Every gamer will tackle things at an “event” like Steam Fest differently. Based on the games they enjoy, thumbnails that catch their attention or even advertisements/promotions outside the Fest that guide them to a certain game. With 100s of games to demo one can only tackle a fair share before being inundated. The following is not every demo I played, only ones which I found enough fun, interest and enjoyment of gameplay in to make a small statement and in some cases grab a screenshot. Some of the demos will no longer be available but the games are ready to be wishlisted, so here’s one I personally feel deserve notice and promotion.
Children of the Sun: A clever puzzle tactical more than a shooter. You might be stealthily firing upon targets but it truly is mastering multiple trajectory and timing mechanics alongside hand/eye coordination to hit those targets then it is a action/adventure game. At least in the demo. The graphical style and design layout is really cool. I personally don’t care for seeing a Leader Board and hope the final version has a way to turn it off, as I find it a distraction instead of an impetetus to do better. My impetetus is to do better than myself, not others. https://store.steampowered.com/app/1309950/Children_of_the_Sun/
Please Touch the Artwork 2: Extremely different from Thomas Waterzooi’s first game, this completely free (available Feb 19th, 2024) hidden object game is built around some extremely strange paintings based in various styles and periods. The quiet zen vibe and relaxing feels even with an evil seeming art destroyer running around. I’ll have more on this wonderful game later in the week. https://store.steampowered.com/app/2600140/Please_Touch_The_Artwork_2/
Duck Detective: The art style alone really pulled me, but the sleuthing felt fun. In the demo it seems very.. rudimentary, nothing truly difficult but I can get the vive there’s a chance of frustration because you can’t just SOLVE it, you must deduce it, you must SHOW your work and that’ll be where it gets hard and I’m here for it, cause it’ll also stay cute. https://store.steampowered.com/app/2637990/Duck_Detective_The_Secret_Salami/
Miniatures: From the demo I can’t really tell exactly what this is, but the art style, the simplicity, the strangeness, the eeriness. I want to know. https://store.steampowered.com/app/2428840/Miniatures/
An English Haunting: Old school pixel art traditional point and click adventure game based in olde England with ghosts, mysteries, and more. Well constructed demo compels to see more. https://store.steampowered.com/app/2474030/An_English_Haunting/
The M/S Cornelia II Incident: Extremely minimalistic pixels, less traditional but still intuitive point and click adventure game built around amnesia, murder?, and a cruise ship. Another well crafted demo. https://store.steampowered.com/app/2516650/The_MS_Cornelia_II_Incident/
It’s Kooky-Land of Aotearoa: Basically a hidden object game, but different. Find the stuff that looks weird. The art style makes it extra fun. https://store.steampowered.com/app/2650510/Its_Kooky__Land_of_Aotearoa/
Follow the meaning: Basic logic puzzles, hidden objects hunts, an extremely fun art style, follow the meaning is a logic puzzle game through and through, although sometimes with weird logic or at least weird responses to what felt like logic and I love it for that. Perfect teaser made me clamor for the rest. https://store.steampowered.com/app/2720280/Follow_the_meaning/
Daemon Masquarade: Built on comic book images and logic puzzles, the demo for this more confuses than excites, but the art and puzzles in the teaser were just enough to get me going. https://store.steampowered.com/app/2277090/DAEMON_MASQUERADE/
A Park Full of Cats: Find the cats… I love these find the cat games and I love that multiple studios have versions of them with different storytelling mechanics and art styles. https://store.steampowered.com/app/2610090/A_Park_Full_of_Cats/
Aarik and The Ruined Kingdom: Top down isometric connect the pieces puzzle with a compelling story. Very simple, yet complex. https://store.steampowered.com/app/2687300/Aarik_And_The_Ruined_Kingdom/
Mizi No!: This is basically a digital jigsaw puzzle of various objects and sizes but the art and background concept gives it ease. https://store.steampowered.com/app/2654860/Mizi_NO/
Queer Quest: This might not appeal to all, but it seems to be mostly a modern point and click about everyday life. A hand drawn type of deal that makes me think of Zack McKracken or Day of the Tentacle or Deponia. Cept it’s a small town and you’re a non-binary with a beautiful girlfriend and you like weed and then… your girlfriend gets kidnapped. Normal stuff. https://store.steampowered.com/app/1296300/Queer_Quest_All_in_a_Gays_Work/
Copycat: Meow, meow, meow… meow, meow. Meow. Really though, cat simulation life games are the rage these days, there’s many of them but Copycat really has a good flow. The demo gives you just enough to feel where it’ll go without giving it away and ending on a cliffhanger. https://store.steampowered.com/app/1622350/Copycat/
Harold Halibut: I haven’t actually played this long demo yet, but as I’ve mentioned this game multiple times since it was first announced, here I am again. https://store.steampowered.com/app/924750/Harold_Halibut/
Tiny Terry’s Turbo Trip: Open world insanity in a weird world with lots of things to do, collectibles, simple mechanics, but with a goal, get your car into space. Earn money, do jobs, do errands, gain upgrades. It looks like a wacky cartoon and the demo even though I couldn’t fully figure out how to end it… or did I? I’m not sure… I wanted more. https://store.steampowered.com/app/2238040/Tiny_Terrys_Turbo_Trip/
Mutants Ate My Carrots: Animation artstyle, traditional point and click. Would love some fast travel as even in just the demo there’s a lot of back and forth and the majority of everything is more fetchquest guess than anything, but there’s something here and the demo ends just when it gets really good. https://store.steampowered.com/app/2654690/Mutants_Ate_My_Carrots/
There were so many more demos in Steam Next Fest. Some I have downloaded and not yet played. A week sometimes isn’t even enough time. Some of these demos alone are a few hours of gameplay despite being only a portion of the game. I appreciate these fests and adding to my always growing Wishlist.