Next Fest has kicked off on Steam (running until October 21), allowing gamers to try out a multitude of projects for free. The service now features hundreds of new demos spanning various genres. We've picked out some of the best ones for you.

Motion Twin, the studio behind Dead Cells, has released a demo for their new game Windblown, now available for download on Steam. The demo includes the starting biome and several types of weapons. Progress made in the demo will carry over to the full version of the game.

Independent developer Sergey Noskov has released a demo of Hail to the Rainbow on Steam — a dark cyberpunk action game reminiscent of Half-Life 2. Gamers in the role of a guy named Ignat will have to survive in the conditions of post-apocalyptic Russia and solve a mystery.

Publisher Headup and developer com8com1 Software have announced Bloodshed, a brutal old-school first-person shooter. The creators have already released a debut trailer showcasing gameplay footage.

The co-op zombie shooter Ultimate Zombie Defense 2 has entered early access on Steam. Before buying, you can download a free demo version.

A free demo of the shooter Index: Purger has appeared on Steam, which the author positions as a replacement for early access. The demo will be updated regularly, receiving new content.

Capcom has released a demo version of the single-player strategy game with action elements, Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess. To celebrate, a new trailer featuring gameplay footage was shown.

A demo version of the upcoming open-world racing game Test Drive Unlimited Solar Crown has appeared on Steam. The developers have also published detailed system requirements for the demo.

The pirate action game Skull and Bones has kicked off a week of free access. Until June 6, the game can be downloaded for free on PC and consoles.

A free demo for Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden, a story-driven action RPG with an 85% rating, is now available on Steam. The demo is also available on PS5 and Xbox Series X/S.

A free demo of Rugrats: Adventures in Gameland, a new game based on the animated series Rugrats, is now available on Steam. To mark this occasion, the developers have released a new trailer.

Forever Entertainment S.A. has announced the port of Front Mission 2: Remake for PC (Steam, GOG, and Epic Games Store), PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S. Additionally, the authors have released a free demo version of the project.