GameMinr Digital Demo Disc Volume 2 Disc 1 - An Action Packed New Year!
- Jan 02 2026
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Happy New Year, GameMinrs! It's the first Friday of January, and that means we're kicking off Volume 2 of our Digital Demo Disc series with six new Steam demos to whet your appetite for 2026 gaming. This disc packs classic spaceship rail-shooting, medieval Scottish hordes, rhythmic brawls, turn-based empire building, and precision platforming. It's all free, all on PC/Steam (many Deck Verified), and ready to wishlist.
So load up the disc (basically just hit those Steam links), and let's get cracking. Here are our demos for this month.
Dead as Disco
Genre: Rhythm Beat'Em Up
Brain Jar Games' Beat 'Em Up syncs martial arts to a killer soundtrack, fights pulse with the music, and you'll be thumping thugs to the beat in no time. You play as Charlie Disco. trying to reunite your band after treachery broke you apart. The action is spot on, the neon-soaked visuals are great, and the soundtrack will have you nodding your head from the first fight.
Why Demo it?: Rhythm Heaven meets Streets of Rage, but it's forgiving enough that even players who don't usually go for rhythm games can enjoy the action.
Download on Steam
Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era
Genre: Strategy RPG
Unfrozen's turn-based strategy prequel revives Heroes of Might and Magic for a new generation. You'll recruit heroes, conquer worlds, and clash with your enemies in tactical battles. The demo shows you the ropes and then gets you into the action so you can see why this series was so loved back in the day.
Why Demo it?: It gives you a great taste of a classic PC gaming series. Steam players are loving it, and have kept it at the top of the demo charts for months. Give it a shot.
Download on Steam
FUR Squadron Phoenix
Genre: Arcade Space Shooter
Raptor Claw's on-rails space shooter shakes up the genre with a roguelite campaign and upgradable ships that make each run unique. You'll take on waves of enemies and massive bosses with power beams, missile barrages, and nukes in great looking dynamic environments.
Why Demo it?: Perfect for anyone needing a little more Star Fox action in their life. Plus, the full game is expected later this month, so now is the time to sample it before launch.
Download on Steam
Super Meat Boy 3D
Genre: Punishing 3D Platformer
Team Meat/Sluggerfly's 3D twist on one of the most masochistic platforming games ever made. It's time to see if the pixel perfect jumps and slides of Super Meat Boy can make the transition to 3D. You'll leap through fiery forests, trash dumps, and high-tech forges in brutal levels all capped off with a screen filling boss battle. It's everything you love about Meat Boy, but in more dimensions!
Why Demo it?: Super Meat Boy precision in 3D, test your reflexes now before this one launches later this year.
Download on Steam
Tears of Metal
Genre: Rougelike Hack-n-Slash
Paper Cult's medieval hack-n-slash takes the Dynasty Warriors combat and combines it into a co-op roguelike Scottish action epic. You'll lead your Scottish clan in battles to reclaim your homeland after a mysterious Dragon Meteor crashed into the earth and unleashed an evil invasion. Carve through hordes of enemies in the demo as you play through the first act and face off against Gilles the Hog!
Why Demo it?: I love the style of this one, and the Scottish theme is a great fit for the horde fighting hack'n slash. It's also playable in both solo or co-op modes, so you can bring your friends along!
Download on Steam
Void War
Genre: Simulation, Strategy
Tundra's dark gothic sci-fi strategy sim puts you in command of an ancient starship in a crumbling Empire. Fend off cultists, pirates, and Imperials as you scavenge artifacts to forge new war engines, recruit the perfect crew, and face off against the horrors of the void. Procedural encounters and tech upgrades will make every run tell a different tale as you make your way to the heart of a dying empire.
Why Demo it?: FTL meets the grim-dark style of Warhammer 40k, it's hard to beat that. This is a great game to jump into for a quick session when you have the time.
Download on Steam
There you go, now you can start off 2026 with 6 new games to try. This disc has a little bit of everything, strategy, platforming, beat'em ups, and space shooters, so no matter what kind of gaming you're into, there is something here for you.
Go fire up your PC or Steam Deck and have fun. Here's to a New Year!
