Steam Next Fest 2025.1

Wishlisted games are Marked

Steam Next Fest 2025.1

5/5 (Left me wanting more)

"The Astlibra of shmups." https://store.steampowered.com/app/3263480/Divine_Orders/

The art is stock assets, the text is machine translated, and the music is below mediocre. The gameplay is SOVL however, combining shmup with RPG mechanics: letting you customize your attacks and abilities, buffing you when you replay levels to grind exp/gold/materials, unlocking different paths in the overworld, and allowing you to customize the encounters by adding extra enemies. There's also a weird attention to detail where NPCs will comment on you being low on health/vitality.

Korean Character Action with Bonfires. https://store.steampowered.com/app/3351700/The_First_Berserker_Khazan_Demo/

It has bonfires and estus and recovering souls after death, but it's more like Nioh than Dark Souls. Khazan has different weapon types with different skill trees, semi-random loot drops, and rather linear levels (with some shortcuts) which are split into missions rather than having a central hub or being interconnected. The combat feels really good, gives the player plenty of options, and provides a good challenge. Save data will be carried over to the full game!

A platformer where the save icon saves things. https://store.steampowered.com/app/1521360/MainFrames/

It has really nice physics and makes good use of the mouse, which fits with the PC desktop paradigm the game has going for itself. Plenty of varied mechanics so far and is a little bit non-linear with side areas you can do extra challenges in. Looking forward to what other mechanics the full game will employ.

Little Witch Arcademia https://store.steampowered.com/app/2619650/Cauldron/

I spent almost 2 hours with this one and feel like it's still not enough. Without spoiling too much, the way the game offers you different minigames (fishing, apple catching, mining, overworld exploration itself) and escalates them with the progression and unlocks is just really well done. It also didn't info dump me with a bunch of nonsense at the start which is always appreciated.

4/5 (Great)

Fireworks? I sure hope it does! https://store.steampowered.com/app/2124480/Respark/

Pretty roguelite platformer. The sprites are cute but the fireworks effects are where the game really shines. Has a weapon leveling mechanic sort of like Cave Story (without level downs) and the level layouts remind me of Umihara Kawase.

Sorting autism https://store.steampowered.com/app/3035120/Is_This_Seat_Taken/

Charming puzzle game where you have to seat people with different traits/requirements in a variety of situations (bus, cinema, etc.).
The extra wedding level made me laugh; I have the feeling it wasn't as hard as planning an actual wedding though.

Sokoban https://store.steampowered.com/app/3108190/Puzzle_Depot/

While I much prefer the presentation and puzzle design of Isles of Sea and Sky (formerly known as Akurra) the way this introductory tutorial level managed to repurpose each room for its evolving puzzle elements was neat, though I doubt it will carry over to the full game. The extra objectives for more experienced players are a very neat addition and raise the skill ceiling without raising the skill floor. If you're into Sokoban like Akurra and/or Void Stranger (or even Chip's Challenge) give this one a shot.

Rhythm Heaven https://store.steampowered.com/app/1929290/Bits__Bops/

It's Rhythm Heaven. If you like pressing spacebar (or whatever) to the beat then you'll enjoy this. Presentation is charming and clever, but unfortunately the demo is very short and doesn't have any remixes.

Microgames https://store.steampowered.com/app/2741670/MINDWAVE_Demo/

WarioWare but you play as an edgy teen(?) in a weird death-game(?). I appreciate how it's designed for PC with it making use of both mouse and keyboard. There's more writing/reading than I'd like but thankfully it's skippable with both a fast forward function and the ability to just straight up skip the pre-mindjack lobby. After beating the demo it unlocks infinite mode for the first challenger which is appreciated.

2000's GameMaker Yoshi https://store.steampowered.com/app/3352020/Cloudy__Stormy_Pawtastic_Adventure/

Very charming collectathon 2D platformer with chiptune music reminiscent of early 2000's GameMaker games. I'm not sure how I feel about having two different characters rather than just the one with both abilities, but I understand if it makes it easier for them to make level design that is appropriately challenging for a specific character without the other breaking it. Also means they can limit the game to just arrow keys and space bar (although I'm not convinced they couldn't do that anyways with contextual keypresses) making it friendly for kids and inexperienced adults. Beyond just the basic in-level collecting of flowers/coins or whatever for 100%ing there's also a meta-collection of costumes, decors, vinyls, food, etc. I also appreciate how incredibly light it is on loredumping or exposition, you don't get any actual text until meeting the cook NPC and the main characters remain mute throughout, communicating with images.

