Steam Next Fest 2025 is barreling toward the finish line – it ends on Monday, Oct. 20 – and if you haven’t already, now’s your chance to download and try some of the most exciting demos out right now. These demos may be removed or hidden soon after, so now’s the moment to grab them, try them out, and stack your wishlist for when they launch. Demos are free to download. Below is our “Can’t-Miss” list of demos that deserve your attention before they vanish. And be sure to let everyone know in the comments if you found your next Wishlist game!
Top Demos You Must Try
Godbreakers
This wild action roguelike just dropped its demo for Next Fest, and it’s packing heat. You chain together combos, cancel moves mid-swing, and even steal enemy powers to turn the tide of battle. The demo supports up to 4-player co-op, features multiple biomes, boss fights, and new modifiers via its Tangles System. It’s not just a tease — it’s a full-on adrenaline burst.
Regions of Ruin: Runegate
Returning to one of indie RPG’s favorites, the Runegate demo gives players a solid hour (or so) to dig into what’s next for the 2D, side-scrolling, town-building adventure. You’ll explore caves, forests, and ruins, and gather resources to rebuild your dwarven sanctuary. It’s exactly the kind of bite-sized preview the festival delivers best.
Everwind
If you like sandbox RPGs with a dash of aerial exploration, this one’s for you. The demo lets you build a base aboard an airship, gather resources, craft gear, fight monsters, and team up with friends in co-op. With three biomes, exploration, combat, and that sweet sky-faring freedom, it’s one of the festival’s breakout hits.
Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era
A return to classic turn-based strategy, the Olden Era demo lets you recruit heroes, build armies, explore fantasy landscapes, and rally factions. Released on October 9, this demo has already soared to over a million wishlists on Steam.
PowerWash Simulator 2
Relax, unwind, and blast dirt away—there’s a demo for PowerWash Simulator 2 in Steam Next Fest. You can try two levels (a van removal job and a public facility), test tools, and check out early cosmetics. The devs recently patched in new frame options and improved camera behavior.
Slots & Daggers
This one’s delightfully odd: a roguelike inside a slot machine. Spin your fate, equip weapons or spells, battle monsters, and adapt your deck as you roll. The demo is praised for its blend of arcade and fantasy mechanics.
Wall World 2
A creative survival / base-building experience where gravity is optional and walls become terrain. In the demo you’ll navigate vertical spaces, mine walls, craft gear, and adapt to a world that defies expectations.
Dungeons & Kingdoms
This isometric RPG blends city management, dungeon crawling, and political intrigue. The demo gives you control over a fledgling kingdom, balancing hero quests with expansion and defense.
Star Trek Voyager: Across the Unknown
Captains, your ship awaits. This demo lets you navigate ship systems, diplomacy, and battles in the Voyager setting, with multiple branching paths depending on your crew and decisions.
Road to Vostok
A survival / narrative hybrid, this demo drops you into a harsh, inhospitable environment and forces you to scavenge, make tough choices, and test your endurance, both environmental and psychological.
Valorborn
A rogue-lite action game featuring fast combat, upgrades, and unlockables. The Steam Next Fest demo gives you a taste of its melee-focused combat, character builds, and procedurally-generated dungeons.
R.I.P. (Reincarnation Insurance Program)
This quirky narrative adventure casts you as the underwriter for souls. Manage contracts, explore afterlives, and make moral decisions about who gets reincarnated — all wrapped in surreal storytelling.
Tabletop Game Shop Simulator
Run your own tabletop game storefront. The demo lets you design store layouts, manage inventory, sell board games, and even host demo sessions for your “customers.” Perfect for fans of management sim meets tabletop fandom.
Alchemy Factory
Play as a chemist alchemist in a fantastical lab. Mix reagents, discover formulas, automate production — all while dealing with magical byproducts and expanding your factory’s reach.
