10 Coolest Demos from Steam Next Fest February 2026

It is a new yr and we’re formally over the January gaming stoop. The indie sector is stuffed with prospects for brand new and attention-grabbing video games, some with utterly distinctive ideas and others with wild twists on acquainted genres. It may be exhausting to maintain the whole lot in thoughts with launch calendars and wishlists, however that is why we’re grateful for Steam Subsequent Fest, an everyday occasion that showcases demos of video games that will likely be launched within the close to and long run.

Making an attempt out the Subsequent Fest demo won’t solely be a enjoyable technique to kill a couple of hours, however it’s going to additionally provide you with an concept of ​​the place the trade is increasing and aid you begin planning your calendar of notable releases. After all, we can’t know if these video games will create new buzz till they’re really launched, however for now, these are the demos I discovered most attention-grabbing at Steam Subsequent Fest in February 2026.

10

Scott Pilgrim EX

Let’s make sparks fly

This sport, a tie-in with the film model of Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, stays a beloved hidden gem amongst side-scrolling beat-em-up video games. With Scott Pilgrim again within the highlight following the success of Scott Pilgrim Takes Off, now’s the right time to take to the streets of Toronto as soon as once more with Scott Pilgrim EX.

On this new side-scrolling brawler journey, Scott, Ramona, and unlikely allies like Roxy and Lucas Lee journey to a dimensionally divided Toronto to save lots of members of the Intercourse Bob Omb from mysterious invaders. Primarily based on some contextual clues, I am guessing this takes place after “Take Off,” however you most likely needn’t have seen that to take pleasure in this.

With an unlimited, open map and a wide range of paths to find, you (and as much as three pals regionally or on-line) can steadily construct up your character’s stats and equip them with newer and higher objects as you brawl via each new and iconic locales. FYI, Anamanaguchi is again to offer one other nice chiptune soundtrack. You will discover out for your self when Scott Pilgrim EX launches on March 3, 2026.

9

Notable folks

present me your vary

I have been craving party-based JRPG recently. That is one with a novel and colourful conceptual hook that may hold you hooked for some time. Properly, you recognize what at all times pursuits me? A world pushed fully by music, such because the Folks of Word setting.

Folks of Word is a basic JRPG journey that follows aspiring pop diva Cadence as she travels world wide, gathering musicians from completely different genres to create a really distinctive sound, and possibly saving the world within the course of. Folks of Word places quite a lot of effort into its presentation, establishing completely different cities and societies centered round completely different musical genres, and even inserting elaborate musical sequences to drive dwelling the purpose.

Fight is turn-based, however with a twist. Backtracking genres are always altering, and utilizing celebration members that match that style will improve their skills whereas others carry out help. It is a system for planning forward and profiting from every band member’s distinctive abilities. You possibly can take the stage when Folks of Word launches on April 7, 2026.

8

bobo bay

Okay, Sega, we’ll do it ourselves.

It is actually baffling that Sega did not trouble making a standalone Chao Backyard sport. they’re know They repeatedly create artwork, animation, and merchandise depicting chaos, however we can not seem to take that final crucial step. As usually occurs as of late, some indie builders received uninterested in ready and determined to make their very own sport, and Bobo Bay was born.

Bobo Bay is, most easily, a copyrighted standalone model of Sonic Journey 2’s Chao Backyard. Construct a house on a small island crawling with lovable little creatures known as Bobos, the place you’ll be able to undertake, elevate, breed, and compete in races and martial arts competitions.

As you elevate Bobo and succeed within the competitors, you’ll be able to funnel the cash into your island city and unlock new retailers and public services. You may as well take your personal jet ski out into the bay and discover the native islands for added sources. Bobo Bay will eat Sega’s long-unmanned lunch when it launches on April 29, 2026.

7

forbidden solitaire

Similar to common solitaire, however evil

I do know that solitaire is commonly thought of the “default” PC sport, however I do not suppose I ever turned it on till nicely into my adolescence. I had by no means heard the distinctive ASMR enchantment of that little click on. Maybe what I wanted was a hook, an impetus to play solitaire past simply killing time with playing cards. Possibly what I wanted was the forbidden solitaire.

Forbidden Solitaire is a horror card sport the place you rely playing cards forwards and backwards as you traverse a loopy dungeon stuffed with lethal monsters. As you progress, you unlock numerous upgrades and joker playing cards that improve the injury your solitaire stacks do and enhance your capacity to seek out options.

The sport additionally has a meta story, the place you, the participant, discover a CD in a thrift retailer and play “Forbidden Solitaire”, steadily revealing the darkish secrets and techniques behind its improvement and launch. Forbidden Solitaire comes from the identical developer as Dwelling Security Hotline, so you recognize you are in for some basic looming terror when it releases in Q1 2026.

Kickin It Orgy Fashion

I just lately discovered that once we speak about “soccer” in Australia, we’re not referring to soccer, however a very completely different sport much like rugby. Aggressive, quick, and impactful, it has the whole lot you want for the right arcade-style sports activities sport. That is precisely what we get from Professional Junk Footy.

Professional Jank Footy is a aggressive sports activities sport much like NBA Jam. Two gamers management gamers from two groups, passing the ball and tackling one another in an try and kick the ball into the opponent’s purpose. The sport has a traditional mode, which is sweet sufficient, however the actual draw is the Junk mode. On this mode, each time a workforce scores a purpose, the opposing workforce can select a power-up card that makes bizarre adjustments to the sport, like making gamers big or summoning dive-bombing seagulls.

