"Steam Next Fest," Last-Minute Chance to Join (Maybe)! Titles to Try at the October 2025 Edition
Note: the original Japanese article can be found at:
https://www.4gamer.net/games/038/G003821/20251017008/
Editorial Department: Junpoco | 2025/10/18 04:30 (UTC)
The “Steam Next Fest” 2025 October Edition is currently running from October 14 at 2:00 AM to October 21 at 2:00 AM, Japan Standard Time.
Steam Next Fest is a limited-time event featuring numerous demo versions of upcoming titles. What always surprises attendees is the sheer number of participating games—ranging from indie to major publisher releases, spanning all genres and styles—all showcased together at once.
This abundance can make it overwhelming: “There are too many to keep up with!” or “I didn’t even realize it was ending so soon!” The event duration is short, and some demos appear early while others arrive late—making it practically impossible to check everything out.
That’s why this time we consulted the 4Gamer indie game reporting team—a group known for their “on-site” approach, having covered events like BitSummit and reviewed indie games firsthand—who regularly attend live demos and download them immediately upon release. We asked them: “Which indie or small developer/publisher titles are you currently interested in and planning to play during this Next Fest?”
The contributors include Aoi Sugiyura, Yusuke Takahashi, Shin’ichi Yanehara, and the 4Gamer BitSummit reporting team. While some of these games have already been played, we’re focusing on titles they’ve downloaded simply because they’re intrigued—selected with that “I’ll play this after I finish my current task…” mindset. So readers can take it easy and use this as a helpful guide to discover new games you might enjoy.
Still a few days left—but you might still make it in time!
Steam’s “Steam Next Fest” Page
※The following selections are based on titles listed as participating in the Steam Next Fest page as of 1:00 PM, October 17, 2025.
[4Gamer Reporters’ Demo Checks & Upcoming Plays
Aoi Sugiyura (Article link: https://www.4gamer.net/words/005/W00549/) Responsible for covering BitSummit events and writing indie game reviews, features, and news. Enjoys quick-play roguelike/rogue-lite and simulation games—so he focused on titles in those genres.
“This time I played each demo for about 30 minutes and picked the ones with promising potential. Even after the event ends, many demos remain available, so don’t give up just because the period is over—keep checking!”
Repel The Rifts Developer: RefinedBearGames / Publisher: Goblinz Publishing A simple rogue-lite tower defense where you adapt to a map that gradually expands. You gain new tower types at regular intervals—but which ones you receive are random (choose one from three options). Tower stats include detailed info on damage, fire rate, and more—each effect is clearly defined, making strategy straightforward. Different leaders have unique abilities, adding replay value. Even within the demo’s limited scope, it was highly enjoyable.
Decktamer Developer: Horizon Edge / Publisher: Assemble Entertainment A rogue-like command-battle card game where you summon creatures onto the field and issue commands. While using a deck to battle, it adopts an aggressive rule: “creatures that die vanish from your team.” Yet this actually makes deck compression easier and gameplay smoother. A standout feature is that feeding food items to weakened enemy cards allows you to recruit them. Cards have different HP and speed values, creating clear synergies—so diversity within the deck matters greatly. There’s extensive pre-encounter info on enemies, giving a strong impression of minimizing randomness.
Skigill Developer/Publisher: Achromi A vanishingly unique roguelite fought atop an enormous skill tree. Standing on a new node after accumulating sufficient experience points lets you upgrade stats or unlock new abilities. The more nodes you open, the greater resources you gain by game’s end—enabling permanent upgrades. There are no in-game text descriptions at all: not even for stat effects or skills. This forces players to figure out each element’s meaning through trial and error. The distinctive art style is cute and unique—but sometimes sacrifices readability.
Moonsigil Atlas: Moon’s Seal Developer/Publisher: Snake Tower Games A rogue-like deck-building puzzle game where placing puzzle pieces on the board serves as a cost. Stronger cards require larger, more complex shapes, so you need to arrange them strategically—maximizing how many cards can activate simultaneously. While some placements trigger effects simply by being placed, others depend heavily on where specific parts of a piece are positioned on the board—for example, when defending against enemy attacks. The system is well-crafted and thoughtfully implemented.
