Steam Next Fest June 2026: 35 Of The Best Demos You Can Play Right Now

We’re spoiled for choice these days when it comes to video games, with hundreds of new titles released each month. What should you play? What’s worth a roll of the dice that hopefully won’t end with buyer’s remorse? Those are questions that Steam Next Fest answers several times a year, and the June Edition of this festival of demos has kicked off. Admittedly, it’s impossible to cover every game demo taking part this week, as the June edition of Next Fest has over 4,000 to sample. We’re also not listing any demos that we previously covered in the February 2026 edition of Next Fest, but if you’re curious, you can read up on what you missed through this link.

But if you’re worried about choice paralysis, fret not, because we’ve gathered some of our top picks below. Next Fest caters to every taste, from wholesome games to survival-horror, and once it wraps up on June 22, you can look forward to a few more Steam events throughout 2026. If you’re also saving your cash for some new games, the Steam Summer Sale will kick off on June 25 and run through July 9.

Duskfade

Duskfade made a big impact with it when it was first announced, as it looks like the spiritual successor to Jak and Daxter that we’ve been waiting years for. Featuring a vibrant art direction, the game puts you in the boots of Zirian, a young workshop apprentice on a quest to save his clockpunk world.

Burn-9

Are you in the mood for a nail-biting story? Then you might want to grab a download of Burn-9, a spy-thriller where you play not as a soldier behind enemy lines, but as a handler who has to keep the mission on the rails. As the Operator, you’ll have to deal with the pressure of figuring out what happened to a top-secret Antarctic research facility, commanding an elite strike force of cybernetically-enhanced black-ops super soldiers, and dealing with the top brass who demand results.

ReStory: Chill Electronic Repair

If you’ve ever fancied ditching the grind–for a night–and embarking on a new career as an electronics repair wizard, then ReStory: Chill Electronic Repair might be just the game you’ve been looking for. Set in mid-2000s Tokyo, you’ve got your own humble store, Y2K-era devices (including officially licensed Atari consoles), and all the tools you need to keep your customers happy.

Mistfall Hunters

Extraction shooters have become a big hit over the years, but what about an extraction ARPG? Mistfall Hunters answers that question, as you’ll need to scavenge, fight, and successfully cheese it–but with swords and sorcery! Set in a bleak world that blends dark fantasy aesthetics with intense action, this third-person PvPvE game will launch on July 30.

Embers of the Uncrowned

Sticking with the darkest of fantasy, Embers of the Uncrowned looks like it’s taking a few pages out of the Diablo ARPG book, but because I’m a shallow individual, it’s the jaw-droppingly gorgeous graphics that make me want to play it. Nexon’s new game looks like a visual powerhouse, and the crunchy combat also makes the game feel as good as it looks.

Wind Runners

There’s not enough hand sweat on your controller, but fortunately, Wind Runners is here to rectify that problem. A high-speed bullet-hell dogfighting roguelite, each run sees you step into an aircraft and take on the ruthless technotheist Realm. It’s a spiritual successor to those coin-munching shoot-’em-up arcade games of yesteryear, and it features deep gameplay systems to master.

Dust Front

Nothing beats leading an army to victory–from the safety of your gaming chair–and Dust Front is all about real-time strategy with a classic flair to its design. Set on a war-ravaged planet, one of the neat twists of the game is that missions are combined with procedural map generation and external rules to keep things dynamic.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2610770/Dust_Front_RTS

Bombanana

Putting a fresh co-op twist on an old adage, Bombanana takes a team of three players to defuse bombs. Each player takes on the role of a specialist monkey, but the twist here is that communication is limited. See no bomb, hear no bomb, speak no bomb! That adds an extra layer of challenge, but if your teamwork is up to scratch, you won’t have to worry about scraping simian stains off the wall.

SlayBlade

Essentially a BeyBlade video game in all but name, SlayBlade keeps things simple. You’re thrown into the deep end of competitive spinning top battles, and it’s the core gameplay behind powering up rotational spins and annihilating the competition that makes SlayBlade so much fun to play.

Mortal Shell 2

It might not have been perfect, but the first Mortal Shell was a pretty decent souls-like when it was first released. Can its standalone sequel improve on it? The jury is still out on that one, but this demo for the game should give you a good idea idea of what to expect as Cold Symmetry is promising a game with deeper weapon design, extensive upgrade options, and unrestricted freedom.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/2584270/Mortal_Shell_II

Onimusha: Way of the Sword

Capcom’s next big game of 2026, Onimusha: Way of the Sword got a demo during Summer Games Week. It’s still worth checking out for its hack-and-slash action, plus it’s not limited to PC.

Valor Mortis

While you’re going to have to wait a little longer to play the full version of this first-person souls-like from the studio behind the Ghostrunner games, you can get an idea of what Valor Mortis is about with this demo. As a former soldier of Napoleon’s army, you’re flung into a European battlefield full of monsters, creatures that’ll test your reflexes, weapon skills, and newly acquired magical powers.

Toem 2

The original Toem is one of our favorite games thanks to its combination of spotting hidden objects, clever use of photography mechanics, and a beautifully designed monochrome world. The sequel looks like it’ll be expanding on those ideas ahead of its release in Q3 2026, and this demo will give you a taste of documenting the world’s little wonders.

Lost in Art

Now that we think about it, an art gallery is the perfect venue for a horror game. While Lost in Art doesn’t go full survival-horror, the game does use its location to craft puzzles that require creative thinking, hide sinister threats in the shadows, and wrap the entire experience in an eye-catching art direction.

Outrange Strike

While the next Ace Combat is a few months away, you can still take to the skies–and for free–in this demo for Outrange Strike. An ambitious blend of arcade action and flight-simulator elements, it’s all about building specialized aircraft and then using them to keep the skies safe.

