Steam Next Fest’s February 2025 edition offered an event-reported 2,228 games with free downloadable demos, according to Ars Technica’s February 26, 2025 roundup. Its 11 picks range from fast co-op shooters to tactical deck-builders and quiet exploration. They are historical recommendations based on the writers’ impressions of demos played at the time—not a guide to what is available on Steam today.
How to use this list
The selections below are best compared by genre, pace, and whether they suit solo play or a group. Some reward quick movement and reflexes; others ask for tactical planning or patient exploration. The descriptions and caveats are the Ars Technica writers’ impressions, not standardized tests or review scores. The demos were recommended as free downloads during the 2025 event; the source does not establish whether they remain available.
Fast action and combat
Afterblast
Developer: Lumino Games. Style: First-person action roguelike with online co-op. Afterblast builds its speed around jumping, dashing, grappling, and randomized items. The reviewers especially enjoyed using the grappling hook both to cross spaces and to pull toward stunned enemies. The article listed an April 2025 planned release, which should be treated as a date announced at the time, not confirmation of a later launch.
Glum
Developer: CinderCat Games. Style: Single-player first-person adventure with slapstick combat. Glum’s steel-toed boot is its central tool: kick enemies and objects, launch some objects as projectiles, and bounce off angled surfaces to move through the environment. The writers’ main draw was the ragdoll comedy. A 2025 release was planned when the article appeared.
#1 Best Overall
- 1TB NVMe SSD
- 1280 x 800 HDR OLED display with premium anti-glare etched glass, 7.4" Diagonal display size up to 90Hz refresh rate
- Wi-Fi 6E
- 50Whr battery; 3-12 hours of gameplay (content-dependent)
- Carrying case with removable liner
Dragonkin: The Banished
Developer: Eko Software. Style: Isometric action RPG and loot-focused hack-and-slash. The demo first introduces character classes and magical attacks, then moves into a more conventional low-level dungeon challenge. The writers likened its mouse-driven combat to Diablo and noted a dash-dodge maneuver. The article listed March 6, 2025 as the planned Early Access date; that historical listing does not establish the game’s current status.
Reignbreaker
Developer: Studio Fizbin. Style: Isometric action roguelike. Its steampunk world pits melee combat against robotic enemies. A javelin adds flexibility: use it as a projectile or leave it as a temporary turret. The article listed March 18, 2025 as its planned release date, not a verified current availability date.
Rank #2
- International (UK) Version
- 7.4” diagonal, HDR OLED, 1280 x 800 x RGB, up to 90Hz Refresh rate, High performance touch, <0.1 ms Response time, 1,000 nits peak brightness (HDR), 600 nits (SDR)
- SteamOS 3.0 (Arch-based)
- 512GB NVMe SSD, 16GB LPDDR5 on-board RAM (5500 MT/s quad 32-bit channels), microSD UHS-I supports SD, SDXC and SDHC
- 6 nm AMD APU, CPU: Zen 2 4c/8t, 2.4-3.5GHz (up to 448 GFlops FP32
Strategy, cards, and tactical choices
Castle V Castle
Developer: Nopopo. Style: PvE card battler with roguelite elements. Players build their own castle or attack the opponent’s, weighing immediate offense and defense against saving resources for later cards. The reviewer praised the clean interface and quick play, while hoping the finished game would add online multiplayer. Its release was listed as “Coming soon” in February 2025.
Hyper Empire
Developer: Fair Weather Studios. Style: Compact, turn-based 4X strategy with auto-battler combat. The central decision is how much to invest in defending a fleet versus building resource-generating outposts. Battles resolve automatically, shifting attention to strategic preparation. The demo stopped at turn 30, just as the reviewer wanted to keep playing. A Q1 2025 release was planned at the time.
Rank #3
- Operating System: SteamOS 3.0
Monster Train 2
Developer: Shiny Shoe. Style: Roguelike deck-builder. Players position monsters and cast spells across three train levels to stop advancing enemies. New additions described in the article included clans, equipment, abilities, and train upgrades. The reviewer liked the sequel’s additions but thought the extra management could feel overwhelming. The release was listed as “Coming Soon” in the 2025 article.
Shuffle Tactics
Developer: Club Sandwich. Style: Single-player tactical RPG with roguelike structure. Grid positioning works alongside a modifiable card deck, and one highlighted move lets the player throw and recall a sword. The reviewer found that difficulty rose sharply in some early elite encounters, a useful caveat for players who prefer a gentler introduction. Its release was listed as “Coming soon.”
Rank #4
- Valve is entering the gaming console marketplace with the new Steam Deck, a console geared towards PC gamers. The Steam Deck can be docked to a monitor, and used as a PC, or docked to a TV.
- Players can play a huge variety of games at any time with the comfort of a console and the freedom of a PC. Not anti-glare screen.
- Like the name suggests, the Steam Deck will include upgraded 1TB storage, and will include a carrying case. A micro SD slot will also enable expanded storage.
- Valve partnered with AMD to create a specialized APU optimized for handheld gaming, and Valve says the chip will deliver performance to run AAA gaming titles.
- The Steam Deck is outfitted with a 7-inch touchscreen, and two trackpads under the control sticks that allow gamers to operate games never designed outside of mouse and keyboard capabilities.
Co-op, heists, and group play
Guntouchables
Developer: Game Swing; publisher: Ghost Ship Games. Style: Overhead post-apocalyptic co-op shooter for up to four players. Its loop combines loot, mutant fights, weapons, character skills, and an extraction drive to escape by car. The reviewer enjoyed the cooperative rhythm but found the teammates insufficiently distinct. The demo had no optional tutorial and did not support controllers. Its planned date was “To be announced” in the article.
Monaco 2
Developer: Pocketwatch Games. Style: Top-down co-op heist game. The sequel brings the original’s heist structure into 3D, with multi-floor buildings and four thief classes. A carefully planned stealth run can turn into a scramble of escapes and misdirection once alarms go off. The article listed a 2025 planned release.
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Exploration at a gentler pace
Squirreled Away
Developer: Far Seas. Style: Third-person exploration with a relaxing tone. Playing as a squirrel, you gather and stash materials, craft tools, build a home, and take on quests. The article’s appeal was the low-stakes wandering, with movement and climbing treated as pleasures in their own right. The release was listed as “Coming soon” in February 2025.
Choosing where to start
- For movement-led action: Afterblast pairs fast traversal with roguelike runs; Glum makes kicking and slapstick the point.
- For tactical decisions: Castle V Castle and Monster Train 2 center on card choices, while Shuffle Tactics adds grid positioning. Hyper Empire is the pick for fleet and resource planning.
- For a group: Guntouchables is built for up to four players; Monaco 2 focuses on coordinated heists and improvised escapes.
- For a quieter session: Squirreled Away emphasizes exploration and crafting over combat pressure.
These recommendations capture a particular Steam Next Fest lineup and the impressions of two writers who said they played dozens of promising demos, with early access supplied by Valve and publishers. Treat both the selection and the release dates as snapshots from February 2025.
Quick Recap
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