Results of the October «Steam Next Fest». What games to look forward to and which demos to try

The seasonal Steam Next Fest has recently concluded, offering small and independent studios the opportunity to showcase their projects without expensive advertising and PR. For several days, players had the chance to try out demos of unique projects and unusual indie games, discovering new genre branches and mechanics. We couldn't miss such an event and tested most of the projects presented at the festival. In this article, we will talk about the most interesting games, in our opinion, that are worth waiting for no less than big-budget blockbusters.

SUPERVIVE is an unusual battle royale with elements of Heroes of the Storm and Brawl Stars. From the screenshots and gameplay footage, it might seem like another parody of League of Legends, but the demo presented at the festival dispelled those concerns. It is indeed a battle royale with an isometric camera, where players spend most of their time killing creeps, hunting bosses, and collecting equipment. The game world is a simplified sandbox where you need to jump a lot, glide in the air, open treasure chests, and fight monsters.

The demo features 16 characters with unique sets of skills and abilities. Experience points for leveling up heroes are awarded for exterminating creeps and enemy teams. The main equipment is upgraded with pink stones that drop from defeated monsters. The interface is very cluttered with useless information, but the core gameplay is intuitive. The characters are responsive to control, there aren't too many skills to get confused by, and the class division among heroes allows you to immediately determine your role in the team.

The SUPERVIVE demo became one of the most popular at the festival and was liked by a large number of gamers. The unusual gameplay, pleasant appearance of the characters, and low entry threshold leave a pleasant aftertaste after getting acquainted. Yes, the balance of some characters needs to be completely reworked, but overall it is already a game ready for release, worth checking out.

The Precinct is a police simulator in an open world. The project is a reincarnation of the long-forgotten True Crime: Streets of LA, only with a smaller budget and an isometric view. The gameplay is very similar to that of Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars. Gamers, in the role of a police officer, must complete story missions, investigate crimes, fight bandits, and participate in spectacular chases. The city can be explored on foot or by car. The developers have promised to add air transport in the release version.

The main story takes place in 1983. The protagonist, a police academy graduate, must investigate the mysterious murder of his father while dealing with gangs that terrorize the city of Averno. In addition to completing story missions, players must patrol the streets, neutralize criminals, and prevent robberies. Side missions are generated automatically, so there will be no time to get bored. Expect spectacular shootouts, chases with backup calls, interrogations of witnesses, issuing fines to taxi drivers, and dealing with street vendors.

Visually, the game resembles Saints Row: The Third, particularly in its color palette and high contrast. The open world features a dynamic day-night cycle. Passersby react to the player's actions, and events generated by the engine create the illusion of a living city. The Precinct is a very intriguing project worth paying attention to. Be sure to check out the demo.

AI Limit is a dynamic action game with soulslike elements, where a charming girl explores the ruins of a destroyed city and battles terrifying monsters. If you are still waiting for the PC port of Stellar Blade or a sequel to NieR: Automata, we highly recommend trying this project, as it features all the key mechanics from the mentioned games. Here you will find a dynamic combat system with the ability to combine attacks and use various abilities, diverse locations ranging from futuristic cities to abandoned laboratories, pleasant graphics, and the ability to change the main character's costumes.

Judging by the demo, the Chinese developers have once again created a visually pleasing game, but it remains a derivative copy of existing ideas. The design of the world, enemies, and characters is impressive. The gameplay is engaging but lacks originality. The project authors promise to add a large arsenal and a flexible character development system, requiring players to choose between speed, magical abilities, and more powerful strikes. The combat system is no different from Stellar Blade. Players can parry attacks, dodge, and perform spectacular combos. In general, it is another example of import substitution from «Asian partners.»

AI Limit has serious performance issues. The graphics settings offer few parameters that could save it from FPS drops. Perhaps the game will be optimized by release, but we advise you to check out the demo in advance to see if the game runs well on your hardware.

Mandragora is an atmospheric action-RPG with platformer and soulslike elements in the vein of the popular Blasphemous. The game is set in a dark fantasy world where players must fight monsters, explore vast locations, and upgrade their character. The main plot unfolds in a world plunged into chaos due to the emergence of a mysterious force called the Withering. This force destroys all living things and turns the world into a dark and dangerous place. The protagonist is a brave warrior who embarks on a journey to find a way to stop the Withering and save everything around him. The script is penned by Brian Mitsoda, the author of Vampire: The Masquerade — Bloodlines.

The gameplay of Mandragora is designed with the metroidvania genre in mind. Players must explore extensive locations, fight monsters, develop their hero through a talent tree, and unlock new passages and shortcuts to progress further in the story. The combat system is inspired by FromSoftware games. Every enemy is dangerous and can send the character back to a checkpoint with just a few hits. Players must learn to parry attacks and choose equipment that suits their individual style. The developers promise to include over 120 types of weapons and 350 pieces of clothing and consumables in the full version.

Mandragora boasts a pleasing visual style and an orchestral soundtrack. If you are a fan of the soulslike genre and enjoyed Blasphemous, be sure to check out this project. The demo offers a lot of interesting content that will surely appeal to you.

