It’s that time of the year again, when video game developers are gearing up to give people an early taste of multiple titles that are in development. The February 2026 edition of Steam Next Fest has kicked off. Like previous Next Fests, there’s a wide variety of games across multiple genres to try out, ranging from spooky delivery games to blood-soaked tactical-RPGs and stylish assassination adventures.
We’ve highlighted 30 demos in particular to try out–all available for the low price of absolutely nothing–and this is just the tip of the iceberg, as hundreds of other studios will take part in the demo showcase.
Steam Next Fest starts on February 23 and runs through March 2. Once it wraps up, there’ll be a few more events to look forward to. The upcoming Steam Spring Sale 2026 will run from March 19-26, and you can also look forward to sales focused on tower defense, hidden object, and medieval games over the coming months.
Atre: Dominance Wars
It’s a great time to be a fan of 4X strategy games, and Atre: Dominance Wars offers just that and a little something extra for anyone with a god complex. Not only do you get to explore a dynamic world populated by unique races, but you can also rise to godhood and conquer the land before dark magic rips it apart.
Shutter Story
Hereditary horror and old-school computer programs collide in this spooky game, as you have to help your best friend find out if he really is being haunted. Using the latest in spectre-detecting software, you’ll analyze Eli’s family photos and home videos as you explore strange phenomena in each image and sort them into the correct category. Just remember, there are consequences for making mistakes, and your investigations will determine the fate of Eli and his family.
Ex Sanguis
A stylish turn-based strategy RPG, Ex Sanguis puts you in command of an elite squad of Stillae soldiers who protect a dying world from the nefarious forces of Stasis. The game is aiming to offer freedom to experiment through procedurally generated levels, giving players a vast arsenal of abilities, traits, builds, and synergies tailored to how they want to carve their own bloody path across a battlefield.
Wild Blue Skies
You know what there just isn’t enough of these days? On-rail shooters with a cuddly cast of anthropomorphic animal pilots, that’s what. Fortunately, Wild Blue Skies looks set to fill a certain cosmic-vulpes hole in life, as Bowie Stray and the Blue Bombers take to the skies to save the day in this modernized take on the classic on-rail adventures of the ’90s.
ZeroSpace
Imagine the gameplay of StarCraft with the storytelling of Mass Effect, and you’d have a pretty good idea of what to expect from this old-school sci-fi real-time strategy game. What could be the main selling point for ZeroSpace is its Galactic Warfare mode: a series of co-op missions where friends battle to claim control of the galaxy for their chosen faction.
Collector’s Cove
Are you in the mood for a cozy farming adventure on the high seas? Then you’ll want to check out Collector’s Cove for a chill expedition. There are no enemies to worry about in this world, as it’s just you, your adorable animal pal, and an ocean that hides numerous secrets and surprises.
Voidling Bound
We’re almost 20 years removed from the days of EA’s Spore and its suggestive creations, but Voidling Bound looks like a spiritual successor to Will Wright’s fabled creature-creation game. With some pocket monster DNA thrown into the gene pool, Voidling Bound lets you create and shape colorful critters that are the last line of defense against a devastating parasite threatening all life.
Ruin: Beast City
Sure, you’ve played a game or two where you’ve been tasked with assassinating people, but Ruin: Beast City wants you to execute targets with style. An action game inspired by dark anime and horror films, you’re armed with a katana and a revolver loaded with silver bullets as you set off on a mission to slay a group of mythical immortals.
Tombwater
The Old West had no shortage of outlaws, bandits, cattle rustlers, and snake-oil salesmen, but Tombwater pits one gunslinger against Eldritch horrors in a town overrun with monsters. A 2D souls-like where you can wield firearms, blades, spells, and apothecary items, you’ll need to dash and slash through the cursed streets of Tombwater and its surrounding areas to get to the bottom of a dark mystery.
