In Space Control, you’ve been abducted by a suspiciously upbeat intergalactic megacorporation and saddled with a debt that—technically—isn’t even yours. The only way out? Work it off. Alongside your alien coworkers, you’ll abduct new recruits, manage alien daycare duties, and cook up questionable snacks at corporate events that probably violate several galactic health codes.

The game unfolds across three episodic chapters set within a vibrant, cartoon-styled space station. Each episode introduces a different “job” inside Glorpo Inc.’s strange corporate ecosystem. You’ll step into the Abductorium to recruit fresh talent (willing or not), handle childcare in the alien Daycare, and help run the GlorpoVision Music Festival with some truly bizarre culinary creations.

Throughout it all, you’ll be joined by a colorful cast of alien companions—Melody, Widgett, and Zorgle—as well as your AI assistant Sydra, who’s always within reach (literally on your wrist). Expect plenty of offbeat humor and satirical jabs at corporate culture as you try to climb the interstellar ladder.

Space Control leans heavily into physics-driven VR interaction. Nearly everything in the environment can be grabbed, tossed, tugged, bounced, or otherwise messed with, encouraging players to embrace the chaos. The tone draws inspiration from animated sci-fi comedies like Futurama and Rick and Morty, delivering a colorful dystopia packed with absurd humor.

The voice cast features talent with credits in major franchises including The Legend of Zelda, Genshin Impact, Marvel Rivals, and The Amazing Digital Circus, alongside appearances from popular VR content creators Whackycast, SmashingVR, Jordan Antle (PapaFearGaming), and Fynnpire.

The Space Control demo is available now as part of Steam Next Fest, offering a first look at its interactive, physics-heavy gameplay and irreverent space-station storytelling. The full release is slated for Early Q2 2026 on Meta Quest and Steam.

If you’ve ever wanted to clock in at the weirdest corporation in the galaxy, now’s your chance to start working off that debt.

The demo follows a recent playtest that saw more than 85,000 players jump in, and now the gates are open once again—this time for everyone ready to embrace a little witchcraft.

Survive, Craft, and Cast Together

In the demo, players land on the game’s starting island either solo or with up to three friends. From there, it’s all about making magic work for you. You’ll gather resources, take down mystical foes, and build your first cozy home using a foundation of beginner witchcraft skills.

Creature companions—known as familiars—play a major role in your journey. You’ll begin with one of two starter familiars, each offering helpful abilities in combat and exploration. As you roam the island, you’ll encounter additional creatures to collect and befriend, expanding your magical toolkit with their unique powers.

Build Without Limits

For players who prefer construction over combat, the demo includes a robust building system. You can design a starter cabin complete with a moss-covered roof and customize it freely using astral projection. This feature allows you to float around your build area, placing walls, windows, and furnishings with precision—no awkward staircases or temporary ramps required.

Progression in the demo caps at Level 7, where you’ll choose between two Covens and begin shaping your magical identity. Movement abilities such as spirit jumps and blinks add fluidity to exploration and combat, offering a glimpse of the mobility-focused gameplay planned for the full release.

While farming and automation systems are being saved for Early Access, the current demo still offers a solid slice of what’s to come, including limited Hearth progression and a foundational building kit.

A Portal Worth the Risk?

According to Liam O’Neill, Head of Envar Games, the team is eager—but understandably nervous—to see how players respond. Feedback from the closed playtest has already shaped improvements, and returning players will notice new additions, including a mysterious creature named Peb.

And if you stumble across an ancient portal hidden within the ruins? Enter at your own risk.

The Witchspire demo is available now on PC, with Early Access planned for later this year. If you’ve ever wondered what survival crafting would look like with a magical twist, now’s your chance to find out.

Available now ahead of Steam Next Fest on February 23, the updated demo introduces three distinct ways to play: Campaign Mode, Just Build Mode, and the newly added Creative Mode. Together, they showcase the full scope of what Springloaded describes as a hybrid between a studio management sim and a full-fledged RPG creation toolkit.

