Formerly known as the Steam Game Festival, Steam Next Fest is a multi-day celebration of all things indie games. The event is held several times a year and helps to shine a spotlight on some of the most exciting indie game projects, with dev talks, release date announcements, and a boatload of playable demos for indie game fans to enjoy.
With hundreds of these demos available though, it can be difficult to know which ones are worth checking out first. Thankfully, the best demos at the February 2023 Steam Next Fest manage to set themselves apart from the rest, with fun yet challenging gameplay, unique visuals, and some of the most creative ideas and mechanics around.
6 Bleak Sword DX
- Expected release date: To be announced
- Developer: more8bit
- Publisher: Devolver Digital
Part of what makes events like Steam Next Fest so exciting is the willingness of indie game devs to try out new things. A lot of larger developers just seem to repackage the same tired ideas over and over again, but that's not a complaint that could ever be levied against more8bit and Bleak Sword DX.
After more than three years of exclusivity, the critically acclaimed Apple Arcade title is finally coming to PC and does so with a new coat of paint and a boatload of new content. Its unique diorama-inspired art style is like nothing else around, while its roguelike hack-and-slash combat is challenging yet fair.
5 Shadows of Doubt
- Expected release date: Coming Soon
- Developer: ColePowered Games
- Publisher: Fireshine Games
Developed by ColePowered Games, Shadows of Doubt is a detective game set in a heavily stylized sci-fi city. Players take on the role of a private investigator and must solve crimes to earn cash, all while hunting down a prolific serial killer who has been terrorizing the city.
Everything about this game feels entirely deliberate, while the sheer scale of the city that players are able to explore can be truly breathtaking at times. The blocky art style may not be to everybody's liking, but it definitely helps the game to stand out.
4 Planet of Lana
- Expected release date: Q2 2023
- Developer: Wishfully
- Publisher: Thunderful Publishing
Planet of Lana is arguably one of the most ambitious games to be showcased at the February 2023 Steam Next Fest. It borrows elements from several different genres, packaging them together in a way that manages to feel both fresh and unique despite there being a comforting air of familiarity.
It's a little reminiscent of some of the earlier Oddworld titles, and, in some ways, the Little Nightmares games too. Its colorful art style and thought-provoking puzzles help to set it apart though and are a big part of why so many people can't wait for the full release.
3 Slopecrashers
- Expected release date: 2023
- Developer: byteparrot
- Publisher: byteparrot
Slopecrashers is a snowboarding game with combat mechanics and support for both local and online multiplayer. Players are able to perform stunts and combos to increase their speed and can collect items to take out other racers much like in a traditional kart racer.
The game features a multitude of game modes and allows players to control a wide range of adorable little animals. Its fast-paced gameplay and well-designed courses make this a game that's almost as fun to watch as it is to play and one of the best demos to come out of the February 2023 Steam Next Fest.
2 Sons of Valhalla
- Expected release date: 2023
- Developer: Pixel Chest
- Publisher: Hooded Horse
There's an awful lot going on in Sons of Valhalla, particularly when players are first starting out. As they begin to get to grips with the game's mechanics though, they'll find that it's one of the best base-building games in recent memory, with excellent tactical combat and a charming art style to boot.
Some may argue that the whole Viking thing has been done to death over the past decade or so, and while this may be true, it doesn't stop Sons of Valhalla from being an awful lot of fun to play. It's clear that plenty of thought has gone into this game, not to mention a whole lot of care and attention.
1 A Sister's Journey
- Expected release date: 2023
- Developer: Florian Lackner
- Publisher: Florian Lackner
There are a lot of great games being showcased at the February 2023 Steam Next Fest, but none more so than A Sister's Journey. There was already a lot of hype surrounding this gorgeous-looking Metroidvania game going into the event and that excitement has only been amplified by the release of the demo.
Developed by Florian Lackner, the game draws a lot of its inspiration from past indie darlings like Cave Story and Celeste and these influences are clear for all to see in both the game's visuals and its gameplay. A Sister's Journey is far more than just a well-put-together clone though, with the game introducing a lot of interesting ideas and mechanics of its own.