( ) — Steam, the queen platform for PC video games, has held a new edition of its Next Fest from October 3 to 10 in which it celebrates a multitude of games that are yet to come. Users have been able to download hundreds of playable demos for free to test these titles, as well as being able to watch talks and streams with the developers. We have compiled 7 outstanding works that we have played in this Steam Next Fest, after having tried various titles. There are different styles and genres and many of them will continue to maintain their demos so that players can try them out.
‘Decarnation’
A game that cites being inspired by movies like Satoshi Kon’s ‘Perfect Blue’ and David Lynch’s ‘Mulholland Drive’ can easily generate rejection for pretentiousness or too much interest as in our case. From the beginning, ‘Decarnation’ shows his cards: a psychological thriller with horror elements with a strong narrative load and paranormal elements. The protagonist, Gloria, is a cabaret dancer and sees how her world falls apart when she is abused and loses her partner and her job. She then begins her descent into hell and that is when ‘Decarnation’ begins to play with elements of terror through the dreamlike (some also recall the work of Junji Ito and other iconography of Japanese terror). And it shows, in a positive way, the influence of Kon and Lynch in both using a woman as the protagonist, telling a story about the sexualization of women and playing with the plane of what is real and what is dream. One of the essentials of the Steam Next Fest.
‘inkulinati’
‘Inkulinati’ arrived with the prestige of having won the awards for best indie video game and most original game at Gamescom 2022 and its demo confirms that it deserves the awards. The title exudes originality due to its artistic style, its humor and the way it is played. ‘Inkulinati’ imitates medieval manuscripts written and painted with ink and is a strategy game in which scribes who paint beasts of the Middle Ages have to face each other. The player chooses which will be his scribe and the beasts to use. There are fox archers, donkeys with horns, cat priests, and more that can be unlocked as you progress. And the combat, the protagonist of the title, works really well and is challenging. Essential for fans of tactical strategy and humor.
‘Wildfrost’
Following in the footsteps of card games like ‘Slay the Spire’ that combine being a roguelike With deck building, Wildfrost has been presented as a title with personality, challenging and rewarding. The mechanics are simple: choose a leader who will determine what cards you will have and progress through really challenging combat. Overcoming these will allow you to choose new cards and rewards with which to form the game deck. If the leader dies, that’s over run and it will be time to start over from scratch. That is why it is key to understand the system of turns and counters. It is simple to understand but demanding when it comes to creating strategies against the bosses. A must for fans of card video games roguelike or those looking for a challenge.
‘Friends vs. Friends’
‘Friends vs Friends’ is the new work from the studio Brainwash Gang. Fresh, fun and very stylish thanks to its artistic design. The demo confirms that it is as special as its first official trailer anticipated. The title is simple: it’s an online shooting game with 1vs1 or 2vs2 combat. Each player has a deck of cards and these modify the weapons used, the character’s health or speed… Or they also allow you to make your character giant and expose your rival’s brain to eliminate him more easily, which gives rise to highly changing games . It’s fast, fun and original. It just needs to have a soundtrack during the games like the one in the presentation trailer.
‘Story teller’
Under the seal of the publisher Annapurna Interactive, ‘Storyteller’ is a puzzle game with a lot of charm thanks to its good playable design and artistic design. The premise is simple: tell familiar stories (and reinvent them) by combining various elements. For example, the story of Romeo and Juliet. Or the myth of Adam and Eve. You have to place the characters on the stage that corresponds to them to form the original story, but what if Eva gorged herself on apples and instead of being expelled from paradise and died of indigestion? Those are the kind of comedic situations that show off his sharp humor and well-understood simplicity.
‘Gunbrella’
From the hand of Devolver comes ‘Gunbrella’, a metroidvania action packed side scroller with pixel art graphics. The premise is simple: the protagonist carries an umbrella that works as a shotgun, a deflector shield and an artifact with which to propel himself and perform dashes. And it is the use of said umbrella shotgun that allows the player to make use of excellent mobility with which to jump and move around the stage to face enemies that attack from all kinds of positions. This, added to an interest in making a game with a well-written story and characters, make ‘Gunbrella’ a title with a lot to offer.
‘SEASON: A letter to the future’
‘SEASON: A letter to the future’ is a special journey. One that invites calm and curiosity to get to know Estelle, the protagonist, and her world through the memories of her life: her mother, the city where she was born… A different game, one that dispenses with violence , which arms the player with a camera, a recorder and a diary in which to record and admire even the small details of life. Take an image of the square, record the sound of the water carried by the river and put them together in the newspaper to form a palpable memory of that city. And after this, leave by bicycle and continue the trip. Despite the gloomy air that surrounds it, ‘SEASON: A letter to the future’ leaves a deeply positive impression.
