The indie gaming scene is buzzing with Steam Next Fest, Valve's event offering thousands of playable demos. To avoid decision paralysis, I focused on games already on my wishlist, but also discovered some pleasant surprises. From 5D platformers to Virtual Boy-inspired shooters and soccer management sims, there is something for everyone.
Screenbound: A 5D Platformer Bridging Two Worlds
Topping my list is Screenbound, a 5D platformer where you control a character in a 3D world and its counterpart on a 2D Game Boy-like device called Qboy. The concept is brilliant, and the demo mostly delivers. The Qboy sits at the screen center, making precise jumps tricky, but you can move it out of the way. However, the Qboy's chatter quickly becomes annoying; I hope it is toned down in the full release on September 10.
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Truck-kun is Supporting Me from Another World?! and Backyard Baseball
For chaotic action, Truck-kun is Supporting Me from Another World?! offers a fast-paced, anime-inspired driving game. The demo is a blast; try it before the late July launch. Lighter fare includes Backyard Baseball with wacky pitches and Kick, a slice-of-life game where a young soccer fan dribbles to school. The art direction is lovely, and after mastering the controls, I enjoyed dodging pedestrians.
Virtue and a Sledgehammer and Other Notable Games
My favorite demo is Virtue and a Sledgehammer, a walking sim where you search for your sister while smashing robots. It is cathartic and beautifully presented. Behaviour Interactive also revealed updates for Dead by Daylight: Art the Clown, Jason Voorhees, a 2027 overhaul with dynamic weather, and a 1v1 mode. For retro shooter fans, The Last Salvage Squad (by Sunfish Kumano) is a 2.5D shooter with red-and-black visuals inspired by the Virtual Boy. Available on Steam and Switch 2, it supports Joy-Con 2 mouse controls and runs at 120 fps. Learn more about Virtual Boy on Wikipedia.
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Copa City and Thank You For Your Application
Copa City by Triple Espresso is a soccer management sim focusing on matchday organization, not gameplay. Unfortunately, the demo is rough, with clunky UI and even Lorem Ipsum placeholder text. Developers promise fixes, but it did not win me over. More compelling is Thank You For Your Application by IceLemonTea Studio, where you review job candidates while managing your own life. A timely commentary on late-stage capitalism, reminiscent of Papers, Please.
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The Quiet Things and Catto's Post Office
The Quiet Things is an autobiographical game tackling abuse and suicide. BAFTA pulled its trailer from an awards ceremony, but the game deserves attention for its courage. Lastly, Catto's Post Office is a short, adorable game where you run a cat post office. A one-hour treat. For more on Steam Next Fest, check out our article on AI data centers power grid and YC Spring 2026 startup highlights.
