Steam Next Fest 2026

These are the TOP 5 Steam Next Fest 2026 demos with something for everyone including a third person shooter that feels like Returnal or a CRPG that might be the real spiritual successor to Disco Elysium that’s not from ZA/UM or even a metroidvania that will definitely fill the void of Hollow Knight. As a bonus, we included a sixth game that also just got a demo, but isn’t a part of Next Fest and we had to include it as it’s one of our most anticipated games of the past five years, but let’s save that for last.

BEST GAMES OF STEAM NEXT FEST 2026

WARDRUM

Wardrum is a Turn Based Tactical Roguelite with pixel art and huge rhythm twist as a central mechanic that surprised me by how much it altered the experience and made it feel unique. A dark star has fallen and infected the lands and your tribal warband needs to end the dark sorcery that has seized control. Timing your attacks to the rhythm and hitting the correct inputs can greatly improve the efficiency and be the difference between life and death. The rhythm mechanics also create a much more active gameplay experience as your attention is constantly required.

This dark fantasy world shows off an impressive amount of depth and strategy where you constantly need to use proper tactics for success. One of the most impressive features is how accessible Wardrum, despite high levels of compexity, thanks to excellent UI. The information that you need is always at your fingertips, and controls are intuitive. There are many different classes, post battle level ups, skill trees, six different biomes and a randomized Slay The Spire inspired road map full of divergent choices. Wardrum is an extremely pleasant surprise as the rhythm aspect was additive to the strategic experience and not gimmicky. Rhythm, roguelite and strategy elements combine perfectly to make Wardrum a must play for fans of Turn Based Tactics

ARMATUS

Armatus is a third person shooter with a roguelite edge set in a demon infested Paris. Think Returnal meets Remnant. You begin with a basic set of skills with a firearm that comes equipped with a primary attack, secondary attack, which in the case of the demo was a grenade launcher and a melee energy sword. You also have some tactical abilities including a healing injection and a speed dash. The healing doesn’t replenish unless you find more, but your other skills work on different cool downs.

In Armatus, you play as the last supernatural warrior of an ancient order who is the last hope. Each run takes you through many different branching paths where you can choose your upgrades. Do you want to slow down time or learn a powerful ground smash? Do you want to be close range with shotguns and powerful melee skills? There are many different weapons and skills to learn, which can greatly affect what kind of supernatural demon killer you will become. The setting of Paris didn’t immediately come through and the story wasn’t instantly consuming like Returnal, but there is a lot of potential for Armatus to be a hidden gem of 2026 thanks to it’s addictive gameplay loop that is delivered in satisfying bursts.

ESOTERIC EBB

If you’ve been looking for your CRPG fix post Disco Elysium, then Esoteric Ebb might be it. A tea shop has exploded in the middle of town and you play as a cleric who is sent in to clean up the mess. The only problem is that you just up in a morgue with no memory. Does this sound familiar? Surrounded by dead bodies, thousands of apples, a sand monster and a zombie, you slowly try to figure out your place in this world. You do this with the help of all of the voices in your head before finding a trusty sidekick. Does this sound familiar? How much Esoteric Ebb follows the Disco blueprint is shocking, but what was even more shocking was how different the experience felt.

The setting of Esoteric Ebb is instantly captivating, the writing is complex, but not verbose and full of wit creating a much more light hearted and accessible experience, but still definitely not for everyone. About the only gripe that I had with Esoteric Ebb was that there wasn't any voice acting, which isn’t a necessity, especially in this case since the writing was strong enough to carry the experience, but solid voice performances peppered in can really take a great experience to otherworldly levels.

THE ETERNAL LIFE OF GOLDMAN

After playing The Eternal Life of Goldman, it’s without a doubt, the pure metroidvania to watch. When you go line by line, The Eternal Life of Goldman features all of the exact same elements and same reasoning as to why Hollow Knight is beloved and might even outdo it in some aspects.

The Eternal Life of Goldman has been meticulously drawn, colored and animated by hand using a classic frame by frame method. The only logical comparison is a game like Cuphead as it distinct visual style exploding with the imagination of a fever dream. The visuals combined with a story inspired by ancient fables, that is meta-narrated to the player instantly created a very strong atmosphere. Platforming requires precision, but it also requires brains thanks to the unique cane mechanic complete with three interchangeable sections.

Goldman is going to push the player to their limits with difficulty, but the developer said it will be demanding, but will never devolve into unfair territory. Finally, bosses not only presented a glorious visual feast that encapsulated the experience of each biome, but they also offered a unique challenge that rewarded patience.

WAX HEADS

Wax Heads is a narrative sim, created by just two people where you work in record store and need to recommend music, which is something that we all love to do anyways. The core gameplay loop is simple and unique as customers come into the store, chat with you hoping to find the perfect record. Sometimes they know what they want and sometimes they don't. Sometimes it will be obvious as they might want the brand new Top 40 pop album, even though they have already streamed it ad nauseum, but other times you will need to use your gut to make the right choice.

Talking to the quirky clientele is fun, but Wax Heads appears to have depth underneath the gameplay as they have crafted a tangled narrative of a band that broke up in the 80’s and became mostly estranged. Repeater Records is owned by one of the members of the band, but due to the dwindling space of physical media, the store in under threat from the landlord who wants them out. As you would expect in a game about music, Wax Heads features over a dozen original tracks to serve as the backdrop to this charming experience. Wax Heads is a love letter to a dying era that highlights how powerful the human connection is.

REPLACED

Replaced has been one of our most anticipated titles since it was first revealed at E3 2021. Sadly, due to the team’s close proximity to the Ukraine invasion and having to relocate many members of the team, REPLACED became plagued with delays beyond their control. Replaced is 2.5D Action Platformer with stunning pixel art as you play as an AI trapped in a human body with a story more prescient than ever with ai, sinister corporations, and the chasmic divisions between the rich and the poor.

Replaced was the shortest amount of time that I played of any game on this list because, you can immediately tell how good it’s going to be after just five to ten minutes. The reductive conclusion is to compare it to recent dark atmospheric platformers, but what it actually felt like was the sequel to Blizzard’s Blackthorne that I have been wanting since 1994 on my Super Nintendo.

The big difference is that it has a much stronger narrative and weighty combat that is inspired by Rocksteady’s Arkham series with a heavy emphasis on counters and finishers. The cyberpunk world of REPLACED is transportive as you're trying to uncover the dark secrets of a mega-corp in an alternate version of America in the 1980’s where the Cold War didn’t stay cold. I cant wait to get my hands on the full experience as it has all the marking of a game that stays with you.