Steam
Steam Next Fest, hundreds of games just a click away
The Steam Demo Festival has been going on for a few days, and it's a great opportunity to explore a universe of possibilities and get to know new games.
What if instead of talking about one game, we were talking about dozens, even hundreds? That's what the new Steam Next Fest is offering us, a Steam event that has established itself as an excellent gateway to learn about all kinds of games in development, and to have fun exploring a wide range of experiences, some of them truly excellent, in an accessible way.
Hundreds of games to test
There was a time when the demo was an essential experience for computer and even console users (once they adopted a cheaper format like the CD over the cartridge). Getting new games wasn't always possible or affordable, but demos were a good way to test future purchases and play something you hadn't played before. Some demos are even an important part of many gamers' memories because of their impact (who doesn't remember things like the Metal Gear Solid 2 demo or the "indelible" P.T. demo?). A good demo can be as exciting as a new game, and although it has lost steam over time, thanks to initiatives like this one from Valve, it is regaining strength.
So what's interesting about this new edition? Obviously, the most fun is to jump in and explore without rushing. But since not everyone has the time for that, we can give you some hints. If you like tactical games like XCOM, Xenonauts 2 is a clear recommendation. The original was an attempt to get back to the essence of Julian Gollop's original game for Microprose, and the second is in the same vein: a brutally difficult game where every mistake costs dearly, but where victory tastes better. And changing the subject, it is well worth exploring the generous demo of the promising Chinese project Wandering Sword, an RPG that exudes the scent of epic and has a visual finish that reminds us of what we see from Square Enix with games like Octopath.
More stuff? a lot more. For example, one of the unmissable events of this year is Radio The Universe, the first time we can try out this solo project of many years that aims to be something really special: an ARPG with the feel of classic Zelda, but also twisted, dark and with some influence of the futurism of Blame! and something of Nier Automata. The demo offers a glimpse of a combat system with a lot of substance and its own approach, mechanical and violent, which makes us hope for a final release that is not yet in sight.
We could go on for paragraphs and paragraphs about interesting games to try. There is System Shock, the remake of the game that inspired Bioshock. There's Western Front, a very promising strategy game. There's Mika and the Witch's Mountain, Chibig's enchanting proposal that puts us in the role of a witch carrying parcels around an island full of light and color. Or if we want something more experimental, we can't miss the procedural detective adventure Shadow of Doubt, in which we will investigate cases and face situations automatically generated by the game in an immersive and highly interactive environment.
There are many more, some well-known names like Darkest Dungeon II, Planet of Lana or The Last Case of Benedict Fox, but the best is when we find something we didn't know and put it in our sights. That's the greatest triumph, for us and for the developers themselves.
The Steam Next Fest will be active from February 6th through the 13th. Some demos stay active, some don't, so now is the best time,