Every few months, Steam gives us a gift: a full week of free demos during Steam Next Fest 2025. For developers, it’s a chance to show off their progress. For players, it’s basically a free festival of hands-on previews.
This June, Steam Next Fest featured hundreds of titles, from massive upcoming indies to tiny projects made by solo developers. As always, a few games went viral. However, many excellent demos flew under the radar.
So, if you didn’t have time to sift through the noise, don’t worry. Here are five standout demos you probably haven’t heard much about—but definitely should check out.
1.
Mina the Hollower
Gothic Whip-Action With a Modern Edge
Developer: Yach Club Games
Genre: Action-Adventure / Retrovania
Release Date: 31 Oct 2025
From the creators of Shovel Knight, Mina the Hollower delivers a beautifully dark, retro-inspired adventure that seamlessly blends 8-bit visuals with modern design. In this game, you play as Mina, a whip-wielding Hollower on a mission to save a cursed island teetering on the edge of ruin. Armed with her signature weapon and a growing arsenal of sidearms and trinkets, she’ll burrow, leap, and lash her way through a richly interconnected world.
What truly makes this demo stand out from the crowd is its confident fusion of old-school aesthetics and new-school precision. While the art style pays homage to the Game Boy Color, every animation, sound cue, and boss fight feels handcrafted and fresh.
Therefore, it’s a must-play for fans of Zelda II, Castlevania, or any game where combat, exploration, and style walk hand in hand. With tight mechanics, mysterious lore, and a hauntingly good soundtrack, Mina the Hollower doesn’t just hit the nostalgia nerve, it elevates it.
2.
NINJA GAIDEN: Ragebound
A Brutal Comeback for Classic Action Fans
Developer: The Game Kitchen
Genre: Side-Scrolling Action Platformer
Release Date: 31 Jul 2025
A new era begins for Ninja Gaiden with Ragebound, a side-scrolling reboot from the team behind Blasphemous. Rather than being just a throwback, it cleverly fuses the fast-paced, punishing gameplay of 8-bit classics with the stylish intensity of modern 3D entries.
Set in a reimagined universe, the story follows Kenji Mozu, a young ninja trained by Ryu Hayabusa, as he battles to protect Hayabusa Village from a demonic invasion. Alongside him is Kumori, a deadly assassin with her own secrets. Together, they form a fragile alliance that defies generations of rivalry, unleashing devastating Ninja Fusion attacks to survive a rising darkness.
What truly makes Ragebound stand out in the Steam Next Fest 2025 lineup is its mix of modern pixel art, razor-sharp controls, and brutal combat. Although it’s easy to pick up, it offers deep mastery for long-time fans. Ultimately, the demo delivers fluid action, responsive mechanics, and enough challenge to leave a mark, exactly what a Ninja Gaiden revival should be.
3.
Word Play
Spelling Meets Strategy
Developer: Game Maker’s Toolkit
Genre: Puzzle / Word Game
Release Date: 14 Jul 2025
Word Play isn’t just about spelling; it’s about thinking ahead. In this clever word-based strategy game, each word you create earns points and upgrades. However, every action uses a limited “play,” so efficiency matters.
What makes it stand out is how it layers systems. You can modify tiles and upgrade letters into rare forms like Diamond or Potion. Plus, shifting rule sets change how each round plays out. There are even tricky challenge modes and a daily puzzle to keep things fresh.
Whether you love word games or want to exercise your brain in a new way, Word Play is more than it seems. It’s highly replayable and full of surprises.
4.
Gourdlets Together
Cozy Multiplayer in a World of Veggies
Developer: AuntyGames
Genre: Cozy sandbox
Release Date: TBD
If you’re looking for something low-stress and full of charm, Gourdlets Together is exactly that. Set in a whimsical world of friendly vegetable folk, this cozy multiplayer game invites you to design and decorate your own island. You can also fish with friends and simply enjoy the calm.
What makes this demo shine in Steam Next Fest 2025 is its relaxed pace and social focus. For example, you can visit friends’ islands, customize your own with cute buildings and decorations, and spend your fishing profits on upgrades. These upgrades make your island feel even more like home.
It’s not trying to challenge you; instead, it’s here to help you unwind. So, if you loved games like Animal Crossing or Palia, this one is definitely worth checking out.
5.
Discounty
Reversed Stardew Valley, the Game
Developer: Crinkle Cut Games
Genre: Satirical Simulation
Release Date: 21 Aug 2025
Discounty may look like a cozy retail sim on the surface, but there’s much more brewing behind the freezer aisle. Set in the quirky harbour town of Blomkest, you’re tasked with running the local discount supermarket left to you by your mysteriously absent aunt. At first, it’s simple, stock shelves, ring up customers, and tidy the floor. However, soon you’ll juggle trade deals, local politics, and a growing web of small-town drama.
What makes Discounty stand out from other demos is its mix of detailed shop management and branching narrative. As you expand your store, you’ll also shape relationships with the townsfolk. This means building trust or stepping on toes for profit. The charm lies in the balance: make the store inviting, keep customers happy, and decide whether to heal or further fracture Blomkest’s fragile community.
It’s equal parts business sim and story-driven adventure. Overall, it might be one of the most heartfelt and slyly clever demos of the festival.
