As the exciting week of Summer Game Fest comes to a close, round 2 of Steam Next Fest brings forth many games that demand your undivided attention. It can get overwhelming when stumbling upon hundreds and hundreds of demos with so little time available to check them out. So, to make matters easier, I have curated a list of titles that I think deserve their own spotlight and space in your wishlist.
Discounty – Crinkle Cut Games
Take over and run a discount grocery store from Aunt Teller in Discounty, a charming and vibrant pixel-style RPG where your actions determine relationships and business decisions. The short demo was enough to convince me that I could easily spend hours exploring the town of Blomkest where drama, mystery, and curiosity await the players. Discounty is also headlined by a roster of colorful characters who each have their own personality, secrets, and wit. Especially Aunt Teller who secretly wants our help to expand and build her supermarket empire (but don’t tell her I said that).
Tiny Bookshop – neoludic games
I have been following Tiny Bookshop ever since it was announced two years ago and last year, I got the chance to try the demo. Now, with an updated demo finally released closer to launch, Tiny Bookshop is everything I love about video games.
If you have ever daydreamed about leaving everything behind to start a bookstore, this game is for you. Or if you just love books, this game is for you, too. In Tiny Bookshop, you can decorate, buy, and restock your bookstore as you please. The game offers plenty of quests to complete and books to recommend to your customers. From the get-go, I knew this game was going to be special and I can’t wait to play it this August.
Consume Me – Jenny Jiao Hsia, AP Thomson, Jie En Lee, Violet W-P, & Ken “coda” Snyder
Consume Me caught me off guard because it’s a game about very deep, personal, and sensitive experiences. Jenny is a teenager who loves to eat but feels insecure about her weight after her mother not-so-gently comments on her body. Since it’s summer vacation, she decides to lose weight by dieting and exercising so she can not only escape her overbearing mother’s wrath but also impress her crush.
As Jenny, you complete daily to-do lists while balancing diet, exercise, chores, and other activities. Consume Me is described as a dark comedy RPG. It might not be for everyone, but as I played the demo, all I could think was, “They literally made a game about me.”
Dead as Disco – Brain Jar Games, Inc.
I think the best way one could describe Dead as Disco is if Hi-Fi Rush and Sifu had a love child. Play as Charlie Disco where he seeks revenge against his ex-band members and reclaims his stolen spotlight in this stylish beat ’em up where every combat feels like a music video.
The demo has a total of three unlocked levels including an “Infinite Disco” mode where you can import your own music, beat down bad guys, and rank up a higher score. I can definitely say Dead as Disco is one of those games that make every punch, kick, and counter feel so satisfying that you simply can’t get enough of it.
Fishbowl – imissmyfriends.studio
Fishbowl mainly caught my attention for its cozy, pixel-style aesthetics. You play as twenty-one-year-old Alo who just landed a new job in a big city and began living alone shortly after her grandma passed away. While navigating her new life and grieving the loss of her grandma, Fishbowl promises a journey of self-discovery, isolation, and grief.
As Alo, you balance your day-to-day routine by working from home, keeping in touch with your loved ones, and reminiscing about your past. As someone who lost their grandma during the COVID lockdown, Fishbowl reminded me of my own journey of accepting her death and how that pain never really goes away. The short demo hit so close to home and I can’t imagine how amazing the full game will be.
Rue Valley – Emotion Spark Studio
At first glance, you can’t deny that Rue Valley draws inspiration from Disco Elysium when it comes to the art style and crafting your own personality. But that’s where the similarities end. In Rue Valley, you play an unnamed character who is stuck in a time loop and trying to figure out the mystery behind it while dealing with his issues.
The interactions and choices in the game depend on your main character’s personality and external factors. The demo gripped me by the shoulders, and within a few minutes, I got so invested that when it ended, I wanted nothing but to play the full game and know what happens next.
No, I’m not a Human – Trioskaz
As a new horror game fan, No, I’m not a Human made me feel creeped out in a good way. The world is ending in this single player choice-based psychological horror and unknown creatures called the “Visitors” who take the form of humans have invaded the planet.