Crazy Hyper Dungeon Chronicle Developer: Fix-a-Bug / Publisher: Fix-a-Bug, 2P Games A random dungeon exploration RPG overflowing with frank and meta dialogue. You gain experience by lighting torches, opening treasure chests, or performing various actions. The combat system cleverly combines timing mechanics with directional awareness—small but enjoyable. All text is unusually long—but funny enough to make reading worthwhile. It’s not just quirky; it’s surprisingly helpful: if you skip the tutorial, you’re told “I made a video for you—watch it!” and are redirected to a YouTube clip titled “Fight Like a Pro in Crazy Hyper Dungeon.” Fans of “UnEpic” or “Dungeons” might really enjoy this. Fun fact: the game’s Japanese title was temporarily changed to “Soshodanjon,” which fits perfectly—maybe they should’ve kept it.
Monster Disassembly Company Developer/Publisher: SofRock Games A “monster disassembly simulator” where you take on jobs dismantling monsters defeated by robots, selling their meat and bones for profit. The toy-camera-style art is charming—a blend of realism and cuteness. Subtle touches like detailed news text reflecting market fluctuations, employees occasionally slacking off, and rich world-building details are all impressive. The demo includes two modes: “Zero-to-Start Mode” (from the prologue) and “Capital Monster Mode” (for endgame content). The core system is fun, though there are occasional UI and graphics issues—these could be improved to elevate the experience.
Yusuke Takahashi (Article link: https://www.4gamer.net/words/003/W00348/) Responsible for on-site coverage of events like Indie Developers Conference, TOKYO INDIE GAMES SUMMIT, and Tokyo Game Dungeon. He has deep knowledge of film and art—bringing a broad cultural perspective to indie game reporting. This time he curated picks across several categories.
■ Idea-Driven Category I Want to Agree to the Terms Developer: Bestman / Publisher: Bestman You desperately want to click “Agree” and start playing—but every button seems designed to block you! A mini-game collection that hilariously revels in this “impossible-to-click” hell. The sheer creativity of the concept alone is captivating.
Motor Slice Developer: Regular Studio / Publisher: Top Hat Studios, Inc. A parkour-style action game set in a post-apocalyptic world where you swing around with a chainsaw—its unique combination of mechanics instantly draws interest. According to the developer, it’s inspired by “Mirror’s Edge” and “Prince of Persia,” promising an exhilarating blend of speed and destructive satisfaction.
No Players Online Developer: Beeswax Games / Publisher: Black Lantern Collective A game where you salvage old computers and explore mysterious folders to revive a lost FPS. The narrative skillfully uncovers remnants of past online culture—brilliantly constructed. In short: an incredibly exciting game.
■ Substance-Driven Category Of Ash and Steel Developer: Fire & Frost / Publisher: tinyBuild An open-world RPG set in the harsh world of the once-prosperous island nation, Seven Kingdoms—likely inspired by England during the era of the seven kingdoms. Heavy combat and exploration are its main strengths—ideal for fans of solid action.
PANOPTYCA: Idle RPG Manager Developer: Tesseract Studio, Nugem Studio / Publisher: Tesseract Studio An idle RPG with a distinct, mature art style. You can raise up to 8 characters at once and monitor four simultaneously via screen-split gameplay. Use synergies like tank + mage or DPS + healer to tackle strong enemies—perfect for those who enjoy chaos (laughs).
Systemic War Developer/Publisher: Play of Battle SA An ambitious title merging modern warfare from 2008–2025 with political/economic layers and real-time strategy. It offers a seamless experience—from national management to battlefield command—grand in scale. Though still rough at the demo stage, it shows great potential.
■ Historical Category Three must-see titles for history enthusiasts—the true “histories” of gaming!
