The first Steam Next Fest event of 2026 is here, bringing dozens and dozens of new demos for us to try out!
If you are a fan of our work here at the GSC, then you probably know that we have been big proponents for the return of game demos, and are thrilled to see them making such a big return! We believe that one of the best ways to get players excited for your game is with a good demo, and with our monthly article, the GSC Demo Disc, we try to do our part, highlighting over a dozen demos in each issue.
With so many demos to check out, and with many only available from February 23rd – March 2nd, we wanted to give you the GSC Picks for Steam Next Fest for Feb/Mar 2026!
Akatori
Contrast Games have released a free playable demo and a new gameplay trailer for Akatori, a 2D metroidvania where players wield a mystical staff to fight, jump, and explore diverse realms across different eras. Players take on the role of Mako, a young monk who embarks on a journey through interconnected worlds to save her homeland from the Amber Storms — a corrupting force distorting all living things — accompanied by a mysterious red bird sealed within her staff.
The Akatori demo is available now as a free download on Steam. The game is in development for PC (Steam), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch, and is slated to release in 2026.
Becoming Captain
Becoming Captain’s demo is set to release on the 23rd of February for Next Fest!
Dive into Becoming Captain: Build your deck mid-battle in this Roguelike Deckbuilder, developed and published by Le Havre Création. Set in a sci-fi realm where piracy is nearly eradicated, except aboard the notorious Calamity. Craft a tailored card deck on the fly while battling for your survival! Will you become its captain or die trying?
Delve into the depths of the Calamity and uncover its origins. Discover the enigmatic “First folks” hidden within its depths. Navigate your way towards leadership and unravel the secrets of the empire and beyond. Embark on a journey to unearth the truth that lies within the heart of this mysterious world.
Blade of Wiz
Developed by Cube of Cube and published by Anotherindie, Blade of Wiz is an action roguelite set in a cursed city. Players control Sera, a disgraced knight bound to a spectral black cat. Combat blends responsive hack-and-slash mechanics with a unique dual-soul system: players directly control Sera’s swordplay while commanding the cat spirit to unleash magical abilities. Presented in vibrant anime-inspired pixel art, Blade of Wiz explores the fragile bond between a warrior and the creature that damned her— and may yet save her.
The demo offers approximately 30 minutes of core gameplay per run — but with 20+ weapons, 12 cat transformation skills, 50 customization crests, and 108 total power-ups to discover across attempts, it delivers hours of experimentation as you refine your build with each new run.
Blades, Bows & Magic
Developed by Funk Games, Blades, Bows & Magic is a casual, medieval fantasy, strategy card battler. Duel champions across the land in single-player and unlock new cards with special abilities. Challenge other players or your friends in online PvP multiplayer with our distinctive tactical battle system.
The ‘magic’ of Blades, Bows & Magic is in discovering the interesting interactions of the cards depending on their placement and abilities, often resulting in unexpected outcomes.
Blades, Bows & Magic is slated to release in April of this year.
Call of the Elder Gods
Kwalee and independent studio Out of the Blue have released a brand-new demo on Steam for their upcoming Lovecraftian narrative puzzle adventure, Call of the Elder Gods. Players can follow Professor Harry Everhart’s quest for their lost loved ones by downloading the demo now on Steam. The demo includes the game’s prologue and the first chapter.
The new demo trailer introduces Evangeline Drayton, a student at Miskatonic University haunted by dreams of a mysterious artefact. When that same artefact is discovered and makes its way into the hands of archeology professor Harry Everhart, she makes her way to his mansion in the hopes of learning the truth about its origins. Players get a glimpse into a world filled with secrets and clues that await them as both protagonists search for answers and uncover revelations more ancient than anyone could have imagined.
The Caribou Trail
Developed by Unreliable Narrators, The Caribou Trail follows a young Newfoundlander who enlists with the Newfoundland Regiment and is sent to one of the most disastrous and rarely explored campaigns of the First World War.
Through intimate storytelling and environmental exploration, the game focuses on survival, companionship, and the psychological toll of war, offering a deeply human perspective on life at the front. There might also be something about a ghost or two…
Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss
Developed by Big Bad Wolf and published by NACON, Cthulhu: The Cosmic Abyss is a narrative investigation game inspired by the universe of Lovecraft. In this frightening first-person thriller, the player embodies Noah, an agent of the Ancile, an office specializing in occult affairs, investigating the mysterious disappearance of miners in the heart of the Pacific Ocean.
His research will plunge him into the depths of the immense labyrinthine prison of R’lyeh, an ancient sunken city where Cthulhu is held captive. The player and theirAI companion, KEY, will have to solve complex puzzles, make choices that will influence his destiny, and try to resist the corruption of the mind caused by the influence of Cthulhu.
