Steam Next Fest February 2026: The Demos You Shouldn't Miss
We played through dozens of demos during Steam Next Fest to find the most promising indie games coming in 2026.
Steam Next Fest is back, and as always, the sheer volume of demos available can be overwhelming. We’ve spent the past few days playing through dozens of the most promising entries to help you prioritize your download queue.
Our Top Picks
Best Action Game Demo
The standout in the action category blends tight platforming with a unique possession mechanic. You play as a spirit that can inhabit different enemies, each with distinct movesets. Think Hollow Knight meets Kirby, and you’re in the right ballpark.
Fans of the genre should also check our best indie metroidvania games list for released titles in this space.
Best Strategy Demo
A colony management sim set in a post-apocalyptic mushroom forest caught our attention with its surprisingly deep ecology system. Decisions about resource harvesting have cascading effects on the environment, creating genuine strategic dilemmas.
Best Narrative Demo
A detective game set in a retrofuturistic 1970s that uses procedurally generated case files to ensure no two playthroughs are the same. The writing is sharp, the pixel art is gorgeous, and the demo leaves you wanting much more.
Best Multiplayer Demo
A 4-player competitive cooking game where sabotage is not just allowed but encouraged. It channels the energy of Overcooked but adds a layer of direct player-versus-player chaos that transforms every match into barely-controlled pandemonium.
The Bigger Trend
This Next Fest confirms what we’ve been seeing throughout 2025 and into 2026: indie games are getting more ambitious and more polished. The gap between “indie” and “AA” continues to narrow, especially in genres where creativity matters more than graphical fidelity.
For the best of what’s already available, check out our best indie games of 2025 roundup.
How to Participate
Steam Next Fest runs through February 10th. All demos are free to download. Just search “Next Fest” in the Steam store. Most demos will be removed after the event, so download anything that catches your eye now.
