Steam Next Fest kicked off its June 2025 edition this week, offering players a chance to test hundreds of upcoming PC games completely free of charge. The week-long digital event has become a fixture in the gaming calendar, running from Monday through Sunday with demos spanning every genre imaginable.
The festival provides a treasure trove of content for curious gamers. Anyone with a Steam account can download demos ranging from indie darlings to ambitious titles from established studios. Beyond just playing demos, users can tune into developer livestreams, participate in Q&A sessions, and wishlist games that catch their interest.
This edition features an impressive lineup across all genres. Standout titles include Dispatch, a narrative adventure winning praise for its engaging characters; Bits & Bops, a rhythm game capturing players’ attention; and AEROMACHINA, a visually striking 3D Metroidvania. Action fans are flocking to Mina the Hollower from the Shovel Knight developers, while horror enthusiasts are testing their nerves with survival title PHASE ZERO.
For those overwhelmed by choices, Steam offers helpful filters and curated lists to navigate the massive selection. Games are organized by genre, popularity, and recommendation categories, making discovery more manageable. Many developers use this chance to gather crucial feedback before their final release, often making changes based on player input.
“Playing demos during Next Fest isn’t just fun—it’s actively helping shape these games,” says veteran game designer Marcus Chen. “Developers analyze everything from play patterns to completion rates, using that data to polish their final product.”
Steam Next Fest has changed a lot since it started as the Steam Game Festival during the early pandemic in 2020. What began as a way to connect homebound players with developers has turned into one of the industry’s top discovery opportunities, especially for indie studios. Games featured in previous festivals, like the card game phenomenon Balatro, have credited these events with jumpstarting their success.
For developers, being part of the event offers huge visibility boosts. Games usually see big jumps in wishlists—a key factor for Steam’s algorithm that helps determine how much attention a game gets on the platform after launch. Many studios plan major announcements and marketing pushes to line up with the festival.
Players should know that many demos will be gone after the festival ends, creating a “try it now or miss out” situation. Wishlisting interesting games ensures you’ll get a heads-up when they eventually launch, even if you can’t buy them right away.