To discover the unique atmosphere and original mechanics of this narrative investigation game before its release on April 16th, players can try the public demo on PC during the Steam Next Fest on February 23rd.
DAMON and BABY
DAMON and BABY is a top-down gun-action adventure game scheduled for release on March 26th, for Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, and PC (Steam).
In DAMON and BABY, the demon king Damon embarks on an adventure to break the curse that binds him to a mysterious child, entrusted to him by his late best friend’s last wish. Having lost his powers and now stuck with this baby, Damon must reach Paradise, but he is pursued by hordes of demons who want to snatch the child away from him. With a mix of shooting and exploration, a captivating story, and a colourful cast of characters, players will enjoy a unique experience created by the team behind the GUILTY GEAR franchise.
DENSHATTACK!
Brand-new gameplay is available now for Denshattack!, the game that begs the question of what it would look like if Tony Hawk were a train conductor rather than a skateboarder.
Denshattack! dares you to drift on walls, clear massive chasms, and push the limits in skating gameplay, but as an entire train. Only the wildest drivers ready to defy the norms of trickless mass transit will clear Denshattack!’s extraordinary challenges and unlock all-new, fun-twisting levels around Japan. Denshattack! launches its fresh, bold innovation on the thrills of skateboarding-like rail travel across PC, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5 in Spring 2026.
Echo Generation 2
Players embark on a journey into Echo Generation 2 with this demo that shows the introduction of the game. They’ll have to escape the sinister FST organization as Sister M, a psychic kid caught between scientific experimentation and forces beyond human comprehension.
The demo also features a small glimpse of the new tactical combat system that lets players collect cards, and define their individual playstyle by building their own decks with over 100 unique cards to craft combos, unleash powerful attacks, and summon allies. Echo Generation 2 is set to release in 2026 on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, Xbox Cloud, Xbox Game Pass, and PC via Steam.
Echoes of Mora
Echoes of Mora is the atmospheric lovechild of Subnautica and Everybody’s Gone to the Rapture – an exploration-driven narrative that trades oxygen meters for emotional depth. Players plunge into the depths of a mysterious lake to explore a sunken village, using time portals to bridge the gap between the present and a vibrant past.
As you swim under the surface, you will meet Mora, a young girl searching for her lost brother. By solving puzzles and unlocking “Echoes,” you can travel back in time to collect clues and influence Mora’s journey. Every interaction in the past ripples forward, allowing you to uncover the truth. Indie studio Selkies Interactive has announced that the time-bending underwater adventure Echoes of Mora will launch on April 29th, 2026.
The Eternal Life of Goldman
The demo for The Eternal Life of Goldman is available now, giving players a chance to take a look at the upcoming hand-drawn 2D platform adventure. The demo will remain playable throughout Steam Next Fest, running from February 23rd to March 2nd, and will also stay available for a limited time beyond the end of Steam Next Fest before being taken offline at a later date.
The demo covers the opening section of the game and offers approximately 90 minutes of gameplay, with total playtime varying depending on individual playstyle. For the best experience, playing with a gamepad is strongly recommended, though keyboard and mouse are supported. The Eternal Life of Goldman is being developed by Weappy Studio and published by THQ Nordic and will be available for Nintendo Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
Greenhearth Necromancer
Developed by Silverstring Media Inc., Greenhearth Necromancer, the cozy witchy semi-idle gardening sim where players raise living and undead plants side by side, returns to Steam Next Fest on February 23 with an updated demo launching on day one. Featuring a full UI overhaul, new plants, expanded systems, and deeper story content, this refreshed build invites players to cultivate a balcony garden that grows quietly in the background while real life continues.
What sets the game apart are its narrative moments that unfold between gardening sessions. Players befriend neighbors in the Greenhearth co-op, uncover fragments of their grandmother’s magical research, and explore themes of grief, early adulthood, and belonging. Written by the BAFTA-nominated writer of I Was a Teenage Exocolonist, the story grows gradually alongside the balcony itself.
Grime II
The sequel to the critically acclaimed 2021 original launches on PC via Steam on March 31st, 2026.
Grime II builds on the dark, unsettling world of the original, taking players into a strange new realm filled with distinctive locations that push its creativity even further. To celebrate the announcement, a brand-new trailer has been released, showcasing the game’s mysterious new land along with its evolved combat and abilities.
Players can explore the new and mysterious lands in the GRIME universe by downloading the demo today. The demo lets players explore the dangerous Temple of Hands, battling tough enemies and big boss fights. Players can use different weapons, abilities, and mold summons while uncovering secret paths throughout the world.
Helix: Descent N Ascent
Belgian indie game studio Badass Mongoose just pressed the big green “launch demo” button in Steam for their atmospheric puzzle-adventure Helix: Descent N Ascent. It will participate in the February edition of Steam Next Fest, from 23 February to 2 March.