Tears of Metal
Developer/Publisher: Paper Cult
A hack-and-slash rogue-lite action game set to Celtic metal music. Its unique visuals and high production quality shine—evoking the spirit of a Highlander (a warrior from Scotland’s Highlands).
※Also picked by writer Shin’ichi Yanehara
The End of History Developer: Tatamibeya / Publisher: WorldMap A sandbox RPG simulating a medieval-style world. You can rise from anonymous wanderer to king, become a merchant, or even fall into crime—free to shape your own personal story. A “living history” simulator.
Great Japanese History War Developer/Publisher: Miura Production An unusual game where historical figures from ancient to modern Japan fight on a timeline across time and space. Fans of the previous title, “World History War,” will recognize this setup—and likely smile at it.
■ Culinary Category Three standout picks that bring fresh flavor even within familiar genres—through unique cooking mechanics.
Naraka Kitchen Developer/Publisher: Pico Games Defeat enemies by cooking them! A survival action game where culinary power leads your party to victory. The graphics of delicious-looking dishes are a highlight.
Hey Wait! Goblin Sushi Developer: Old Cake Factory / Publisher: Metaroot A fantasy sushi restaurant management sim. Using monster ingredients for rolls may sound insane—but the gameplay is highly polished and well-executed.
Grandpa, Cook Me Some Rice! Developer/Publisher: Kamekichi Games A novel cooking simulator where an LLM (Large Language Model) analyzes your recipe, predicts flavor, and lets your grandson and mother comment on it. A one-of-a-kind experience that leverages real cooking skills in a way you won’t find elsewhere.
■ Live-Action Category The wave of live-action games from Chinese-speaking regions is now hitting Steam Next Fest.
Northward View: Jiangshan Developer/Publisher: Moyan Studio A live-action RPG where you play as the second prince of a fictional dynasty, confronting court intrigues and leading northern campaigns. The naturalistic visuals are striking—so lifelike they’re almost indistinguishable from photoreal CGI.
Wait… You’re Saying My Boarder Is a Beauty? Season 2 Developer/Publisher: Storytaco The second installment of a popular Korean series. As the landlord, you live again with Ko Mal-suk, Dong-ran, and Pak Min-jong—this time in another romantic adventure. Checking out the first game’s review helps clarify its unique “warmth.”
Shin’ichi Yanehara (Article link: https://www.4gamer.net/words/004/W00482/) A writer passionate about games with outstanding ideas, bold expressions, or strong creative energy—spanning classics to modern hits. A long-time member of the 4Gamer team who’s covered BitSummit since its inception and highlighted unique indie titles from Japan and abroad. When we first discussed this project, he immediately jumped in—and passionately recommended Tribute Games’ “MARVEL Cosmic Invasion,” an independent studio that reimagines famous IPs with a classic aesthetic.
Half Sword Developer: Half Sword Games / Publisher: Game Seer Publishing A combat game featuring physics simulation and medieval sword fighting. Engage enemies using uniquely funny, physics-driven movements—this is one of my personal top picks I’ve been tracking since the old demo version.
Quarantine Zone: The Last Check Developer: Brigada Games / Publisher: Devolver Digital A simulation game where you command a checkpoint to protect survivors in a zombie-infested world. Beyond checking suspicious survivors, you manage resources and defensive facilities—plenty of non-checkpoint elements involved.
Tears of Metal Developer/Publisher: Paper Cult “Mount & Blade” meets rogue-lite—a tactical battle game where you lead small squads. A key feature: the protagonist isn’t overpowered. ※Also picked by writer Yusuke Takahashi
KORRIDOR Developer/Publisher: TinyToad A rogue-lite inspired by those flashy ad-style games—where head-on collisions with enemies cause damage equal to their displayed number. The main weapon, a gatling cannon, has limited destruction power, so physical attacks matter too. Enemies mix in both “must be rammed” and “avoid collision,” requiring split-second judgment.
