuables to sell, while dying means you come back with nothing except what your faithful rooster Scrappy brings back, which, in the beta, was not much. In the full game, Scrappy will be upgradeable, and it will feature four additional maps and numerous items, enemies, and events. This is one to check out for sure.

November

Of Ash and Steel

November 6, 2025 – This is a third-person open-world RPG that is looking to let gamers get immersed and lost in the world. The game does not have quest markers, and the demo gave you a glimpse of this, making you do menial tasks without telling you where to go. The combat is unforgiving and forces you to master stances to defeat your enemies. The main protagonist is a cartographer, so the player is not given an OP character. The two learn along the way together. This is definitely a love letter to role-playing games.

The Last Caretaker

November 6, 2025 – Waterworld meets iRobot in this open-world game where you play a robot on a boat. I would classify the game as a survival game because you have to worry about the things that keep you alive. In the case of a robot, it is power. The demo gives you a glimpse at some of the buildings you will encounter and what you have to go through to power them, as well as getting your boat started. The demo ends with you driving out into the open water.

Tabletop Game Shop Simulator

November 12, 2025 – The nerd in me had a blast with this demo because this is a chill experience that will immerse you in the world of owning a Tabletop Game Store. Some of the items you will be able to sell are rulebooks, dice sets, paint brushes, paints, and miniatures. You can even set up game tables and painting stations that customers can pay to use. There is also a collect-them-all side game where you can open miniature packs and try and unlock all the different variations, then paint them, and sell them individually. Any mystery box collector can get their fix virtually, and it won’t cost any real money. This one seems to have rolled a Nat 20.

Forestrike

November 17, 2025 – Devolver Digital strikes again with this interesting take on roguelike 2d side scrollers. Each room is a fight against one or multiple enemies, but the catch is that you can practice what you are going to do before you do it by using your foresight. Each fight has optional challenges, such as not using your foresight so many times. Using different martial arts moves and techniques, take down your opponents and save the emperor.

SpongeBob SquarePants: Titans of the Tide

November 18th, 2025 – The newest SpongeBob game lets you play as both SpongeBob and Patrick, but with a twist. While you are playing as one, the other must remain as a ghost. With a ton of collectibles, lots of laughs, multiple puzzles, and memorable scenes, Titans of Tide is another excellent 3d platformer in the series. Can you take down the Flying Dutchman and save Bikini Bottom once again?

Demeo X Dungeons & Dragons: Battlemarked

November 20th, 2025 – Combine Dungeons & Dragons campaigns with Demeo board game mechanics and what do you get? You have an excellent recreation of what it is like playing a tabletop game. The demo teaches you the basic mechanics from combat to ability checks. Play it alone or with up to four players. This is one any D&D fan should check out.

S.E.M.I. – Side Effects May Include

November 2025 – What would happen if you took platforming levels and stuck them in an insane asylum, then let the patients try and get through the levels? You get S.E.M.I. The other twist is the meds the patients can take. These will give the player abilities, boons, and detriments. One I tried in the demo made me really small and really big in an alternating pattern. Along with YapYap, this feels like the next game, like REPO and Peak, that will have the internet ablaze.

December

Marvel Cosmic Invasion

December 1st, 2025 – The demo for this much-anticipated side-scrolling beat-em up Marvel game solidified the expectations for many. I only played the first level of the demo because I did not want to spoil any of the story that I know I will be playing. I used Wolverine and Rocket Raccoon as my two heroes. Both characters did not disappoint. Wolverine was jumping around with his adamantium claws, and of course, Rocket had his crazy arsenal of weapons. For many, this will be a day one purchase, and now we know when the game is coming out.

Citizen Pain

December 6th, 2025 – This is a demo I never would have found were it not for an X post reply to my own X post. I am very glad Alessandro Capriolo did because Citizen Pain is a fun experience, and the demo is most likely only a small slice of the craziness. The game boasts old-school first-person melee combat. Playing it, it felt like an old-school souls-like. Back in my day, you could not roll and dodge, but instead you had to time the block. It was all about the block. In Citizen Pain, you’d better block or else. Look out for more coverage of the full release for Citizen Pain.

Skate Story

December 8th, 2025 – As a demon, you must take your skateboard, skate through hell, and go try to eat the moon. Yes, you heard that correctly. Only then will the Devil free your soul. Crazy visuals and an even crazier story make Skate Story worth checking out, especially if you are a skateboard game fan. The controls feel very streamlined, which is what you would want out of a skateboarding game. Throw on the weirdness, and why wouldn’t you want to check this one out?

Q4 2025

Final Sentence

Q4 2025 (delayed to Q1 2026) – Keep typing or get shot. This is the basic premise of one of the most played games of this past NextFest. There is really nothing else to say about this game except that it is a great concept. In a world where we are so focused on clicking as a skill, a game actually utilizes that to teach a skill. For all of us who grew up with typing classes, this one’s for you.

Games Now Available

Painkiller

The demo gave us a slice of the chaotic fun that the full game should deliver on. People loved the original but have been leery about this remake. However, do you like chaotic fun because this one feels just as crazy as it looks? Unique weapons and hordes of enemies to kill should supply hours and hours of fun for any classic FPS fan.

Swapmeat

Now out in early access, I took the demo for a short spin and had a blast because the ability to swap body parts with different abilities was very pleasing. Some of the body parts I experienced were acid-spitting bug heads, robot jet treads, and wasp wings. This will be a game to watch as it heads toward its 1.0 release.

Probably Missed a Few

This was a fantastic NextFest. There are always games that you do not expect to wow you, let alone play at all. This list is just a fraction of the demos I played this past week. I realize there are probably plenty of demos for games that are coming out in the next month. I did not get a chance to play, but this list is definitely one full of titles any gamer should be excited about.

The post 15 Games You Can Play Very Soon (or Right Now) with Steam Next Fest appeared first on Nerd Reactor.