Penguin Colony

I absolutely abhor penguins for the vile, disgusting creatures that they are, which is probably why I’m hoping things end terribly for the malevolent mammal you play as in this faithful re-imagining of H.P. Lovecraft’s At the Mountains of Madness. Developed by Umurangi Generation studio Origame Digital, the game follows the events of the cosmic-horror story, but through the eyes of a penguin.

The Sinking City 2

Speaking of Lovecraftian vibes, don’t forget to check out The Sinking City 2 demo either! Frogwares is dialing up the survival-horror aspects of the sequel, and this demo will show you how the studio is focusing on deliberate dread, devious puzzles, and resource-lean gameplay.

Hack 95

We all know how modern operating systems kind of suck nowadays, which is why a game like Hack 95 might catch your eye. Inspired by a golden era of operating systems, Hack 95 is a card-based computer-hacking experience where you’re tasked with taking down evil organizations. Also, an incontinent virtual pug is there to help you.

The Old Flesh of Nuraga

Dipping back into the pool of thrills and chills, The Old Flesh of Nuraga is a first-person psychological-horror game with an eye-catching art direction. Set in the sands of a creepy desert, players will search the area for strange treasures and keep an eye on their digital grandfather as he descends into madness–which sadly, isn’t the ’80s British ska band.

Pulsebreaker

We really are living in a golden age for horror games, aren’t we? Pulsebreaker describes itself as a classic PS1-inspired survival-horror–and it certainly looks the part–but with a few modern ideas thrown into the mix. It’s a blend of old-school exploration, puzzle-solving, and resource management, while the Focus Meter gameplay mechanic is designed to reward precision and composure when you’re pressured by hordes of monsters.

Maximum Thunderness

For something more wholesome, you can grab a demo for Maximum Thunderness next. A roguelike sidescrolling co-op action game, you’ll get to respond with extreme force to the minor crimes of the sinister SKULL organization in this retro-inspired romp.

Cozy Game Restoration

And now for something completely different in Cozy Game Restoration. If you’ve ever found an old game cartridge and cleaned it up, then this simulator will likely appeal to you. You’re given forgotten video game cartridges that have seen better days, all the tools you need to restore them to pristine condition, and a workbench where you can enjoy the process.

Washington Prime

Nothing I write about Washington Prime–a first-person shooter that looks like it came straight out of the ’90s bargain bin–will ever match the game’s official synopsis. So here it is:

“There will be shooting into highly realistic-looking people, there might be a cigarette around, and bottles of booze in some places. So much cussing.”

Sprawl Zero

If Washington Prime doesn’t have enough laser guns–and possibly too much cussing–then check out the Sprawl Zero demo next. It has a chunky early-2000s aesthetic set in a cyberpunk world, enemies that explode into giblets, and grounded combat that requires you to think fast.

Tanuki Pon’s Summer

Deliver packages, make friends, and get the town shrine ready for a party in the demo for Tanuki Pon’s Summer. An adorable open-world life-simulator, the demo shows off plenty of the game’s Studio Ghibli-inspired vibes.

Star Trek: Outposts Unknown

Set in the Strange New Worlds era of Star Trek, Outposts Unknown focuses on exploring the final frontier and setting up a base on distant worlds. There are plenty of unique environments to explore and signature Star Trek technologies to utilize in this colony-sim game.

Empulse

We weren’t expecting Splitgate developer 1047 Games to have a Titanfall spiritual successor in development, but we’re glad it does! Mixing the studio’s talent for Halo-influenced gunplay with giant mechs, Empulse is all about outthinking and out-maneuvering your opponents.

A Game About Breaking a Cube

You’re not going to believe this, but A Game About Breaking a Cube is a game about breaking a cube. Unlike the last game that tasked you with spending weeks to get to its crunchy center–thanks, Molyneux–this new take on the idea does expand on that concept with upgradeable tools, a sense of dread, and cans of drinkable meat for your in-game character.

SiN Reloaded

Nightdive Studios has become the developer for remasters of cult-classics, and it’s turning its attention to SiN next. While it doesn’t have a release date yet, this demo will give you a good idea of how Nightdive has remastered the original 1998 shooter and enhanced it with modern control schemes.

Over the Hill

Offroading is an underrated way to explore the great outdoors, and Over the Hill aims to recapture that long-lost era of 4×4 expeditions. It’s the next game from the creator of Art of Rally, and it features several diverse biomes to ramble through, several vehicles to master, and objectives to chase.

Virtue and a Sledgehammer

What if childhood memories met the destruction physics of old-school Red Faction? You’d get Virtue and a Sledgehammer, a game that’s all about exploring your past and then smashing it to pieces with a big ol’ hammer.

Feed the Giants

Did you ever read Roald Dahl’s Big Friendly Giant book? Feed the Giant is kind of like that–until it isn’t. As a local giant, you’re given the choice to either guide a group of lost children through a hostile world or sacrifice them to keep your fellow titans entertained. Just remember, every decision has a consequence in this dark demo.

Milki Delivery

We’re headed back to cozy nostalgia for the next demo, Milki Delivery. Described as a short but satisfying adventure by its developers, you’ll grow your startup dairy-delivery business, explore a gorgeous countryside, and help your community out in this charming adventure.

Link Cameras

Desktop-simulator games are on the rise, and Link Cameras is putting its own spin on this growing genre. As a moderator for a camera website, you’ll be given the job of watching live feeds from different users, reviewing camera broadcasts, and uncovering the sinister secret behind each connection, all through an old-school computer interface.

About Fishing

Fishing games are typically relaxing jaunts: meditative experiences where you cast your line and patiently wait to catch the fabled big one. About Fishing certainly meets that description, but it also mixes in existential dread and suspense as each line cast is also a chance to uncover something unexpected.