The new Steam Next Fest has officially begun, an event that will mark hundreds of new games with their demo versions, and we bring you a list of ten that you must try. Take the opportunity to play demo versions of various games before their official release to get first impressions.
Realm of Ink
We might be partial to this game, but Realm of Ink has just released a fresh and enhanced demo. The updated version presents two difficulty modes, empowering players to select their preferred challenge level from the beginning. In contrast to the prior demo, which primarily emphasized on building your skills, the new iteration introduces meta-progression, substantially enhancing replayability. This addition offers players a fresh layer of exploration and strategy, elevating the overall gaming experience.
As a core game mechanic that allows players to craft their own unique fighting styles, the enhanced Ink Gems now provide flexible combos that offer meaningful alternatives to skill sets. In addition, the Ink Pet System left the deepest impression on the players. The previous demo only provided autonomous attacks, however, in the new demo, the advanced forms of Ink Pets allow players to actively use their pets skills, dealing additional damage and providing new visual effects.
For the Steam Next Fest, the studio will unveil parts of the map from Act 2, showcasing even more outstanding artwork. To make the demo even more engaging, it will include a special gameplay experience in Act 2 – an endless way to create monsters. You can read our first impressions of this game here.
Winter Survival
After a group of friends is torn apart by a vicious bear, it's up to you to brave through the harshest conditions and survive alone in the winter wasteland. Defeat elements such as wind and unrelenting snow, using every bit of strength you have left to find shelter. Forage for food and collect water while avoiding terrifying predators like a pack of bloodthirsty wolves or a battle-scarred bear. If all else fails, drive wild animals away with makeshift spears or keep them at bay with various shelters.
Keep yourself warm in sub-zero temperatures while preserving mental strength. Be calm in difficult situations because induced stress can cause phantom apparitions and hallucinations. Early access of the game will provide three different modes of play: Story Mode will allow survivors to uncover the secrets of an abandoned city as they strive to return to society; Endless Mode challenges those who want to survive as long as possible through the harsh winter, while Coldwave Mode tests the brave outdoors through intense and ever-increasing challenges.
Winter Survival is a game that fans of this genre should not miss, and what you can expect from this game, see in the trailer below. This title will be released on February 28 of this year.
Pepper Grinder
After a shipwreck and the plundering of her treasure, Pepper must rely on her trusty Grinder to recover what the mischievous Narlings have stolen. Equipped with the Grinder, Pepper explores the terrain, controls the machines, and chops up any enemies that stand in her way of recovering her missing fortune. Travel through a colorful, animated world with precise movements and exciting jumps.
Plus, discover new drilling tools that will increase the chaos and help you solve clever puzzles. Collect gems and other riches during your adventure, then cash them in at shops to power up Pepper, unlock new levels on the world map, and win collectible stickers for your sticker book.
Pepper Grinder will be released on PC and Nintendo Switch in the first quarter of 2024.
Pathless Woods
Developed by the talented team at Aniya Games Studio, Pathless Woods invites players into a world inspired by the cultural and architectural heritage of ancient China. Take a pleasant journey through the open world and build different structures, from modest bridges to magnificent pagodas. Collect resources, grow crops using traditional Chinese farming techniques and defend your homeland from enemies.
The game also features a strong cooperative multiplayer adventure, allowing players to team up with friends to explore a world where adventure meets a peaceful atmosphere.
It offers a rich combination of building, exploration and survival in a beautifully designed world. There's a lot to do and discover, making it a must-see for any fan of the sandbox survival genre, and what you can expect from this game, check in the trailer below.
Dungeonborne
It is a first-person PvPvE dungeon-crawler that you can play alone or join trusted companions in search of treasure, exploration of various areas and battles with terrifying monsters and cunning opponents. In my 10 hours of play, it was much easier to get used to Dungeonborne than it was to Dark and Darker. The game is easier to navigate, easier to kill enemies, there is a lot more loot to collect and it is quite friendly to newcomers.
