Steam Next Fest is back this October 2024, and the demos of our favorite upcoming titles are coming out fast. Read on for more information on the best demos of upcoming games being showcased.
Best Demos of Steam Next Fest October 2024
Get ready to give your wishlist some serious love this October! The latest Steam Next Fest is here, running from October 14 to 21, 2024, starting at 10:00 a.m. PDT / 1:00 p.m. EDT.
With hundreds of demos spanning every genre, there’s something for everyone at this year’s festival. To help you dive in, we’ve handpicked 10 of the top demos from the Most Wishlisted rankings, so you can start exploring right away.
Steam Next Fest Page October 2024
Top 10 Demos Based On Most Wishlisted
1. Delta Force
| Try the Delta Force Demo Now! | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Steam | |||||
| Release Date | Coming Soon | ||||
| Publisher | Team Jade | ||||
| Developer | TiMi Studio Group | ||||
The demo for Delta Force is now available as part of Steam Next Fest, giving players a first look at this tactical FPS's blend of large-scale PvP and intense extraction shooter gameplay. In this demo, you can try the Battlefield-like "Havoc Warfare" mode, which pits teams against each other in chaotic PvP battles, and the Tarkov-inspired "Hazard Operations," a PvE extraction mode. Two maps—Zero Dam and Layali Grove—are available to explore, with more content set to unlock soon after the game’s full release.
Players can jump in with all operators, weapons, and attachments unlocked for the duration of the event. In addition, Team Jade's demo includes exclusive rewards for early access participants and teases the upcoming full game, which will also feature a remake of the iconic Black Hawk Down campaign.
2. Windblown
| Try the Windblown Demo Now! | |||||
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| Steam | |||||
| Release Date | October 25, 2024 (Early Access) | ||||
| Publisher | Motion Twin | ||||
| Developer | Motion Twin, Kepler Group | ||||
Motion Twin, the studio behind the indie hit Dead Cells, is back with their highly anticipated new title, Windblown, now available in early access with a single-player demo. This fast-paced hack-and-slash adventure takes place in a stunning, surreal world threatened by the Vortex—a powerful force set on consuming your island and overwhelming it with its emissaries. Can you, as the Leaper, survive and make it to the end?
The Windblown demo offers a glimpse into the first stage, complete with a selection of starting weapons, unlocks, early enemies, and a challenging boss fight, all set within the game’s vibrant hub world.
3. Streets of Rogue 2
| Try the Streets of Rogue 2 Demo Now! | |||||
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| Steam | |||||
| Release Date | Q4 2024 | ||||
| Publisher | Matt Dabrowski | ||||
| Developer | tinybuild | ||||
There’s no RPG sandbox quite like Streets of Rogue, and Streets of Rogue 2 is set to amplify the original’s wild, chaotic charm. Matt Dabrowski and tinyBuild have dropped a demo for Steam Next Fest, offering a sneak peek of the upcoming release. The demo showcases a slice of the final build, complete with some of the game’s quirky characters and exciting new features. Get ready for more unpredictable, sandbox-style mayhem!
4. Sand
| Try the Sand Demo Now! | |||||
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| Steam | |||||
| Release Date | To Be Announced | ||||
| Publisher | Hologryph, TowerHaus | ||||
| Developer | tinybuild | ||||
While Dune: Awakening isn’t here just yet—or available for Steam Next Fest—you can still experience intense PvPvE action on a desert world in Sand. Set on the planet Sophie, Sand offers thrilling exploration through shifting sands, mysterious anomalies, and ancient monuments, all while competing with other players seeking the same adventure—if your PC can handle it!
The demo for Sand showcases the game's core mechanics, including building your own Trampler, a unique vehicle to traverse the planet’s harsh terrain, and engaging in battles with other players across the dunes.
