Steam’s NextFest returns again this year, but there are enough upcoming games to justify a second tour. Jam-packed with hundreds of title previews, it was really tricky to select a handful of titles we think you should look at.
But since we also try not to repeat games from our previous festival coverage, the abundance of new choices means that tons of new titles are coming your way over the next two years. We can’t play all the demos, so our impressions are based primarily on the game’s Steam profile and NextFest demonstration streams.
If we missed anything, say so in the comments!
The Eternal Cylinder [Steam Link]
Step up to save your world as an insignificant creature on a planet facing certain destruction. Everything is slowly being crushed by the Eternal Cylinder, literally a gigantic cylinder periodically rolling forth across the surface. But your seemingly insignificant species has an edge: it can quickly evolve new traits. Combine dozens of traits in your team of cute critters and try to stop the Eternal Cylinder.
Chasm: The Rift [Steam Link]
Chasm: The Rift was part of the nineties first-person shooter generation. It never got the recognition bestowed on Duke Nukem, Quake, or even Blood or Redneck Rampage. But many people adore this game, and now it returns as a 4K remaster. Chasm explodes with old-school FPS action, complete with a ridiculous plot about time channels – just an excuse to launch stranger and more grotesque monsters at you to test your ridiculous arsenal.
SEASON: A letter to the future [Steam Link]
You don’t often hear of a bicycle road trip game. This fact alone makes SEASON stand out. Then you see the mesmerising art style, creating a beautiful world through which you will cycle and explore. It’s also a narrative adventure – you’ll interact with people and places, capturing their stories and uncovering more intrigue. Just watching the trailer feels so relaxing – imagine what the game will be like.
Timemelters [Steam Link]
Up to three players can take on a magical corruption destroying their comfortable countryside. As witches, players have an interesting skill: rewind time to create multiple copies of themselves and fight alongside their doppelgangers. You can also unleash an arsenal of other spells and create real-time battle strategies. It sounds very ambitious. But we’ll know if it succeeds because Timemelters launches this week.
Gunbrella [Steam Link]
Set out for revenge in this retro action-adventure scroller, facing a world of gangs, ghouls, corporate greed and cultists. You’ll do a lot of shooting, but Gunbrella is also about interacting with characters, finding clues, and exploring the different stages and factions. Trade scrap for upgrades and delve deeper into this dark noir world, opening the way with close-quarter combat and platformer gymnastics.
Ukraine War Stories [Steam Link]
Games and politics rarely overlap. But the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which happens to be a game development powerhouse, has resulted in a game about the conflict. Specifically, it’s a narrative adventure about Ukrainians under attack and occupation by Russian forces. Based on actual events and eyewitness accounts, Ukraine War Stories uses gaming to shine a light on the conflict. It will be free on release, so nobody profits from the game. But regardless of where you stand on that conflict, it’s interesting to see games used in this relevant and impactful way.
Homicidal All-Stars [Steam Link]
Society has gone to hell, but that’s okay. Everyone’s distracted by Homicidal All-Stars, the world’s most popular reality show. Explore the set, a wrecked neon city full of traps and opponents, and take out your opponents in turn-based tactical battles. Ratings are all that matter, so the more style you have, the more fans you get. But the rules can change at any time…
BicycleSim [Steam Link]
This game aims to do exactly what it says on the tin: ride a wide range of on-road and off-road bicycles, from roads to extreme downhill tracks. Design and build bicycles, sourcing new parts and upgrades, or jump straight onto the saddle with pre-made bikes. The final verdict will depend on how much depth it offers and the quality of its physics and environments. But BicycleSim looks good and has a lot of promise.
Skullborn [Steam Link]
Survival games are a dime a dozen these days. But how many let you play as a skeleton? Skullborn offers an endless massively multiplayer world where you gather resources and craft goods and weapons. But not just for your surroundings. You can replace your very bones, upgrading your character to be better, tougher, and look more unique. And all players will join the same server, so everyone’s structures help flesh out the procedurally generated world.
Against The Storm [Steam Link]
It’s up to you to rebuild your world’s capital, The Smouldering City, and you gather resources through settlements that you build across the land to generate crucial resources. But those settlements will not last. Against The Storm adds roguelite features to a city builder – success brings permanent change to your capital, but your communities will eventually fail – play smartly, or you’ll have to start over again!
