Steam Next Fest: 14th October to 21st October 2024

Next Fest - A Varied Affair 

Yet another Steam Next Fest has drawn to a close, and I've waded through a fraction of the vast amount of demos available. My week-long journey through Steam has yielded a mixed bag: there were glitchy disasters, crushing let-downs, unexpected delights, and some truly solid experiences. Here's a selection of games from various genres that caught my eye based on the demos I played.

Dino Market – Idle Clicker – November 2024

Imagine running a cosy little market satisfying customer orders. As you progress, you’ll discover and unlock characters that add new products to the game, and you’ll reinvest the profits in perks to increase the effectiveness of the market. True to its genre, you have two options: let the game run on autopilot as an idler or dive in and play it as a hands-on clicker. Not being a fan of Idle Clickers, I didn’t expect much but soon found myself hooked by its loop.

Frameland: A Binary Tale – JRPG – 30^th October 2024

At first glance, it might seem like your run-of-the-mill JRPG, but lurking beneath the fantasy façade is an intertwined tale that weaves alongside your own adventure which adds an air of mystery. Though combat is turn-based, Frameland: A Binary Tale keeps you on your toes as attacks and blocks must be precision timed to inflict the most damage or deflect an enemy blow effectively. Luckily, I don’t have long to wait to delve deeper into this JRPG.

Ale Abbey – Tycoon – 2024

Step into the 16^th century and you are charged with running a monastery, where the art of brewing and selling ales to the locals aids the ability to enhance the abbey’s facilities. With no set recipes holding you back, you can unleash your creativity to craft various unique brews and variations within the type of brews. Whether it hits the 2024 release window remains to be seen, but I'll be tasting what they've concocted when it does.

An Unfinished Game – Walking Simulator – TBA

This game feels like it took inspiration from The Stanley Parable, delighting in its own ridiculousness whilst playfully toying with the player. As a tester, it is your job to navigate the levels in an upcoming game, hunt for bugs, learn the mechanics of each level and stumble your way through puzzles until you finally escape. With no release date in sight, it’s one to keep a close watch on and I’m eager to see how this project pans out.

Call of Boba – Life Sim – TBA

In Call of Boba, returning to your quaint hometown after a stressful and disastrous stint working in the big city. There's plenty to immerse yourself as the life sim contains all the essentials, whether you decide to run the café, battle enemies in your dreams, forge friendships or create new bubble tea flavours. Cosy life sims are a personal favourite of mine and can’t wait for the opportunity to chill and unwind with this charming title.

TMNT: Splintered Fate – Rogue-like – 6^th November 2024

There seems to be a flood of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles games lately, in this one, Splinter has been snatched by the Foot Clan through a mysterious portal. You’ve got to fight your way through NYC, encountering familiar TMNT faces both friend and foe while honing your ninja prowess. Normally, rogue-like/rogue-lite games don’t appeal to me, but the nostalgia of the franchise and the sense that every defeat is a lesson, and not a failure, had me addicted.

Neon Blood – Adventure – 26^th November 2024

Dive into a mesmerizing 2.5D cyberpunk pixel graphic adventure with breath-taking backgrounds and gorgeous cutscenes. As Detective Axel McCoin, you'll navigate the neon-lit alleys and shadowy depths of Viridis, interrogating locals and solving puzzles to expose the corruption festering in this dystopian realm. It promises to scratch the itch left by the long-anticipated The Last Night, and I'm eager to immerse myself in its dark, gritty world soon.

Whispers of the Eyeless – Strategy RPG – Q4 2024 (Early Access)

Infiltrate the city of Aranthor, determined to resurrect the Dead Gods. Your mission: expand your cult and shape the destiny of the city. You'll gather resources from various districts, engage in tactical turn-based battles, and keep your sanity intact as you upgrade your base and enable your cult to thrive. Despite my belief that I wouldn’t enjoy Whispers of the Eyeless, I soon found myself planning upgrades and strategizing my next moves.

Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders – Racing – 2024

In the latest twist of the Lonely Mountains series, mountain biking has given way to the exhilarating rush of skiing. The core formula remains intact: unlock new courses and gear by completing objectives. This time, though, multiplayer makes its debut, offering the thrill of racing with friends or against them. As a fan of the previous entry, I'm ready to tear down the slopes at breakneck speeds the moment I get a chance—whether it’s 2024 or later.

Loco Motive – Point & Click – Q4 2024

All aboard the Reuss Express, where a murder most foul has occurred, and you, dear player, find yourself as the prime suspect. Loco Motive embraces the delightful chaos of point-and-click adventures, filled with quirky characters to interact with, and hilariously absurd puzzles at times. As a devotee of this genre, I'm eagerly awaiting my ticket to this zany ride, hoping it pulls into the station before the year's end.