It is tremendous enjoyable and tremendous foolish on the similar time, enhanced by stay commentary from Aunty Donna’s Broden Kelly, making it a fantastic addition to your sofa multiplayer lineup. Get able to kick it when Professional Jank Footy launches in 2026.

5

Densha assault!

trains with out limits

There’s one thing inherently nice about utilizing trains in methods they don’t seem to be meant for use. That is why I believe the thought of ​​making trains fly, for instance, is so cool. Nonetheless, you do not have to fly. Simply leaping on the tracks and doing Tony Hawk stunts is simply as efficient as what you are able to do in Densha Assault.

Densh Assault is a trick racing sport the place you management a single practice automotive on an enormous dystopian railway line and problem different practice passengers along with your velocity, approach, and survival expertise. From the second you’re taking off from the station, the sport strikes at a breakneck tempo and teaches you to energy slide via corners and leap round tracks to carry out horrible flip methods. The monitor is dotted with elective aims, and finishing all of them in a excessive time will provide you with the very best rating.

The sport has a cartoonish shade palette and a few actually nice music, and the general expertise is paying homage to Dreamcast video games like Jet Set Radio. Our very personal Ethan Krieger was in a position to check out this demo earlier than it was launched to the general public and had nothing however glowing reward for it. When Densh Assault launches in 2026, you too will be capable to experience the rails.

4

witch’s bakery

Nothing just like the vibe of a Parisian bakery

I like the small bakery ambiance. There are heat pastries on the counter, dough rising within the again, and slightly magical transformation machine within the nook. Properly, possibly not the final one. A minimum of not in a typical bakery. Nonetheless, we’re not speaking a few typical bakery, we’re speaking a few witch’s bakery.

This cozy journey follows Run, a budding witch who decides to open her personal bakery on the busy streets of Paris. Throughout the day, they make and bake dough to create a wide range of scrumptious treats for hungry Parisians. At evening, you’ll be able to discover the town, uncover magical secrets and techniques hidden within the alleys, meet neighbors and resolve private issues with the assistance of slightly magic.

“The Witch’s Bakery” finally ends up being a typical cozy sport, with a pure French bakery vibe, but additionally a pleasant contact for these in search of slightly emotional catharsis with a baguette. Take pleasure in The Witch’s Bakery with jam when the sport launches in 2026.

3

Inkonbini: One retailer, many tales

folks you meet at retail shops

Talking of fresh ambiance, there’s one thing to be stated for the ambiance of your favourite comfort retailer late at evening, when nobody else is there however you and a sleepy cashier. It is a quiet house the place you’ll be able to study slightly about your self, whether or not you are a buyer or, in Inkonbini’s case, a cashier.

“Inconbinini” follows Makoto, a younger girl who works the late shift at a comfort retailer in a small city in Japan within the early Nineties. It is a quiet little factor. They inventory merchandise, make sure that the day shift staff aren’t shelving the flawed objects, and typically take heed to the locals who are available every night for snacks and purchasing.

Relying on the way you work together with buyers, whether or not it is answering their questions or serving to them discover the correct merchandise, the story unfolds barely in a different way, steadily revealing extra about this quiet nook of the neighborhood. Inkonbini does not have a launch date but, however that simply means you will have extra time to browse your snack cabinets.

2

Goldman’s everlasting life

Scrooge McDuck can be proud

There aren’t many video games that characteristic aged protagonists. Maybe the plain purpose is that older persons are much less cell. Nonetheless, there are at all times exceptions to this rule. All you want is the correct tools, together with a modular employees, and the eponymous hero of Goldman’s Everlasting Life can soar to new heights.

Set in a world impressed by historical mythology and folklore, the sport follows Goldman as he travels via enchanting islands in the hunt for terrifying gods to beat. Goldman’s major software and weapon is his employees, with numerous elements that may be modified to unlock new skills. It is a good factor as a result of these elements could be rapidly changed on the spot. As a result of it is a precision platformer the place that you must react immediately to keep away from falling and dying.

After all, essentially the most notable factor about this sport is its beautiful visible presentation, that includes extremely detailed hand-drawn character and background animation. We have not seen something like this since Cuphead. There is no launch date set but for The Everlasting Lifetime of Goldman, however they have been engaged on it for a couple of years now, so why not slightly additional down the road?

1

knight of the longer term

LCD sport that’s really a sport

All of us keep in mind these low-cost LCD video games from toy shops the place the “animations” have been restricted to little light-up photos dotting the display screen. What for those who might play a type of, and as an alternative of it being a boring toy that is solely attention-grabbing for 5 minutes, it was an precise full-fledged action-adventure? So, Future Knight.

This decidedly insane side-scrolling shooter includes a Terminator-esque cyborg hero and his associate, an outsized dwelling tumor, who journey again in time to kill a cult chief earlier than he can brainwash all of humanity. All of that is depicted within the type of an LCD sport, the place characters and environments seem as static artwork within the background earlier than coming to life and attacking you.

Gameplay-wise, Future Knight is much like video games like Contra, the place you shoot down any enemies that appear like a risk. If the trail is just too slim for the Future Knight, eject the tumor from Toomor’s stomach to slide via a small crack, then name the Future Knight again to unleash hell. There is no launch date for this but, however it’s bizarre sufficient that I am comfortable to allow them to prepare dinner.