MARVEL Cosmic Invasion Developer: Tribute Games / Publisher: Dotemu, Gamirror Games Enjoyable combo-based combat—each character has unique strengths (beams, grabs, defense), and the tag-team mechanics shine. It follows classic side-scrolling fundamentals like dodging attacks by shifting vertically while also incorporating modern “parry” mechanics—even in demo form, it shows strong potential to rank among top titles in its genre. Even characters traditionally hard to adapt—like those who can fly or fire beams—are cleverly integrated into the design.
[4Gamer Editorial Team (BitSummit Reporting Unit)]’s Demo Checks & Upcoming Plays
4Gamer Editor Dabi “Final Sentence was a hardcore typing game, but I kept playing until I secured first place.”
UNIVERSE SLIME
Developer/Publisher: Mash Potato
An action game where you control the mysterious entity “UNIVERSE SLIME,” which appears on Earth and destroys everything in its path. UNIVERSE SLIME can absorb food, concrete blocks, buildings—growing stronger with each absorption. The feel is close to “Kudzu Soul.”
The demo includes a tutorial for basic controls and a story prelude showing the arrival of UNIVERSE SLIME on Earth. Currently limited in what’s destructible or how destruction mechanics work—but with upcoming updates, it promises an increasingly satisfying experience.
Final Sentence Developer: Button Mash / Publisher: Polden Publishing A fusion of typing games and bullet hell-style combat. You’re under surveillance by a guard holding a revolver—you must type the provided text or words as fast as possible. Winning requires finishing faster than others—but every three typos cause the guard to spin their revolver randomly, firing at you. If you’re unlucky enough to hit “the bullet,” it’s instant death—so accuracy matters more than speed. The prompts vary: single-word entries, long sentences, or repeated texts—making it balanced for players with solid typing ability. Currently not available in Japanese—but highly recommended for typing enthusiasts.
4Gamer Editor Juntaku “Both demos were released recently—but these are titles officially participating in Next Fest before their full release.”
Bleak Haven Developer/Publisher: Hitori De Productions The demo runs about one hour, including cutscenes. Enemies deal painful attacks—so you’ll die easily. Some parts use slightly awkward machine translation but do support Japanese. The UI has a BioRE-like atmosphere and includes puzzle and exploration elements. Story is heavy on cutscenes with an occult fantasy vibe. Enemies range from grotesque creatures to sword-wielding skeletons. I played it because the store page made the game’s atmosphere look compelling—this is a solo project by Artur Łączkowski, aptly titled “One-Man Production.”
Node Math Developer/Publisher: ByerN A game where you combine production nodes to achieve target numbers and desired production speed. Smaller-numbered nodes produce faster, so clever use of arithmetic operations is key. Just watching countless numbers flow by is satisfying in itself. You earn money to expand usable areas (giving more space for node placement), or upgrade production speeds directly. Recently hooked on “Farmer Replaced()"—I found this game while searching for similar production-style titles.
4Gamer Editor Junpoco Finally, as the project’s lead writer, here are some picks I originally planned to feature in a “I love pixel art games!” special segment—if no one had stepped forward. So here they are!
This article was hastily conceived just three days ago—each contributor quickly responded and shared their own favorites. There are still many more titles we’d love to talk about, and undoubtedly new ones will emerge tomorrow or the day after.
We’d be thrilled if readers or developers engage with this piece by commenting on social media: “This one’s also a must-try!” or “Our game is here too!”—please share your thoughts—we’ll definitely take them into account.
Flipside Developer/Publisher: Playthink
Alchemist’s Alcove Developer/Publisher: Nefarious Brew Games
Fail Fail Succeed Developer: Martin Zetterman / Publisher: The Notlanders
ParryMaster Developer/Publisher: GOGOIO Games
Blast Bebop Developer/Publisher: Blue Fire Mugs
A Fox Tale Developer/Publisher: Danny Peet
The Doppel Developer/Publisher: Nerdrinkers
Dworf’s Forbidden Gold Developer/Publisher: Hadamant
ARROW WORLD Developer/Publisher: ATOKESHI
MOCHI-O Developer: Zxima / Publisher: Kodansha
Moonlight of Trémeirai Developer/Publisher: room6