You’ll come across many characters on your front door seeking refuge but it’s up to you on who to let in as any of them can be a Visitor. Conduct tests on other characters to know if they are a Visitor and eliminate them before they kill you. No, I’m not a Human has the perfect blend of eeriness and gloomy aesthetics along with a unique art style that stays true to its genre. It already feels like the kind of game that’ll keep me glued to my screen for long hours.
Dispatch – AdHoc Studio
Ever wanted to lead a team of eccentric heroes? Dispatch, a choice-based strategy narrative has you covered. You are Robert Robertson, known to the world as Mecha Man. But when his mech suit ends up getting destroyed, he has no choice but to take up a job as a dispatcher. Robert has to dutifully lead a group of misfits to help protect the city while also navigating relationships at his new job.
Dispatch feels like an interactive episode of the TV show Office but with weird and wacky superheroes. Combined with dialogue choices, it’s also a strategy game where you need to learn the strengths and weaknesses of your team members before sending them off to very specific missions. There isn’t a single dull moment in a game like Dispatch, and the demo, though short and sweet, is just enough to pull you in.
Crescent County – Electric Saint
Described as a delivery simulator, Crescent County‘s cozy, slice-of-life aesthetic immediately charmed its way into my heart. A new resident of the island, Lu, is still trying to figure out her life, aspirations, and a place to call home. With her upgradable motorbroom, Lu can make deliveries, help and get to know the locals, race against her friends, and forge deeper relationships. Crescent County might feel like a very simplistic game with easy-to-follow gameplay and story but as someone who gets burnt out with life itself, this is the type of video game I would pick up and escape reality for a bit.
The Royal Writ – Save Sloth Studios
If you thought this list wouldn’t include a roguelike title, think again! Though similar to beloved titles such as Balatro and Slay the Spire, The Royal Writ‘s quirky dialogue and cartoony art style add another layer of vibrance to this medieval roguelike deckbuilder. By adding card permadeath where your defeated cards are forever gone, you can feel the stress in each run especially when enemies become more difficult as you progress. Boasting two main campaigns, The Royal Writ is guaranteed to stay installed in your library for a long time once the game fully launches.
Hirogami – Bandai Namco Studios Singapore & Bandai Namco Studios Malaysia
Using a technique called “folding”, Hiro has to face enemies when a digital blight threatens a beautiful yet fragile origami world, in this puzzle-solving platformer. The concept of Hirogami smartly paralleling our reality where every medium of art is getting taken over by GenAI is not lost on me. The demo gives you a glimpse of Hiro’s different abilities and how you can use them to defeat enemies, traverse to different areas and solve puzzles. I am not very big on platformers but one can make sense that Hirogami is a passion project made with care to deliver a bigger message to its players. Such games not only deserve a shoutout but also space within your wishlist.
Monument Valley 3 – ustwo games
If you know me, you know I love a good puzzle game from time to time. Within its half-hour demo, Monument Valley 3 blew my mind at least three times. In this game, you guide Noor, a young apprentice across changing environments to unlock various secrets and find and restore the sacred light.
The demo carries a total of three levels which were easy enough to solve that even a non-gamer can enjoy. As someone who hasn’t played the first two games yet, Monument Valley 3‘s mind-bending, illusionistic puzzles along with its exceptional art and level design is something I have never witnessed in a video game before.
Herdling – Okomotive
Out of all the game demos I tried, Herdling is the most unique. You start off by rescuing these mysterious animals called Calicorns which vaguely reminded me of a Bison or a Musk Ox. Soon, this rescue leads to a beautiful herding mountain expedition where you learn to take care of these creatures by feeding and cleaning them from time to time.
My favorite part? Each time you rescue and tame a Calicorn, you get to name them whatever you want. I can describe Herdling as an atmospheric and serene journey with nature in the best way possible. If that doesn’t sound appealing, know that I am judging you a little.
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