Steam Next Fest Is Live: The 10 Most Anticipated Demos to Download Right Now

Steam Next Fest: February 2026 Edition is officially live. From now through March 2 at 10:00 AM PT, thousands of free demos are available on Steam. Every single one disappears when the clock runs out.

We already covered the best overall demos and the hidden gems flying under the radar. This time, we are focusing on the demos getting the most attention. These are the 10 games generating the most press coverage, social media buzz, and wishlist activity heading into the fest.

If your Next Fest preparation starts and ends with a download queue, this is your shortlist.

1. Vampire Crawlers

Developer: poncle | Publisher: poncle | Genre: Deckbuilding Action Roguelike

This is probably the biggest demo at this Next Fest. Vampire Crawlers is the next game from poncle, the studio behind Vampire Survivors. It takes the replayability and pick up and play appeal of its predecessor and reimagines everything within a card driven deckbuilding framework.

You build a deck, crawl through dungeons, and face the same kind of escalating chaos that made Vampire Survivors a phenomenon. The pixel art style is familiar, but the moment to moment gameplay is completely different. Progression from the demo carries over to the full game, which poncle is targeting for early to mid 2026.

Wishlist Vampire Crawlers on Steam

2. Scott Pilgrim EX

Developer: Tribute Games | Genre: Beat ‘em Up, Co-op

This is not a remaster. Scott Pilgrim EX is a brand new action adventure created with series creator Bryan Lee O’Malley. Four player co-op, pixel art Toronto, and seven playable characters make this one of the most wishlisted demos of the fest. The full game launches March 3, one day after Next Fest ends. We covered it in depth in our best demos roundup.

Wishlist Scott Pilgrim EX on Steam

3. Australia Did It

Developer: Rami Ismail & Aesthetician Labs | Publisher: Mystic Forge | Genre: Tactical Reverse Bullet Hell

Rami Ismail, co-founder of Vlambeer (Nuclear Throne, Ridiculous Fishing), returns with something nobody expected. Australia Did It is a tactical reverse bullet hell where you deploy and position troops to defend cargo deliveries by train. It combines turn based tower defense with unit merging (over 1,500 combinations) and on rails bullet hell combat.

The premise is absurd. The execution is sharp. Rami’s track record alone puts this near the top of every wishlist.

Wishlist Australia Did It on Steam

4. Hordes of Fate

Developer: Spitfire Interactive | Publisher: Spicy Koala | Genre: Bullet Heaven / Deckbuilder

If you played Hand of Fate, this is its spiritual successor reimagined as a bullet heaven. Hordes of Fate combines deckbuilding with screen filling action. You pick a hero, build your deck, and fight off swarms of monsters in a dark fantasy setting.

Spitfire Interactive is planning a multi-platform launch across PC, PlayStation, Switch, and Xbox in Q2 2026. The demo gives you a taste of the core loop.

Wishlist Hordes of Fate on Steam

5. Battlestar Galactica: Scattered Hopes

Developer: Alt Shift | Publisher: Dotemu | Genre: Tactical Roguelite / Space Sim

Dotemu publishing a licensed Battlestar Galactica game caught everyone’s attention. Scattered Hopes is a story rich tactical roguelite where you command a fleet escaping the annihilation of the Twelve Colonies. Hard choices. Intense space battles. Permadeath runs with narrative consequences.

Alt Shift has built something that feels like FTL meets Battlestar Galactica, and that combination alone explains the wishlist numbers. Q2 2026 release planned.

Wishlist Battlestar Galactica: Scattered Hopes on Steam

6. Everything is Crab

Developer: Odd Dreams Digital | Publisher: Secret Mode | Genre: Evolution Roguelite

What if every animal on Earth evolved into a crab? That is the premise of Everything is Crab, and it is as fun as it sounds. This is an action roguelite about animal evolution, procedural generation, and survival. You mutate, adapt, and carcinize your way through increasingly bizarre environments.

Secret Mode (the publishing arm behind Lethal Company) is backing this one. Release is set for May 8, 2026.

Wishlist Everything is Crab on Steam

7. Fearwoods

Developer: Ursagames | Genre: Co-op Survival Horror

We covered Fearwoods in our best demos list, and the buzz has only grown since. This co-op survival horror drops you into a cursed forest where light and silence are your only weapons. It is one of the most wishlisted horror games at this Next Fest. If you have a friend and a tolerance for dread, download this first.

Wishlist Fearwoods on Steam

8. Bylina

Developer: Far Far Games | Genre: Action Adventure

Bylina is a skill based action adventure rooted in Slavic folklore and legends. Combat is weighty and precise. The art direction is striking. We featured it in our demo picks article, and the demo has been generating strong word of mouth since the press preview. Release is planned for PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5.

Wishlist Bylina on Steam

9. Froggy Hates Snow

Developer: Crying Brick | Genre: Action Roguelike

An adorable action roguelike with a survival twist. You play as a frog who tunnels through snowy environments, protecting yourself from harsh weather and enemies. The art style is charming, the concept is fresh, and the gameplay loop has a cozy yet challenging rhythm that keeps pulling you back in. It has been quietly climbing wishlists all month.

Wishlist Froggy Hates Snow on Steam

10. Nocturnal 2

Developer: Sunnyside Games | Genre: Metroidvania

The sequel to the atmospheric 2D platformer Nocturnal invites you to explore the dark depths and towering heights of the city of Ytash. Fire is still your primary tool. Sunnyside Games has expanded the scope significantly, with richer environments and more complex combat encounters. We covered it in our demo roundup. The full game is targeting a Q1 2026 launch on PC and Nintendo Switch.

Wishlist Nocturnal 2 on Steam

Make the Most of Next Fest

Steam Next Fest runs until March 2. After that, most demos disappear. Here are three tips:

Download in batches. Queue up five or six demos at once. Play each for 15 to 20 minutes. You will know quickly which ones deserve more time.

Wishlist everything you enjoy. This directly helps indie developers. Steam’s algorithm promotes games with strong wishlist momentum, which translates into visibility at launch.

Check back mid-week. Steam typically surfaces the most played demos after the first few days. The official Steam Next Fest page updates with trending titles throughout the event.

For the full list of demos we recommend, check our complete Next Fest coverage and our hidden gems picks.