Okay, it’s that time of year. We are already in the second month of 2024, and the Steam Next Fest in February 2024 has come and gone. I planned to limit the number of demos I looked at. I resolved to do so many demos every day, a mix of live streams and gameplay footage, and before I realized it, I’d covered 50 demos. So I decided to share my impressions of each demo I played. Because there are 50 demos, I’ll attempt to keep them to at least a small passage per game. Also, to avoid one long article, I am splitting it into seven articles. So, let us begin our adventure through the 50 demos I played during Steam Next Fest.
| STEAM NEXT FEST DAY 1: FEBRUARY 5, 2024 |
| Game Name |  |
| Developer | Playdew |
| Publisher | Playdew |
| Genre | Puzzle Platformer |
| Release Date | 2024 |
| Platforms | PC macOS |
Lost Twins 2 is a delightful puzzle journey that will challenge, entertain, and perhaps even inspire you. Help Abi and Ben on their journey as they cross platforms, solve hard puzzles, exchange tiles to create passageways, and conquer obstacles to reunite and return home.
I haven’t played a game where you have to alternately control the two characters on screen in a long time. The ability to rotate the level by dragging pieces together to solve the puzzles was one of the elements that, in my opinion, set Lost Twins 2 apart. The fact that the game recognized my Dualshock Controller was especially wonderful to me because my other controller died on the first day of the Steam Next Fest. The controls were pretty solid and flowed very well, and I didn’t have any hiccups.
I didn’t have many problems with the game; my main problem was that I got so into it that I forgot it was a demo. The demo only had five levels to play, but it did what it was supposed to do: I quickly put this game on my wishlist because I wanted more. I am looking forward to Lost Twins 2 when it comes out. It is expected to be released sometime in 2024.
| Game Name |  |
| Developer | EXP-resso Mutt |
| Publisher | EXP-resso Mutt |
| Genre | Horror Visual Novel with Point-and-Click Elements |
| Release Date | Coming Soon |
| Platforms | PC macOS SteamOS/Linux |
Camera Anima introduces you to the world of The Artisan, one of Awyr’s most notorious killers, who is rumored to roam the foggy streets in search of his next masterpiece. While pursuing the Artisan, save your sister, and uncovering the past, keep in mind what the stories tell. Meet his face and you’ll never wake up again.
This Steam Next Fest, I wanted to venture a little outside of my comfort zone and try my hand at some horror games. So, taking baby steps, I chose to begin with the graphic novel Camera Anima. I wasn’t sure what to expect at first, but as you can see in the video above, I was completely engrossed in the narrative of Giselle and her twin, Essie. I found the plot engaging, and I loved how it had some point-and-click aspects. My only complaint is that there is a lot of reading and no narration, so if you decide to stream it, be prepared to do a lot of reading.
I was gripped right up until the very end of the demo for Camera Anima. This was a great opportunity for me to dip my toes into the horror genre as someone who doesn’t do it much. I am genuinely interested in what Giselle and Essie have to go through; therefore, I put this one on my wishlist. When Camera Anima is out, I highly suggest it to anyone who likes visual novels.
| Game Name |  |
| Developer | Fiveamp |
| Publisher | Fiveamp |
| Genre | Shoot Em Up Roguelite |
| Release Date | 2024 |
| Platforms | PC macOS |
In NIMRODS: GunCraft Survivor, you can build an unlimited arsenal in this survival-em-up roguelite shooter. Your purpose as a testing force for a gun manufacturer is straightforward: loot exotic worlds while testing the latest rifle technology. Collect bizarre weapon pieces to create wild firearms that kill hundreds. You might not survive, but your firearms will!
One realization I have is that I definitely have a favorite game genre, which is the Roguelike/Roguelite subgenre. As a matter of fact, many of them are included in the demos that I played. NIMRODS: The gameplay of GunCraft Survivor is similar to that of the vampire survivor game, but what I found most enjoyable about it was the ability to customize your gun by adding components from the small pods that drop down as you defeat enemies and earn experience, which then if you die, you can give the gun you build to your drone.