Three Ways to Build Your Dream RPG

Campaign Mode offers the most structured experience. Players run their own development studio, juggling hiring decisions, investor expectations, monetization strategies, and moral dilemmas involving crunch and microtransactions. Alongside the management layer, you’ll actively design and playtest your custom RPG, shaping branching quests, balancing shop inventories, and responding to feedback from hordes of virtual beta testers. The demo even nods to real-world industry lore, drawing inspiration from the infamous Lord British incident during Ultima Online’s development.

For those who prefer pure creativity without spreadsheets and boardroom stress, Just Build Mode strips away the business simulation. This Steam Next Fest–exclusive mode focuses on relaxed world-building through a deck-building system. Players choose quest cards, asset packs, and marketing boosts to grow their RPG concept into a breakout hit. While the demo is solo-only, the full release will introduce online multiplayer for up to four players, allowing friends to collaborate and vote on development decisions together.

Then there’s Creative Mode, playable for the first time since the game’s reveal. This open sandbox hands players a suite of accessible development tools, including character creation, dialogue editing, and full gameplay customization. With thousands of buildings, decorations, and NPCs included, plus the ability to draw custom sprites and assets, Creative Mode positions Let’s Build a Dungeon as both a game and a potential entry point into real game design concepts.

A Simulator With Serious Ambition

Blending studio management, RPG design, and hands-on playtesting, Let’s Build a Dungeon continues Springloaded’s tradition of playful yet surprisingly deep simulation games. With support from Kowloon Nights and growing wishlist momentum, the project is shaping up to be one of 2026’s more inventive indie releases.

The expanded demo is live now as part of Steam Next Fest, with the full launch planned for PC and Xbox in 2026.

Players take on the role of a young hunter navigating dangerous territory while being pursued by the cannibalistic Na’ush tribe. Avoidance is often the safest strategy, requiring players to study patrol patterns, use shadows and terrain for cover, and create distractions to remain undetected. When stealth is no longer an option, combat is intentionally unforgiving, with primitive weapons and lasting injuries reinforcing the game’s high-risk encounters.

Throughout the journey, Kiipluu experiences visions of his father alongside spiritual sequences that may guide — or complicate — the path forward. Player choices influence the narrative, shaping both the story and the hunter’s development as he struggles to survive and find his way home.4

Crafting also plays a central role, allowing players to prepare tools, weapons, and traps needed to endure the hostile world. The combination of stealth, survival mechanics, and narrative decision-making forms the foundation of the experience.

Key Features:

• Stealth-focused gameplay that emphasizes observation and environmental awareness

• Fast, consequential combat when detection occurs

• Constant pursuit by the Na’ush cannibal tribe

• Crafting system for tools, gear, and survival essentials

• Choice-driven narrative shaped by visions and spiritual encounters

Kiipluu is planned for release on PC, and the demo is available now on Steam ahead of February’s Steam Next Fest.

In GRIDbeat!, players step into the role of a hacker who has successfully infiltrated Knoss.OS—the most heavily fortified corporate network on the planet—and escaped with incredibly valuable data. Unfortunately, getting in was the easy part. Now trapped inside the sprawling Mainframe, survival depends on syncing every move to the beat while navigating a dangerous digital labyrinth.

Security protocols are relentless, military simulations stand in your way, and corrupt viral code is determined to erase you entirely. Every action becomes part of a rhythmic dance where timing isn’t just important—it’s the key to staying alive.

The Steam demo offers a substantial preview of the experience. Players can choose from nine different hackers and dive into 13 stages, including three Training Sim levels, six campaign stages, and four unlockable challenge levels designed for those looking to push their reflexes to the limit. With three difficulty options available, the demo provides plenty of room to sharpen your skills before the full release arrives this spring.

According to Jaime Bencia, Senior Producer at Ridiculous Games, the demo represents a major milestone after three years of development focused on building a world centered around rhythm, movement, and momentum. The team is eager for players to finally step into the Grid and experience the gameplay firsthand.

What to Expect in GRIDbeat!