The Axis Unseen is a unique game that combines elements of hunting and horror. Players find themselves in a dark and mysterious world where they must hunt various mythical creatures. Spectacular art direction and a tense atmosphere create a constant sense of danger. The advanced combat system requires a strategic approach, as players need to choose the right arrows for their bow and combine elemental effects. For example, you can set a monster on fire and then use a wind-powered arrow to enhance the spread of the flames.

In The Axis Unseen, players must track ancient monsters by scent and blood trails. Each creature has its own unique behaviors and weaknesses. The open world is filled with interesting locations with unusual visual representations. There is a character progression system, but it was not fully assessable in the demo.

The Axis Unseen features pleasing graphics and a distinctive visual style. The monsters and environment are reminiscent of illustrations from heavy metal album covers. Additionally, the project boasts an excellent soundtrack, composed by a member of ISIS and Red Sparowes. Fans of hunting, mysticism, and rock music are almost certain to enjoy The Axis Unseen.

Midnight Murder Club is a multiplayer shooter with unusual mechanics for the genre. Several players find themselves trapped in a dark mansion. They only have a flashlight and a revolver. Both items cannot be used simultaneously. This means a player can either see in the dark or shoot at an opponent. This game design decision creates very tense situations. For example, when you shine your flashlight, opponents can easily spot you. Fortunately, the game has a well-implemented sound system, allowing players to locate opponents by their footsteps.

The arena in Midnight Murder Club is filled with traps and additional equipment, making each battle unique and memorable. You can set a trap in a passage and hide in a dark corner, waiting for an opponent. However, if the opponent has night vision goggles, your plan will fail. Overall, it's an interesting concept with potential. The game also features several modes, including the classic deathmatch. It is recommended for those looking for a unique multiplayer experience.

Wild Assault is a PvP shooter featuring anthropomorphic animals that garnered a lot of attention at the Steam festival. The gameplay is a mix of Overwatch, Fortnite, and Call of Duty. Each animal has unique abilities that provide advantages on the battlefield. There is also a special class distribution. For example, a bear carries a heavy machine gun and sets up defensive fortifications, while a scout wolf can swiftly move between positions and track enemies by scent.

Despite the absurdity of animals engaging in combat, the game features a well-implemented variety of weapons. Each gun has a distinct recoil, and the shooting sounds are very impressive. Thanks to the multitude of mechanics and abilities, all battles feel dynamic and unique. Additionally, the game is visually pleasing and has no performance issues! Be sure to try it if you enjoy unusual shooters and fluffy foxes as playable characters.

Worshippers of Cthulhu is an unusual strategy game set in a dark and mysterious world inspired by the works of Howard Phillips Lovecraft. The gameplay combines elements of role-playing interaction and strategy with a focus on exploration. It also includes battles and interactive choices. The project is reminiscent of the first Frostpunk game: players take on the role of a cult priest who must awaken ancient gods, explore mysterious locations, and uncover secrets related to Cthulhu and other ancient beings.

Worshippers of Cthulhu is a dream game for Lovecraft fans. It features eerie rituals, sacrifices, the study of ancient books, and the alteration of the mental state of town citizens. Additionally, you can fully customize your character and burn followers from a third-person perspective. Besides the economic strategy with mystical elements, the game includes combat encounters with non-believers, who can be set upon by Cthulhu. If you enjoyed Frostpunk and Cult of the Lamb, Worshippers of Cthulhu is sure to appeal to you.

Holstin is a Polish quest game with elements of survival horror and third-person action. The game takes place in a city contaminated by an unknown substance. Nature and buildings start to rot from within. People gradually lose their sanity and turn into zombie-like creatures. The main character must find his friend and survive in dangerous conditions. The gameplay is divided into several sections: quest, action, and social interaction. The demo version allows players to evaluate each element separately.

The quest section is designed in the spirit of the «old school.» Players need to carefully search for items in the location and use logical reasoning to apply them in pre-determined places. The puzzles in the demo are quite unpredictable and require some brainpower. The action section allows players to evaluate the combat system and stealth mechanics. Melee attacks and dodges are performed in an isometric view, while shooting is done from an over-the-shoulder perspective. The game is quite hardcore and unforgiving of mistakes. It's important to always keep an eye on resource levels and the character's stamina.

Holstin is presented in traditional pixel art, but due to special 3D lighting and a rotating camera, it creates the illusion of a three-dimensional image. The game has a very stylish art design and a familiar «Soviet» vibe. The developers have promised on social media to complete the project by 2025. In the meantime, you have the opportunity to get acquainted with the prologue, which will not be included in the main game.

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These are far from all the intriguing games that caught our attention at the autumn festival. Also deserving special mention are Silly Polly Beast — an action-puzzle game about a girl fighting demons with a revolver; Sulfur — a looter-shooter with unique visuals; Butcher's Creek — an indie adaptation of the well-known Condemned; — a co-op roguelike from the creators of Dead Cells. Which games did you like? What did we miss? Share your thoughts and impressions in the comments.