Call of Chaos: Dark Sewers of the Docks https://store.steampowered.com/app/2208350/Total_Chaos/

I don't usually play horror games but this one looked very nice. I was pleasantly surprised by how much it reminded me of Call of Cthulhu: Dark Corners of the Earth at first, just the general feel and having different consumables for different maladies; with the Vanishing of Ethan Carter-ish puzzles. Then I pogged when I saw that there was crafting in the game.

It's pronounced "Blueprints" https://store.steampowered.com/app/1569580/Blue_Prince/

I was unsure whether to put this as a 3 or a 4, in terms of production values it's definitely a 4. It looks good, runs well, it's got an interesting premise and great mechanics for a roguelite, using an adventure game template rather than the typical action platformer or FPS. My main concern is to do with balance and long-term playability. There seem to be puzzles that require several specific rooms and I don't know what the odds of getting all of those to line up are. There also doesn't seem to be any kind of meta progression to help the player along so I can see it being very frustrating to win a run. I am unsure if there are meta-puzzles or not, I found some stuff in the Laboratory that seemed to be hinting at it.

3/5 (Good but maybe flawed)

Kirby but Touhou https://store.steampowered.com/app/3520050/SANAEs_Sylphid_Breeze_Demo/

Hard to tell which enemies have powers you can steal and it's relatively challenging, but I had a good time with it.

Robo-titties and arcade games https://store.steampowered.com/app/2378230/Neo_Junk_City/

It's a point and click mystery with arcade-style minigames. Combat is Wild Guns, racing is Outrun. The world is interesting in a Lucas Arts adventure game kind of way and the robot is hot, the plot is a typical amnesia murder mystery. My main gripes are that the movement speed is a tad too slow in the overworld (there is no sprint button afaik) and the overworld puzzle bits are incredibly simplistic box-pushing (which isn't even freeform) and timed walking.

Slay the Pokémon https://store.steampowered.com/app/2870360/Decktamer_Demo/

It's a deck builder where you use monsters to fight monsters and use items to either heal your own monsters or tame enemy ones. The art is great, there's an incredible variety of different effects and mechanics, but I have no idea if it's balanced properly and the fact that your monsters will permanently die makes it a resource grind (meaning if you use up too many resources early in your run you might get to the end and find yourself without enough to finish the run) and too stressful for me personally.

Holoman Zero https://store.steampowered.com/app/3446990/FUBUKI_zero_in_on_Holoearth_HOLOLIVE_ALTERNATIVE/

The art is excellent, the music is decent, and I'm a Holo boxpusher, but the gameplay ended up being a lot of spamming jump and charge attacks without much thought. Developed by one of the members of Team Ladybug this game is more of a Megaman X game than their usual Metroidvania fare. Laplus is my oshi btw.

Scaly Mario 64 https://store.steampowered.com/app/3411900/Kero_Quest_64/

This one should be pretty obvious, if you like 3D platformers or Mario 64 and its movement physics or Banjo and Kazooie as well as collecting stuff, then this game is that. I really enjoyed the level design but I don't have a lot of experience playing these kinds of 3D platformers and have never been super into them.

Creatures Cloning Station https://store.steampowered.com/app/1555980/Mother_Machine/

2.5D platformer where you play as a Creature that eats random shit, climbs walls and swings off of vines. The mutations system and the fact that it's intended as a multiplayer game is interesting but ultimately I don't think it would have a lot of staying power. Movement isn't as smooth as I'd like either.

Metroid vs Predator https://store.steampowered.com/app/1713730/Moadra/

Despite looking a bit like the 1996 hit game Abuse it plays and feels more like Metroid, it's got the spin jumping and everything. It's also got a Prime-like scanning view and upgradable abilities using EXP. It looks incredibly cinematic and has great animations, cool edgy world too. That said it's not my kind of thing and the very precise platforming in some sections is irritating.