• Beat-Based Dungeon Crawling
  Movement, combat, and interactions all happen in sync with the music, turning each level into a tactical rhythm challenge.
• Maze-Like Digital Environments
  Explore data-filled corridors packed with hazards, including Server Formats capable of wiping entire levels clean.
• Upgradeable Tools and Abilities
  Install powerful software upgrades to overcome threats, uncover secrets, and solve increasingly complex challenges.
• Cyber.Mind Boss Battles
  Face off against formidable AI gatekeepers in intense rhythm-driven encounters as you fight your way toward the Mainframe’s final exit.
• Soundtrack-Driven Gameplay
  An energetic score fuels the action, guiding every step, attack, and ability as you stay locked into the beat.

GRIDbeat! is currently targeting a Q1 2026 launch on Nintendo Switch and PC via Steam. If rhythm-driven action is your thing, now’s a great time to wishlist the game and prepare to hack your way through the Grid.

From the first glance, Helix: Descent N Ascent stands out thanks to its distinct monochrome art style, inspired by 1980s black-and-white indie comics, 1990s manga, and 1970s Franco-Belgian comic art. The result is a world built entirely around the tension between light and darkness, where every shadow and highlight feels intentional.

That atmosphere is further elevated by an evocative soundtrack composed by Jim Guthrie, known for his work on Sword & Sworcery, Nobody Saves the World, and Below. His music plays a central role in shaping the game’s dreamlike tone, turning exploration and puzzle-solving into a reflective, almost meditative experience.

About the Game

In Helix: Descent N Ascent, players awaken in a forgotten, disembodied world where ancient forces lie dormant. As you descend deeper into Helix, you’ll unlock and combine mysterious abilities, each one opening new ways to interact with the environment and uncover the secrets of a lost civilization.

You won’t be entirely alone for long. Along the way, you encounter a strange doppelganger — a being that looks exactly like you, yet constantly seems to oppose your actions. Whether this figure is an ally, an enemy, or something in between is one of the many questions Helix asks as it explores themes of identity, solitude, and connection.

Key Features

• In Search of the Truth

  Awaken in a bleak, shadow-filled world and confront a mysterious counterpart who mirrors you in form but not intent.

• Puzzle Your Way Forward

  Gain new powers throughout your journey, each designed to meaningfully alter how you solve puzzles and navigate the world.

• Combine Your Abilities

  Experiment with a flexible mix-and-match system that allows you to merge powers in creative ways as you explore Helix’s barren landscapes.

• A Deep Emotional Journey

  Helix tackles themes of identity, relationships, and introspection, weaving personal and spiritual ideas into its silent narrative.

• An Artistic Experience

  Storytelling unfolds without words, relying instead on bold black-and-white artwork, living 2D environments, and painterly scenes.

• Enchanting Soundtrack

  Jim Guthrie’s atmospheric score guides players through a surreal and serene universe, enhancing every moment of discovery.

With its strong visual identity, thoughtful puzzle design, and emotionally driven atmosphere, Helix: Descent N Ascent is shaping up to be a standout indie title to watch during Steam Next Fest. If you’re drawn to puzzle adventures that value mood and meaning as much as mechanics, this is one worth keeping on your radar.

The demo lets players dive in solo or team up with up to four friends via local co-op, covering the game’s first three levels. You’ll assemble a mismatched crew of creatures on a quest to save the planet from the ominously named Dark Lord of Darkness, whose latest scheme has plunged the world into a devastating drought.

Awaysis leans hard into slapstick energy, blending arcade-tight controls with physics-based combat that turns every fight into a playground of momentum and mayhem. Players can dash and surf across sloped terrain, grasslands, and cave walls to build speed, then slam that momentum straight into enemies. The result is fast, fluid combat that rewards creativity just as much as precision.

Between runs, players can upgrade their gear to stay competitive—or take a break from saving the world to betray their friends in the best possible way. The demo includes “Co-opetition” mini-games, where teammates compete against each other for loot, adding an extra layer of chaos and comedy to the experience.

Enemy encounters pit players against swarms of mischievous Grimlins and larger-than-life bosses, all designed to fully embrace the game’s physics-driven systems. To make sure no one gets left out, Remote Play is supported in the demo, making it easy to pull friends into the action.