My only issue with the demo was that I had to configure my Dualshock Controller in order to play it because it did not detect it. Once configured, though, the controller functions flawlessly. I only neglected to program the reload button. Thus, I’m hoping that improved controller compatibility will be added when the game is released in the future. Although I had to program the controller to operate with it, I did find the controller to be more enjoyable than the keyboard and mouse, which are also acceptable controllers for the game. Overall, I enjoyed playing Nimrods: GunCraft Survivor, and I suggest giving it a try if you enjoy roguelike/roguelite games and vampire survivor-style games.
| Game Name |  |
| Developer | BeaureCard Games |
| Publisher | BeaureCard Games |
| Genre | Roguelike Deckbuilder |
| Release Date | Feb 21, 2024 |
| Platform | PC |
In BeaureCard, a quick-learning, fast-paced, roguelike deckbuilder, your deck represents your health. Make a determined effort to use traps, powers, blessings, and curses to weaken the deck of your opponent. Set out on a grand adventure filled with fascinating events to discover, fresh cards to obtain, and menacing demons.
I’ve mentioned before how many roguelite and roguelike games I’ve played. That includes deck builder games, and from what I’ve played so far, Beaurecard is a wonderfully unique and intriguing game that stands out from the majority of deck builder roguelikes and roguelites. Similar games allow you to view your health bar and make decisions based on what you see. Beaurecard then goes one step further and uses your actual deck as your health.
The fascinating part of this is that you have to choose whether to draw one, two, or three cards, which lowers your health. By doing this, you force yourself to consider your play plan more carefully because you have to account for randomness in addition to hoping to draw the cards necessary to eliminate your opponent.
All in all, I had a great time playing the game, and Beaurecard is definitely worth checking out if you like deckbuilders.
| Game Name |  |
| Developer | RPGames |
| Publisher | RPGames |
| Genre | Voxel Building |
| Release Date | 2024 |
| Platform | PC |
In the cute building strategy and puzzle game Tinytown, you construct new buildings to expand the city. Organize resources, modernize structures, and make the most of the limited area to construct your ideal metropolis!
I usually enjoy games that are similar to Tinytown, but for some reason, I didn’t feel as comfortable there as I had anticipated. The fact that the game was only a demo makes me believe that’s the reason why the gameplay occasionally left me perplexed. The gameplay of the game is similar to hex grid games in which you construct villages, but I wasn’t sure if I was doing it right.
Although some may contend that not all games require tutorials, I believed that this one did, as once more, I felt like I knew what I was doing but not really at the same time. For example, it asked me to update buildings with other buildings without actually explaining to me beforehand what each building might accomplish until I found the tile. For me, it was a little disorganized. In order to help you prepare better, I also believe that the game might benefit from the addition of a sneak peek at the following tile.
Luckily, this was just a demo, and the game has a chance to be improved. I would love to revisit it later on to see if it improves.
| Game Name |  |
| Developer | Sour Lemon Studios |
| Publisher | Sour Lemon Studios |
| Genre | Action Roguelike |
| Release | June 2024 |
| Platform | PC |
In the roguelike vertical platformer Tower of Dreams, you must use your sword to dodge opponents and obstacles in order to climb the tower.
I haven’t played a nice platformer in a very long time, but Towers of Dreams did not let me down. Tower of Dreams is a platformer, but it also has a roguelike aspect, which is what kept me interested in the game. Using a Dualshock controller to play the game, I experienced a very seamless experience with the controls.
Even though the game could be challenging at times, after I finished a level, I discovered that it was a lot of fun and quite satisfying. Although there are things in the game that you may utilize to help you climb the tower, I never had the opportunity to use them. I just noticed that every time I received damage, the item would be gone. I’m not sure if this happens automatically or if the objects disappear as you take damage.
In conclusion, Tower of Dreams is a tough platformer roguelike that you should try if you’re searching for one.
