Steam Next Fest Starts Tomorrow: 6 Hidden Gems to Download on Day 1

Steam Next Fest: February 2026 Edition goes live tomorrow, February 23 at 10:00 AM PT, and runs through March 2. We already covered the biggest demos to watch, from Scott Pilgrim EX to Bylina and Fearwoods. This time we are going deeper.

With thousands of demos launching at once, the best stuff often gets buried under the most wishlisted titles. Here are six games that flew under most radars during the press preview but deserve your attention on day one.

Denshattack!

Developer: Undercoders | Publisher: Fireshine Games | Genre: Arcade Platformer

What if Jet Set Radio and Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater had a baby, and that baby was a train? That is Denshattack! in one sentence. You play as Emi Araki, a rebellious teenager who joins a movement to reclaim the abandoned railways of Japan. The twist: your train can kickflip, manual, and grind.

The cel-shaded art style channels late ’90s Dreamcast energy. Shacknews called the demo “a hidden Dreamcast gem,” and they were not exaggerating. The controls feel tight, the soundtrack slaps, and there is nothing else like it on Steam. If you only download one demo from this list, make it this one.

Vultures: Scavengers of Death

Developer: Team Vultures | Publisher: Firesquid Games | Genre: Tactical Survival Horror

“What if ’90s Resident Evil was a tactical turn-based game?” That is the pitch, and it works. Vultures drops two customizable operatives into an infected metropolis rendered in grimy PS1 aesthetics. You move on a grid, manage resources, and choose between stealth and calculated combat. Every bullet matters.

Team Vultures is a Latin American studio building something genuinely original here. Cheat Code Central described it as “the Resident Evil tactics game of your nightmares.” The demo launched February 12 and the full game targets a March 2026 release. If you liked Ex Sanguis from our previous Next Fest picks, Vultures scratches a similar tactical itch with a horror twist.

Coffee Talk Tokyo

Developer: Chorus Worldwide | Publisher: Toge Productions | Genre: Visual Novel, Barista Sim

The Coffee Talk series is one of the coziest franchises in indie gaming. Coffee Talk Tokyo moves the action to a magical version of Tokyo where traditional and modern culture coexist. You run a late night café, brew drinks for supernatural customers, and listen to their stories.

The demo covers the game’s first day and takes about 30 minutes. Expect lo-fi vibes, pixel art comfort food, and characters you will want to spend more time with. The original Coffee Talk was developed by the late Mohammad Fahmi, and this spin-off honors that legacy while finding its own voice. The full game launches May 21, 2026 on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch.

SoulQuest

Developer: SoulBlade Studio | Genre: 2D Hack and Slash

A 2D hack and slash rooted in Celtic and Arthurian legends. You play as Alys, a warrior on a mission to reclaim her husband’s soul from Morrigan, the goddess of death. The combat takes cues from Devil May Cry and Bayonetta, with fast combos and aerial juggles, but in a pixel art side-scroller.

The demo dropped ahead of Next Fest and already generated buzz among action game fans. SoulQuest targets a Q2 2026 release. If you enjoy the tight, responsive combat of games like Dead Cells, this one is worth 20 minutes of your time.

Fishbowl

Developer: imissmyfriends.studio | Publisher: Wholesome Games Presents | Genre: Narrative

Fishbowl is a narrative game about dreams, grief, and hope. You follow 21 year old Alo through her first month living alone in a new city while grieving her grandmother’s death. The game is set during the early days of the COVID pandemic, a backdrop that adds quiet weight to every interaction.

Each day, you talk to loved ones over video calls, work from home as a video editor, and sort through puzzles that unlock childhood memories. The two person development team from India built something deeply personal here. The demo covers day one of Alo’s story and will leave you wanting to see where the month goes. Fishbowl launches on PC and PlayStation 5 in April 2026.

Airframe Ultra

Developer: Videocult | Publisher: Akupara Games | Genre: Battle Racer

From the creators of Rain World comes something completely different. Airframe Ultra is a fast-paced battle racer with a violent cyberpunk aesthetic and late ’90s PS1 energy. You race as slum rats, smashing opponents with pipes, chains, and plasma torches while boosting through decrepit future cityscapes.

The split-screen and online multiplayer make this an ideal couch game. Videocult proved with Rain World that they can build deeply atmospheric worlds. Now they are channeling that skill into something chaotic and fun. The demo has been updated several times, and the latest build feels polished.

Make the Most of Day 1

A few quick tips before the demos go live tomorrow morning:

• Explore beyond the “Most Wishlisted” tab. The best Next Fest discoveries often sit outside the top 50
• Follow developers on Steam if you enjoy a demo. You will get notified when they launch
• Leave a review on the demo page. Feedback during Next Fest directly shapes the final product
• Wishlisting is free and powerful. It signals to the Steam algorithm that a game has momentum, which helps small studios get featured

If you missed our earlier coverage, check out what to expect from Next Fest and our 8 top demo picks. And if playing all these demos inspires you to make your own game, our beginner’s guide to coding your first game is a good place to start.

Planet of Lana II also has a confirmed Next Fest demo. If you are a fan of cinematic platformers, add that one to the list too.