Steam Next Fest October is Here: Get Started With These 5 Indies

Just in time for Fall, Steam Next Fest arrives to give us a glimpse of up and coming gaming gems. Kicking off today and running through the 20th, this biannual extravaganza is a celebration of unlaunched games, where over a thousand free demos flood the platform, letting players sample everything from sprawling epics to bite-sized experiments. We've pulled together five demos from indie developers that deserve a look. So fire up Steam and let's find you a few gems.

1. Hungry Horrors: Pixelated Peril in a Roguelite Feast

Embark on a culinary quest in Hungry Horrors, a roguelike deckbuilder where cooking replaces combat. As a brave princess, you will prepare dishes to feed legendary creatures from British and Irish folklore - and avoid becoming their next meal.

This is such a cool twist on the deck-building roguelike, instead of fighting the monsters, you're just trying to feed them. It may not be for everyone, but you've got to give them points for originality. - Steam Page

2. Stabjack: Blackjack Meets Roguelike Mayhem

It’s just you, a deck of playing cards, and a knife that won’t shut up. Stabjack is a stylish roguelike deckbuilder inspired by hard-boiled manga and comic noir.

This one has great manga inspired visuals and a grim thread running through it. You fight with the knife that killed your wife, and now speaks in her voice, as you do your best to avenge her. Great gameplay and a dark story promise and interesting hand in this one. - Steam Demo Page

3. TEARSCAPE: Shadows and Precision in a Dark Realm

Have you ever thought it would be cool if Bloodborne had been made for the GameBoy Color? Well, Simple Spec Games did and the result is Tearscape. Seriously, check out the trailer for this one, it nails the retro look and feel of the GameBoy but adds in interesting combat mechanics like dodges and parries, then wraps it all up in a gothic Legend of Zelda package. This one looks like a blast to me, and definitely deserves a download. - Steam Page

4. SCHROTT: High-Octane Roguelite Racing with a Wrecking Twist

Crash, dash, and rebuild in SCHROTT, a roguelite obstacle racer from Ivy Juice Games where you pilot junkyard contraptions through procedurally generated tracks, upgrading on the fly to outrun rivals at a breakneck speed. The demo is packed with juicy physics and unlockable builds that make every lap a gamble. It's roguelike reinvention at its finest, think Rocket League meets Risk of Rain and there is nothing stopping you from taking it for a spin. - Steam Demo Page

5. Pergamon: Alien Mysteries in a Metroidvania Shooter

While there never seems to be any shortage metroidvania games on Steam, we don't see that many games trying to follow in the footsteps of Metroid Prime, until now at least. Pergamon is an indie game that plunges you into the depths of an otherworldly planet where you wield an arsenal of alien tech to blast through ancient ruins and underground caverns.

It's an ambitious and impressive effort for a small team to tackle, but it looks like they are pulling it off. Check out the demo and see what you think. - Steam Demo Page

Share the Love

Steam Next Fest isn't just a demo event; it can be a lifeline for Indies trying to break through the noise. It's also a great opportunity for devs and players to find each other and connect over a shared passion. So go give one, or all, of these demos a try, share your thoughts on X, and remember: your wishlist could help launch the next big thing. What indie game will you help champion?