The demo offers a first hands-on with the black & white puzzle adventure, with about 30 minutes of gameplay and three abilities for players to apply in brain-teasing exploration and puzzle-solving, while your dark counterpart seems to sabotage your every move.
Helix: Descent N Ascent is planned to release on PC (Steam) and Nintendo Switch in Q2 2026.
LUCID
In LUCID, which is being developed by Matte Black Studio and published by Apogee Entertainment, you play as Oenn, a young Sentinel on a path to fulfill a solemn promise. Players must journey through a crystal-punk world torn apart by calamitous events. In this beautifully hand-crafted world, players will absorb powerful abilities that expand movement and enhance their combat skills, allowing them to face off against a diverse cast of enemies and bosses. Inspired by the golden age of 2D sidescrollers, LUCID delivers an experience that seamlessly combines nostalgia with modern gaming. It’s fast, action-packed, and narratively rich.
In the demo, which features up to three hours of content, runners will venture through various biomes, each with unique landscapes and enemies, including a few boss encounters. Harnessing the crystal arts allows runners to phase through barriers and enhance their combat abilities. Fans of Metroidvanias where acrobatics and combat are elegantly intertwined are in for a treat. The LUCID demo additionally serves as a preliminary chance for speedrunners to test out the crystalline world’s fast-paced gameplay. LUCID’s demo is available now on Windows PC via Steam. The PC launch is set for 2026, and console ports will arrive later.
Luna Abyss
UK publisher Kwalee and its internal development studio, Kwalee Labs, have released a brand-new PC demo for their upcoming first-person bullet-hell action-adventure, Luna Abyss. You are a prisoner sentenced to explore a derelict megastructure that sprawls deep beneath the surface of the mimic moon Luna. You are tasked with recovering forgotten technology from within the Abyss and the lost colony it consumed. Every move you make will be overseen by your artificial prison guard named Aylin.
The updated demo introduces a new area called Scourge Crater, where players can take on a fresh boss fight, battle new enemies rising from the abyss, experiment with a new weapon and abilities, and explore an entirely new playable level. Players who have played the previous demo can jump straight into Scourge Crater and venture deeper into the derelict megastructure lurking below. Luna Abyss is coming to PC via Steam and Epic Games Store, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S in 2026.
The Mermaid’s Mask
Critically acclaimed creators of Crow Country and Snipperclips: Cut It Out, Together! SFB Games is delighted to announce that The Mermaid Mask – the thoroughly charming successor to the award-winning murder mystery title, Tangle Tower – is releasing this summer on PC and consoles.
Submerge yourself in the nautical beauty of the sprawling Mortuga Submarine, unlocking its many oddities and secrets. In the pitch-black waters beyond a long-abandoned fishing town, the enigmatic captain of the world’s strangest submarine has been murdered. Some say he was an immortal time-traveller. Others say he was a vampire, cursed to stay hidden beneath the waves forever.
Get your sea legs ready and prepare to board The Mermaid Mask when it officially sets sail! In the meantime, check out the newly released Steam Next Fest demo available now.
Mermeows: Chill Cat Mermaids
Welcome to Mermeows: Chill Cat Mermaids, a cosy idle creature-collector developed and published by Gemcraft Games, where every splash brings a smile! In this enchanting idle clicker creature collection game, traverse hand-drawn lakes, hatch unique Mermeows, and upgrade serene habitats. Collect pearls and let magical currents carry you into a world of calm strategy.
The Mermeows: Chill Cat Mermaids demo is available now on PC via Steam, with the game planned to release in Q2 2026.
Modulus
UK publisher Kwalee and Belgian indie studio Happy Volcano have announced that their upcoming factory automation game, Modulus, will launch on April 2, 2026. Players will be able to build and automate elegant production lines when the game arrives on PC via Steam.
Modulus is a sandbox factory game about engineering your own solutions. Design modular 3D components, assemble them into automated production systems, and refine them for both beauty and efficiency. An updated demo is available now on Steam, giving players a chance to jump in right away.
Mythmatch
Developed and published by Team Artichoke, Mythmatch is a town-building merge game with an anti-capitalist story. You play as aspiring goddess Artemis trying to find her place in Olympus. But when she is rejected and sent down to the mortal realm, she learns how her billionaire family negatively impacts the mortals. Instead of fighting for her place among the gods, she discovers the joys of working within a community and building relationships.
The Mythmatch Demo will be part of Steam Next Fest starting on February 23rd, and any progress you make in the demo will carry over to the full game when it releases on PC via Steam on March 13th.
Pass of Fear
Pass the Fear is the roguelite bullet-hell shooter, developed by PlayMud Studio and published by Paras Games, where you must find a way to escape before dawn breaks. In battles filled with relentless bullet storms, random items stack to create outrageous, exponential combos. Unleash the wildest projectile patterns and screen-shattering damage to crush every enemy standing in your way!
