Oh dear god, they’ve done it again. As you might have noticed, the week after a shedload of showcases ruined everyone’s life, the same week as Monaco (thanks for that, by the way). It is now a week where a shedload of demos you want to play but don’t have time for have been unloaded onto Steam. Here is another one of those editorials where I share a few you might want to check out over the next few days. At the time of writing, these demos are available, but I don’t exactly know if/when they will disappear from Steam.

Retro Space, developed by The Wild Gentlemen – TBA

First up is an odd little “Disco-punk space horror” which is very much infused with lots of System Shock 2/BioShock influence, Retro Space. Developed by The Wild Gentlemen, these are the developers who made both Chicken Police games, so smashed-together abominations are sort of their thing. No release date is available on the actual game, but there are plenty of cloning errors and “’70s mustaches!” so it is clearly a horror game.

Moonlight Peaks, developed by Little Chicken – July 7th

I might as well give you something that is a bit more wholesome, as it was part of this year’s Wholesome Direct. Moonlight Peaks is another one of those life/farming sim games where you Stardew Valley your way about a village and wonder why you can’t just kill that one annoying neighbor. Little Chicken’s Moonlight Peaks has you playing as a young vampire who is learning spell casting, potion making, befriending (or loving), and so on. One that I think Alexx is eyeing up to review, maybe.

Nomad Drive, developed by Indie Devil – Q3 2026

My Summer Car/The Long Drive, but with a VW Type 2 and I think set in Nevada. Set to release later this year and be the developer’s first game, you are building a little nomad home in a van and collecting resources on the go. A fun little idea that could be interesting on its early access release later this year. However, let’s hope that it doesn’t stay there like The Long Drive.

1666: Amsterdam (prologue), developed by Panache Digital Games – TBA

A “3rd person Dark, Story-Led, Action-Adventure” about a witchy detective in Amsterdam before it was fun with all the red and green stuff. The reason I’ve included 1666: Amsterdam is actually its story. Developed by Patrice Désilets’ studio; he is best known for being the director of Assassin’s Creed, which everyone talks about, but he also directed The Sands of Time years before that. However, he left Ubisoft in 2010 and started work on 1666 with 50 people at THQ Montreal before THQ went under. Ubisoft bought the studio and fired Désilets and kept the IP. Something Désilets wouldn’t get back until 2016. I love the messy story of its development.

4×4 in a Furniture Store, developed by Walaber Entertainment and Curdle Games – TBA

I saw this one on Instagram earlier and immediately got interested. The blurb (in full) on Steam notes, “4×4 off-road physics-based precision driving in a mini open world mega furniture store.” It is the controls and the precision that got me so interested in this one, because to get a full precision turn of the wheel, you have to fully turn the right analogue stick like you’d turn an actual wheel. It is a weird one, no wonder I wishlisted it straight away.

Hands On Builder, developed by Good Movement Studios – TBA

Another one of my special interests is a weird game that lets you build. Indeed, let me have a ruler, a saw and a board and I’ll cut it... to use that song from Red Dead Horse 2. Hands On Builder is a game about building a house, first-person and bit by bit. I’m reminded of the odd little 80s Britain simulator Landlord’s Super. A simple idea that is coming to early access, and I am hoping it is good.

Aikyam, developed by Thousand Stars Studio – TBA

I think I covered this last year when it came to a Southeast Asian Games Showcase, and I don’t know how to feel about it. Alexx suggested this one, and I’m still a bit taken aback by the character models of this turn-based combat fantasy RPG that is Bollywood-inspired. Written down, that’s a weird concept, and I love that, but I’m still waiting to see something to make me want to play it now. Indeed, maybe I should just bite the bullet and play the demo.

Slayblade, developed by Genry’s House and Oscar Brittain – TBA

A Rogue-like/lite after a recent rant I’ve gone on? Yes. Like most kids from the 20th century (to make me seem really old), I love to rip it, and I think somewhere I still have a Beyblade, but I think I’d end up killing the cats if I pulled that ripcord. Steeped in a Y2K-era pastiche, Slayblade is a Rogue-lite where you battle spinning top creations on the mean streets of wherever. As the description notes, there isn’t really a story; Slayblade is just focused on gameplay.

Cozy Game Restoration, developed by Parasol Corp – September 24th

One that David suggested, but I’d still have included this because I’m really excited for this one too. Remember when you’d pull the cartridge out of the console, blow in the section with all the sensitive connectors, then put it back in and magically the game would work? What do you mean you’re twelve? Go away! For us old folks, this is that, but on drugs – the good ones that make you productive. Remove dust, stickers, pen marks, and loads more as you restore old games to a playable and enjoyable state.

Leafy Corner, developed by Fireline Games – July 30th

Another cozy one and one that has a rather close release date, Leafy Corner has you running a plant shop. Again, a fantasy thing I’d have because the cats would eat any plants I have at reasonable heights. Leafy Corner also seemingly does something that I love some games are doing (again because I am old), in that it will kind of educate you on the types of plants and little bits about them in general.

I have a bunch more demos I want to cover/get in people’s faces, so look out for another one of these tomorrow if I can get one done. However, keep looking for yourself, too. Tell us what demos stand out to you the most during this Steam Next Fest. I want to see more, because clearly my wishlist isn’t long enough.

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