5. V.A Proxy
| Try the V.A Proxy Demo Now! | |||||
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| Steam | |||||
| Release Date | Coming Soon | ||||
| Publisher | PyroLith | ||||
| Developer | PyroLith | ||||
If fast-paced, hack-and-slash, robot-on-robot combat is what you're after, look no further than V.A Proxy, one of this Next Fest’s surprise hits. This parry-focused cyber-dystopian action game lets you take control of one of three robots as they explore a seamless, handcrafted world atop a sprawling mechanical megastructure. Expect punishing ranged and melee combat against formidable machine enemies looking to disassemble you.
The Steam Next Fest demo offers an upgraded version of the game, featuring enhanced performance, movement, combat mechanics, and wildlife AI, along with new weapons, enemies, and NPCs to test your skills.
6. The Precinct
| Try The Precinct Demo Now! | |||||
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| Steam | |||||
| Release Date | Q4 2024 | ||||
| Publisher | Fallen Tree Games Ltd | ||||
| Developer | Kwalee | ||||
Crime may not pay, but serving as one of Averno City’s finest certainly does! Get ready to step into the shoes of a crime-fighter with The Precinct’s first-ever public demo, released during this month’s Steam Next Fest.
Experience the thrill of tracking down criminals and engaging in high-speed police chases through a destructible urban environment, all set in the sprawling streets of Averno City. Prepare for intense action and immersive gameplay as you bring justice to the city's underworld!
7. Mini Royale
| Try the Mini Royale Demo Now! | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steam | |||||
| Release Date | 2024 | ||||
| Publisher | IndigoBlue | ||||
| Developer | IndigoBlue | ||||
In Mini Royale, the classic playroom battles of plastic army men come to life in an epic toybox showdown. Blending the excitement of popular battle royale games like Fortnite, PUBG, and Apex Legends, Mini Royale offers the thrill of fast-paced combat across a vibrant world, where procedurally generated loot and randomized weapons keep every match unpredictable and fresh.
The Steam Next Fest Demo introduces an exciting new game mode, Color Conquest, alongside reworked bots, weapon balancing, and a host of long-awaited fixes, ensuring an even smoother, more action-packed experience.
8. Builders of Egypt
| Try the Builders of Egypt Demo Now! | |||||
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| Steam | |||||
| Release Date | January 2025 | ||||
| Publisher | Strategy Labs | ||||
| Developer | Strategy Labs, PlayWay S.A., CreativeForge Games | ||||
From the banks of the Nile to the bustling cities of Nubia, Builders of Egypt by Strategy Labs is one of this Next Fest’s most anticipated titles. Spanning the rich history from Narmer to Cleopatra, this demo lets you step into the sandals of an ancient architect, recreating the grandeur of one of humanity’s earliest and most enduring civilizations. Rebuild iconic monuments, honor the mighty gods, and experience the rise of Egypt's empire in the latest demo release of Builders of Egypt.
9. Rivals of Aether II
| Try the Rivals of Aether II Demo Now! | |||||
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| Steam | |||||
| Release Date | October 24, 2024 | ||||
| Publisher | Aether Studios | ||||
| Developer | Aether Studios, offbrand games | ||||
Experience the beloved Smash Bros. formula with vibrant Brawlhalla-style graphics and playful elemental combat in Rivals of Aether II, the highly anticipated sequel from Aether Studios. In this Steam Next Fest Demo, you'll get access to the full launch roster, enjoy both offline and online gameplay, and dive into a fully-developed ranked mode, offering a taste of the fast-paced, competitive action that has made the original game a hit in the indie scene.
10. Empire of Ants
| Try the Empire of Ants Demo Now! | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steam | |||||
| Release Date | November 7, 2024 | ||||
| Publisher | Tower Five | ||||
| Developer | Microids | ||||
RTS army combat has never been this… tiny! In Empire of Ants, now available as a demo in Steam Next Fest, you’ll command your own colony of ants as they embark on a grand campaign to dominate the forest floor. Strategize, form ranks, and swarm the battlefield as you tear rival colonies apart in this epic clash of miniature proportions. Prepare for the ultimate not-so-ant
-iclimactic showdown in Empire of Ants!