In battles filled with relentless bullet storms, random items stack to create outrageous, exponential combos. The demo for Pass the Fear will be available on Steam for February’s Steam Next Fest, and is set to release on PC this year.
Ship v Maze
Fly. Crash. Repeat. Because this time, surely you won’t make the same mistakes.
Developed and published by Cosmic Droplet, Ship v Maze is a stripped-down reflex challenge: guide your ship through increasingly complex mazes using just two inputs – turn left or turn right. No acceleration. No brakes. Just pure navigation and determination.
Ship v Maze releases on PC on April 2nd.
Solar Voltage
After a huge solar storm destroyed their ship and left them stranded, help Volt and her crewmates escape the dangerous planet filled with deadly robots and a mysterious AI.
Developed and published by Cosmic Lighthouse Games, and inspired by many games of old, Solar Voltage brings the isometric platformer back, while giving much-needed polish to the gameplay to make sure the player feels in control at all times. Roll, spin, and hover your way around many different levels, puzzles, and environments to collect ancient batteries, rescue lost crew members, and learn more about the mysterious alien ruins that trap you.
Solar Voltage is set to release on PC in 2026.
Spellsy
Sepllsy is a cozy-but-clever word puzzle game developed and published by You’re A Lemon Games, where every move counts. Plan your path, chain tile effects, and clear the board in as few turns as possible. No timers, no pressure, just pure puzzlin’.
Each type of block behaves differently. Some slide and shove their neighbors, while others explode and trigger chain reactions that reshape the entire board. As you progress, Spellsy starts to feel more and more like a series of satisfying logic puzzles.
A demo is available on PC via Steam now, with Spellsy slated to release sometime in 2026.
Sugar Shatter
Smash through your competition in Sugar Shatter, a breakout fighting game developed and published by SpicyTrain Games, where you have to hit a candy ball to break more bricks than your opponent. Meet a variety of characters in campaign mode, or challenge your friends to a test of skill with local multiplayer versus mode!
All 6 base characters and all 5 levels are included in the demo, as well as a short demo-exclusive story to play through in the campaign mode. The demo has plenty of content and supports local multiplayer, which works with Steam Remote Play to connect and play with friends online!
Sugar Shatter is planned to be released on PC in April.
Swan Song
Belgian indie developer Business Goose Studios is honking out of excitement as Swan Song joins Steam Next Fest with a freshly updated demo.
Swan Song is a calming puzzle game set inside a mysterious music box, where you place notes on a scale to compose melodies that guide a little swan safely back to its nest. With its warm low-poly visuals and a soothing soundtrack by acclaimed composer Jamal Green, Swan Song blends clever puzzle design with emotional storytelling. The demo is available now on Steam, inviting players to experience the first chapters of this atmospheric musical puzzle adventure, and offers a first look at the emotional journey of family, loss, and acceptance at the heart of Swan Song.
Swan Song is scheduled to release on PC in Q2 2026.
Teeto
Super Rare Originals and New Zealand-based developer Eat Pant Games are bringing the wholesome 3D platformer Teeto to PC & consoles in Q2 2026! We are excited to announce that Teeto will be releasing on Steam, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch.
In this love letter to classic 3D platformers, Teeto and Nory are going on an action-packed adventure to cleanse the world of shadow corruption! Absorb ordinary objects from the world and harness their powers to fight the shadow corruption and assist a quirky cast of characters in a bright and colourful world.
Wax Heads
Curve Games and Patattie Games have announced cozy-punk record shop sim Wax Heads is coming to PC, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch on May 5, 2026.
Wax Heads is a cozy-punk narrative sim about managing a struggling record store. Chat to quirky customers with unique tastes, explore a handcrafted record collection, fall in love with bands (and their drama!), or just slack off with your colleagues – whatever gets everyone’s groove back!
Witchspire
Envar Games has proudly launched the Steam Next Fest demo for their magical adventure Witchspire, following the game’s latest playtest, which saw more than 85,000 players granted access. The demo will be part of Steam Next Fest (February 23 – March 2), as the open-world survival-lite prepares to release in Early Access on PC this year.
Throw yourself broomstick-first into this wondrous adventure and explore the game’s starting island, enjoying the creature-collecting, base-crafting, and multiplayer co-op gameplay as up to three friends enjoy Witchspire alongside you.
That was 30 demos we think you should check out from Steam Next Fest for Feb/Mar 2026, but that is only the tip of the iceberg! The event is on from February 23rd to March 2nd, so there is loads of time to try out a whole bunch of new game demos!
Have you tried out any cool demos from Steam Next Fest we haven’t featured here? Let us know in the comments below, and join the Gamer Social Club Discord to chat with others about your favourite games, play in the community game nights, take part in giveaways, and more!