The game brings with it the roles of Fighter, Priest, Rogue, Swordmaster, Pyromancer, Cryomancer and Death Knight. Because of the first-person perspective, you can feel the power of each spell, the weight of your weapon, and the significance of each decision. In addition, it brings a unique trading system and a deep RPG system where you will become stronger with each higher level.
Overall, Dungeonborne is ahead in many concepts and Quality of Life features, but lags behind in things like optimization (you can literally see through walls) and AI. It also brings with it interesting ways to play, for example, you can throw different potions or turn into a mimic to trick other players, and the UI is also quite easy to use. I feel like Dungeonborne brings enough complexity with gear and stats that it will be easier for players to find a playstyle they like while also being effective.
Pine Hearts
As Tyke, put on your hiking boots and explore the trails and rivers of this cozy little world. Browse the park to find useful tools to help you on your journey, while filling out your trusty hiking log. Relive the memories of Tyke's childhood time at the park and discover the honest story of his youthful days.
In this game, you will make new friends, unlock tools and abilities, rediscover memories, pet cute dogs, while every corner of the park awaits you with little surprises to discover, and enjoy a touching story that develops over time. Pine Hearts adopts the item-based progression of the Zelda games, combines it with Souls' level design, enriches everything with puzzles and emphasizes a healthy aesthetic, putting the focus on puzzles instead of combat.
Pine Hearts will be released for PC via Steam in the first quarter of this year.
Perennial Order
You will have the opportunity to defeat unique bosses that hide around every corner and bring with them different challenges. These are followed by intense Lovecraftian-inspired combat that uses complex controls, meaning that one wrong move can mean death. Rather, all of this takes place in a world with visuals reminiscent of titles like Dark Souls and Princess Mononoke.
We will be able to explore this world alone or with another friend, that is, the game offers the possibility of playing locally or online. In addition, interesting NPCs await you during your journey, each with their own story.
Perennial Order will be released on PC via Steam sometime this year.
INDIKA
Indika is a narrative and story-rich adventure from a third-person perspective, set in an alternative Russia of the late 19th century, where religious visions clash with harsh reality. INDIKA is about a young nun who embarks on a journey of self-discovery with the most unusual companion by her side, the devil himself.
Topics of faith and authority are prevalent throughout Indika's journey and she will face many questions along the way. Players will be tasked with guiding her through a series of challenges to discover the answers before she completes her lifelong odyssey.
Indika will be available for PC, Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5, and should be released sometime in the first quarter of this year.
Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles
As we prepare our first impressions for this game, we shouldn't be surprised if this city-builder game finds some success.
In this sandbox builder, we will build different structures over steep cliffs and rocks. In addition to building anything and everything, we will have an airship to explore the big world and fight against various enemies. The game also contains a very complex political system that keeps track of which refugees you bring into your settlement and how these refugees affect the balance of factions in your settlement.
Created with an emphasis on simplicity of gameplay, Bulwark has a distinctive minimalist style that allows players to build a city with the simple click of a button, while marveling at the wonders it can shape. The world we're in is called Ursee, and it pulsates with life and is full of factions that we can explore, befriend, or fight, depending on our playstyle.
Harold Halibut
After almost seven years of development, the unique game Harold Halibut is releasing soon, a point-and-click adventure combined with a stop-motion film. The characters and sets in the game are not digitally created, but are physically modeled and filmed.
Ova narativna igra govori o prijateljstvu i životu na svemirskom brodu veličine grada uronjenom u vanzemaljski ocean, u kojem pratimo Harolda dok istražuje živahni svijet retro-budućnosti, susreće jedinstvene stanovnike te se trudi održati svemirski brod i pronaći pravo značenje riječi dom.
In addition, Harold Halibut is enriched by a full voice acting that brings to life all the inhabitants of Fedora, offering us insight into the diverse characters, their personalities, quirks and stories through meaningful dialogue.
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