Steam Next Fest’s October 2026 edition is underway, and the demos below are grouped by the kind of game you want to play: co-op comedy, story-driven action, crafting, or horror. Valve’s schedule runs from October 19 at 7 p.m. through October 26, 2026, at 7 p.m. Peninsular Spain time (Steamworks schedule).
Which demos fit your play style?
These picks connect each game to a genre or mode described by the publisher making the recommendation. Use them as a starting shortlist, not a universal ranking.
| If you want | Try | What the description says |
| Co-op comedy | Dumpster Gang | Polygon describes a co-op game where players become raccoons and cause mischief. (Polygon) |
| Cozy crafting, solo or online | Loftia | DualShockers describes solo or online play with friends, sky-island farming, and renewable power options. (DualShockers) |
| Co-op horror | Expendabots | Insider Gaming describes a horror-extraction game for 1–4 players, with robots exploring changing islands and dungeons before escaping together. (Insider Gaming) |
| Story-led action | At Fate’s End | Polygon describes 2D action mixed with family drama; its demo includes a lengthy fight between two sisters. (Polygon) |
| Mystery and management | Tearoom of Terror | Polygon describes investigating an aunt’s murder while running a tearoom and preparing drinks and snacks. (Polygon) |
If you want a mystery with a more defined structure, Polygon says Curse of Resthaven’s demo covers a six-day loop in which you can question suspects, and that demo progress carries into the full game. For a different action hook, Polygon says the updated Guns of Eschaton demo adds the Deadeye character archetype. (Polygon)
More gameplay to browse
CantPause’s roundup includes footage of Hillthorn, a card-based detective game that combines actions with suspects and evidence, and Acts of Blood, a third-person brawler with melee and shooting combat. The video also includes gameplay from titles such as El Paso, Elsewhere 2 and Prospice: Anomalous Logistics.
One horror-list entry is a playtest
Insider Gaming labels Gone Feral a PLAYTEST in its horror selection; the other 12 entries in that list are labelled DEMO. If you’re choosing from that particular lineup, that label tells you what kind of entry to look for. (Insider Gaming)
When does Steam Next Fest end?
Valve’s schedule gives the October 2026 festival an end time of October 26, 2026, at 7 p.m. peninsular Spain time. (Steamworks schedule)