Pokemon Sliding Puzzles https://store.steampowered.com/app/3003410/Sliding_Hero__Demo/

It's those Pokemon ice sliding puzzles from 20 years ago but with some extra stuff thrown in like jumping over holes, traps, and enemies. There's also pushing boxes for good measure. Good art, the font and maps are pretty generic but not offensive, didn't shove too much story down my throat, it's good but it's still essentially a sokoban game in a world where Isles of Sea and Sky exists.

BackRock Heist https://store.steampowered.com/app/3366190/Monaco_2_Demo/

It's essentially still the same Monaco as before, but 3D. It does add quite a lot to the level design and your ability to position yourself. I'm sure it'll be just as fun as the first game but the character design lacks any sort of elegance, much preferred the colored blobs of of the first game. Also runs worse than Khazan for some reason, I guess maybe it's rendering every single room at all times even if you can't see them?

CS Skate https://store.steampowered.com/app/3267460/AVENGE_MYSELF/

CS Surfing but it's called skating. I wasn't very good at it which probably hampered my enjoyment a lot, but the air control felt lacking compared to CS itself, not to mention other speedrunning titles like Seum or Neon White.

Nice day for fishin' https://store.steampowered.com/app/2393160/Nice_Day_for_Fishing/

Had more fun with this one than I expected. The humor is tongue in cheek in a "ha. ha." kind of way. I am a sucker for a good fishing minigame and this has button mashing, parry timings, skill usage, and resource management. I don't know how much lasting appeal it will have; different fish have obvious different rhythms but that can only carry the game so far. They also have different abilities but they don't really affect how you should proceed with the fights in any meaningful way (at least as far as the demo is concerned) but maybe the full game will be different. Wishlisting but waiting for reviews.

Gunstar Villains https://store.steampowered.com/app/3442630/BOKURA_planet__Special_Demo/

Short and sweet, mostly a platforming and "try to convey what this symbol means" challenge. The demo's story itself is pretty interesting since each player has a "hidden objective" the other doesn't know about (although this doesn't come into play in a mechanical sense, only story wise at the very of the demo). The environment was pretty bland and samey though and the online a little stuttery. I also feel like the gameplay of pushing boxes and communicating stuff the other player can't see would get old in a 2D platformer context.

2/5 (Mid)

Parkour for robots. https://store.steampowered.com/app/2980260/Hypogea/
- The animation/movement is a little bit "jank", and I am afraid that the environments won't be varied enough. That said pole vaulting is fun and there's some collectibles that offer an extra challenge.
Clunky cunny Contra. https://store.steampowered.com/app/3088250/Nitro_Express/
- Great concept, music, and pixel art. Limited to 30 fps which makes it feel clunky; the level design so far wasn't very inspiring and all the enemies burst shoot you limiting your dodging to mostly rolling.
Pink and Blue platforming. https://store.steampowered.com/app/3308340/Astropods_Starside_Glaze_Demo/
- Competent platformer with character switching, has a badge/charm system ala Rabi-Ribi or Hollow Knight. I can see speedrunning being a thing for it but for some reason it didn't grab me.
Solid Snake Eater https://store.steampowered.com/app/2111370/Covert_Critter/
- Scaly MGS1 for the PSX, it's such an unabashed ripoff it even uses the PSX boot jingle at the start. It's competent enough, but having it split into missions makes it play more like the VR missions than actual MGS. Didn't manage to play further than stage 3, not sure if there was a bug but I was completely unable to find the red keycard needed to continue through the mission. What's there is competent enough though.
Rhythm Mehven https://store.steampowered.com/app/2685840/PastelParade/
- It's cute and the music is fine, but while 1-1 through 1-3 are easy, 1-4 requires you to memorize a long string of inputs without any obvious visual cues or repetition; it's a little BS. Also, after trying out the Bits & Bops demo the presentation here just isn't as impressive, it's comparatively a lot more static and there's more text than I care to read.
Case of the Failed Idol https://store.steampowered.com/app/2653470/Little_Problems_A_Cozy_Detective_Game/
- It's The Case of the Golden Idol but more banal. Had some bugs with some text just not showing up forcing me to skip the intro scene. Due to the way it's framed it feels less exciting compared to Golden Idol, more like "figuring out what happened" instead of "solving a mystery".
Graveyard Smash https://store.steampowered.com/app/3107360/Grooveyard/
- Considering it's got groove in the name the music isn't super groovy, the level completion jingle is pretty flat too. It's an interesting concept though, having to guide a skeleton with preset moves by altering the environment, sort of like Lemmings but with less control (and less tools). It might be interesting if the full game adds more mechanics or abilities for the player to use. I don't think it's particularly impressive as it is now but I did 100% the demo for whatever that's worth.
Hollow Monk https://store.steampowered.com/app/1911940/Twilight_Monk/
- I wanted to like this one more, but the lack of upwards/downwards attacks bothered me a lot, then I died twice and lost a ton of progress both times so I had to put it down. Someone with more patience than me might like it.