If you’re craving a dungeon brawler that prioritizes laughter, momentum-based combat, and shared chaos, Awaysis is shaping up to be one to watch during Steam Next Fest.

Born from a scientific experiment gone surprisingly right, Gooey isn’t just sticky — he’s got the skills to back it up. Players will test their reflexes across 50 challenging lab-inspired levels, mastering every leap, swing, and squish.

Key Features

• Stretch & Swing: Use Gooey’s elastic arm to grapple platforms and launch across deadly gaps.

• Fluid Traversal: Squish through pipes and chain momentum into stylish traversal combos.

• Level Editor: Create, share, and attempt community-made challenges from across the globe.

With its mix of tight platforming, creative mechanics, and a playful sense of experimentation, Gooey is shaping up to be one of the stickiest highlights of next year.

In Ascend, you play as Aurora, a lone traveler seeking to reverse the downfall of her world by scaling a sacred, otherworldly mountain. Along the way, you’ll confront intricate zodiac-based puzzles, harness celestial forces, and uncover ancient lore left behind by pilgrims who came before. The path to salvation is paved with brainteasers, personal reflection, and cosmic insight.

Each trial is tied to a constellation, and solving them requires more than just logical thinking—you’ll need patience, observation, and a willingness to think beyond the material world. Aurora’s time-turning ability lets you shift between Day, Twilight, and Dusk, changing your surroundings and unlocking hidden paths, relics, and long-forgotten stories.

With a narrative that leans into themes of anxiety, introspection, and balance, Ascend encourages players to slow down and reflect. It’s not just about solving puzzles—it’s about discovering yourself, too.

Key Highlights:

• Zodiac Puzzles & Tarot Vibes: Every challenge is linked to the stars, enriched with tarot-inspired art and rich astrological symbolism.

• Time-Bending Exploration: Use Aurora’s unique ability to shift time and explore how the world—and its secrets—transform with each phase of the day.

• A Meditative Journey: As Aurora climbs higher, her reflections deepen, pulling you into a story about emotion, mythology, and meaning.

If you’re into narrative-driven puzzle games with a spiritual twist—think The Witness meets Journey with a dose of Tarotica Voo Doo—this one should absolutely be on your radar.

Ascend launches August 28, 2025, for Windows PC on Steam. Try the demo during Steam Next Fest and add it to your wishlist now to follow Aurora’s path through the stars.

Set in a world ravaged by late-stage capitalism, Eat the Rich imagines a future where the 99% have seized control and created a twisted form of justice: a gameshow where billionaires compete for their lives. You’ll play as one of these so-called “high rollers,” navigating alliances, betrayals, and cutthroat mini-games to avoid getting eliminated—one vote at a time.

Riches, Deceit, and a Dash of Death

Each round pits players against one another in over-the-top mini-games inspired by billionaire mischief, including “Tax Evasion” and “Crypto Miners.” But these aren’t just for show—you’ll need to smuggle your winnings back to your vault while dodging sabotage from the rest of the one percent.

Between rounds, you’ll have the chance to buy powerful perks with your precious pennies. Use Steal to swipe another player’s vote, Amnesty to dodge elimination, or Scapegoat to redirect suspicion and send someone else packing. In this social deception game, staying rich means staying alive—and trusting anyone could be your last mistake.

Style, Strategy, and Social Backstabbing

Customization is just as important as strategy. Build your own arrogant avatar of wealth by mixing and matching luxury costumes and accessories. Then use your perfectly groomed disguise to worm your way into alliances—or stab your teammates in the back when they least expect it.

Whether you’re scheming your way to the top or delighting in the downfall of fellow capitalists, Eat the Rich offers a satirical, savage twist on the party game formula. Think Among Us meets Succession, with a lot more crypto and backstabbing.

Ready to topple the one percent from the inside? The Eat the Rich demo is live now on Steam as part of Steam Next Fest. Try it out, form (and break) alliances, and see if you can survive the world’s most hostile boardroom.