GameMinr Demo Disc 01: October 2025 – Brawlers and Ballers

I'm what you might call, Old School. I've been at this gaming thing for quite awhile now, and frankly there are some things I miss about gaming back in the day. One of those things, is the Demo Disc. In the 90s, we depended on gaming magazines to get all of our game news. And without the internet, the only way to try out a game for yourself was by picking up a magazine that had a Demo Disc inside. Each month we would get 5 or 6 new games to try on each disc, and I would tear through those demos like a kid in a candy store! It was great to try out new kinds of games like first-person shooters, RPGs, flying simulators, and war-games. It was a blast, and honestly it's something we've lost along the way.

But, what if we could bring that feeling back, even just a little bit. I know you have the Internet, I know you can go and download games and demos in less time than you've spent reading this intro. But I think there is still a place for pulling together a group of games into a collection and everyone playing them at the same time. I think there is still space for the Demo Disc, and we're going to start it back up right now.

GameMinr.com Digital Demo Disc #1

Here's how it will work: On the first Friday of every month, we'll drop a "disc" right here on GameMinr.com, a curated post packed with demos for some of the hottest games coming that month. No fluff, no paywalls, no $30 a month subscriptions; just direct links to Steam, Epic, or console stores so you can dive in right away. Think of it as your monthly boot-up ritual: skim the list, hit the links, and let the gaming discovery begin. This October, we're kicking off with a killer selection of roguelites, beat 'em ups, and cosmic chaos to get your Fall gaming season started right.

Absolum (PC)

Genre: Side-scrolling roguelite beat 'em up

The Pitch: Channel your inner arcade brawler in the fantasy realm of Talamh, where outcast heroes Galandra, Karl, Brome, and Cider rebel against a magic-starved empire. This "Rogue 'em Up" mashes classic combo-crunching action with unpredictable paths, empowering rituals, and solo or co-op chaos. Hand-crafted levels shift with every run, unlocking new moves and Arcana for that "just one more try" hook. If Streets of Rage met Hades in a medieval tavern, it'd fist-bump Absolum.

Why Demo It? Perfect for co-op nights with friends. It's like a D&D session on an energy drink.

Download on Steam | Game Info

Slots & Daggers (PC)

Genre: Retro-fantasy roguelike with slot machine mechanics

The Pitch: In a weird, fantasy world of retro RPG enemies and sick beats, you spin slots not for jackpots, but for survival. This solo-dev gem from Friedemann (of SUMMERHOUSE fame) fuses addictive casino plings with RPG dagger-slinging. You pull the lever to summon fights, loot, or funky power-ups in a retro slot machine. It's fast, frantic, and full of "what the heck just happened?" moments, like betting your blade on a goblin goblin jackpot.

Why Demo It? Dip into the quirky chaos; if you love numbers-go-brrr roguelikes, this'll slot right into your backlog.

Download on Steam | Game Info

MARVEL Cosmic Invasion (PC)

Genre: Action beat 'em up

The Pitch: Assemble, heroes! Tribute Games and Dotemu unleash Marvel mayhem in a pixel-art extravaganza where Annihilus' Annihilation Wave crashes Earth. In the demo you can Tag-team with 9 heroes (Spider-Man, Wolverine, She-Hulk, Storm, and more ) via the slick Cosmic Swap system for instant duo devastation. Battle through NYC streets and the Helicarrier in solo or co-op, chaining specials that feel like a Saturday morning cartoon on steroids.

Why Demo It? Hero-swapping spectacle in bite-sized levels; a retro fix for your beat 'em up cravings.

Download on Steam | Game Info

BALL x PIT (PC and Mac)

Genre: Brick-breaking survival roguelite with base-building

The Pitch: Bounce into this ball pit at your own risk! Fuse wild balls into explosive hybrids, ricochet 'em at enemy hordes, and build your Ballbylon homestead from the riches you rake in. Recruit quirky heroes, experiment with synergies (fireball + drill = ?), and siege bosses in The BONE x YARD. It's Breakout evolved into a roguelite empire-builder, chaotic, strategic, and stupidly satisfying.

Why Demo It? Tinker with ball fusions until the wee hours; I couldn't put this one down once I got started.

Download on Steam | Game Info

Bonus Track: Little Nightmares III (PC and Consoles)

Genre: Atmospheric co-op adventure/horror

The Pitch: The Spine-chilling saga slinks back with Low and Alone, two pint-sized pals braving the Nowhere's twisted Spiral. Wield Low's bow for tricky shots and Alone's wrench for barrier-busting in eerie locales like a candy-coated factory of horrors or a necrotic funfair. Co-op shines (online duo or solo with an AI buddy), blending puzzle-solving tension with heart-pounding chases..

Why Demo It? This one is perfect for cool October nights, with a haunting feeling that will stick with you after you're done playing.

Download on Steam | PlayStation | Xbox | Nintendo Switch | Nintendo Switch 2 | Game Info

There you have it, October's lineup for the first GameMinr.com Digital Demo Disc! Which one are you taking for a spin first: Absolum's co-op combat or Slots & Daggers' slot-slinging weirdness? You may just get stuck in the BALL x PIT and not get back out! If you love the demos make sure to go wishlist the games because they are all coming soon!

Please share this post so we can get more gamers involved, and make sure you follow us at GameMinr.com (@gameminr on X) for all the latest gaming news and next month's disc announcement.

Now, go crank up the 90's rock and have fun!