1/5 (Bad)

Souls with EDF Mechs https://store.steampowered.com/app/1839430/Dolls_Nest/
- NitroPlus? More like NitroMinus. The models are amateurish, the environment feels empty and lacking detail, the controls feel clunky with jumping having some kind of delay and aiming with mouse having a speed limit, the weapons don't feel satisfying to shoot, and it feels like it takes forever to get anywhere either because "sprinting" isn't fast enough or drains energy too fast which will have combat repercussions if fixed unless they shrink down the entire map. It's a shame because I like Armored Core and I like cute DFC girls and the devs feed you a lot of different equipment to play with but this ain't it. Save data does NOT carry over to the full game.
Wolcen 2.0 https://store.steampowered.com/app/1863430/Dragonkin_The_Banished/
- Not sure why one would play this over PoE2 or even Diablo 4. It's not as smooth as either of those, the loot was pretty uninteresting (why would I want thorns damage on a mage staff?) and there's just waaaay too much weird detail on the backgrounds which makes it hard to read/parse the screen quickly. The skill system seemed pretty interesting but kind of a pain in the ass to modify, and if you want to be a spellcaster just pick the Knight anyways and hold right click since energy generation is a pain in the ass too.
Megagirl Bad https://store.steampowered.com/app/3439090/AirBoost_Airship_Knight/
- The girls are cute, but everything else is pretty lackluster. Level design is monotonous, not to mention every level in the demo reuses the same enemies and tileset apart from the final level. 50% of the 40 minutes I spent with it felt like I was mashing B skipping through exposition because the game really wants me to care about whatever the fuck is happening rather than giving me a good time.

0/5 (Unplayable)

Pressure 2 https://store.steampowered.com/app/3260040/Cold_Abyss_Directors_Cut/
- Played it on my 3:2 resolution laptop, parts of the screen were cut off and the 'Back' button in the options menu didn't even work. Unplayable. A shame because the concept activates my deep sea Barotrauma almonds.
Fellowshit https://store.steampowered.com/app/2352620/Fellowship/
- Temporarily adding this here because I only managed to get one game in due to the servers getting absolutely hammered. The concept is good and I did enjoy the one map I played but there is a limited selection of them and I have no idea how different they are to each other or even between runs.
Warcraft III Battleships https://store.steampowered.com/app/2790090/Sirocco/
- There were only 4 or so other people online when my friend and I played, so we did a 1v1 and I won. If this game doesn't end up being free, I'm not sure it'll have the player base to survive. Even then, will the skill distribution allow for people of all skills to have fun? I had a great time winning but we started with insane amounts of gold and having full teams would be a much different experience.

Looking forward to:

Need to review:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/3509220/Neon_Inferno_Demo/
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2940200/Haste_Broken_Worlds_Demo/
https://store.steampowered.com/app/3080050/DEMON_DUST/
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2877660/Jitter/
https://store.steampowered.com/app/3154880/Isle_of_Reveries_Demo/
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1911860/Grit_and_Valor__1949/

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2992820/Shape_of_Dreams_Demo/
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2665680/Tower_of_Babel_Survivors_of_Chaos/

https://store.steampowered.com/app/3291810/Claire_a_la_Mode_Demo/