Figured I should probably post about some #NextFest demos (I talk about them elsewhere but why not here as well). Starting off with something on the chill end, just some great writing and art really help the shop sim stand out
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2967950/The_Witchs_Bakery/
Steam:The Witch's Bakery

ボンジュール!あたし、ルンナ!あたしの「魔法のパン屋」へようこそ!『Witch's Bakery』はパリの街でパン屋を開き、魔法使いとして毎日を暮らす2DアドベンチャーRPGゲーム!お店を経営しながら、街の有名な通りを散策して、魔法のクロワッサンで落ち込んだ人たちの元気を取り戻してるんだ!🥐

Some co-op shooters. The non live servicy-ness of L4D I don't think would fly these days but, it's suprpising how much the car and a more open space to explore do to change this up and really work for me.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/4354730/John_Carpenters_Toxic_Commando_Demo/
Steam:John Carpenter's Toxic Commando Demo

これはJohn Carpenter’s Toxic Commandoのデモ版です。銃に弾を込め、友達と4人のチームを組み、Toxic Commandoとなってスラッジゴッドとアンデッドの大群を地獄に送り返そう!

More chaotically, run about, ride horses, cast spells to kill various skeletons and other beasties. The bosses in this look really cool and there's good reason to go off the beaten path as well
https://store.steampowered.com/app/3819240/Far_Far_West_Demo/
Steam:Far Far West Demo

The Far Far West demo lets you play solo or with up to 3 of your friends in a chaotic PVE co-op shooter. Work as a team to blast monsters, sling spells, complete missions, and collect bounties. Level up and create the ultimate robot cowboy build to kill bosses, get paid and get out (mostly) alive.

Games about going fast. Just an incredible sense of speed and the racers have a pretty different skill set so lots to figure out to get the best lap. Also extremely funny when the tutorial teaches you how to drift the girl
https://store.steampowered.com/app/3832030/BOOST_VECTOR_EX/
BOOST VECTOR EX on Steam

RUN FAST. Faster than any other. Take control of a Vector Master and sprint in uncompromising pure parkour racing. Hone your style with responsive, flowing controls and break limits in the Premier Vector World Cup. The race, your friends, and victory beckon your arrival... Did I mention it was fast?

And if you want your speed to be harsh and crunchy this is that. Zip forward, shoot target, next checkpoint, next enemy, dive, double jump to next. All form just a great loop for each level
https://store.steampowered.com/app/4257090/CICADAMATA_Demo_Disc/
CICADAMATA" Demo Disc on Steam

+ I AM OKAY. THE AIR IS JUST HEAVY TODAY. +

Tree punchers. Pirates! This one is actually really mean. You die real fast. But putting your boat together and exploring killing (pirate?) zombies feels pretty good and makes me curious to see how the ship to ship combat ends up feeling
https://store.steampowered.com/app/4291770/Windrose_Demo/
Windrose Demo on Steam

Embark on a PvE survival adventure in the Age of Piracy. Fight on land and sea, solo or with friends. Build, craft and explore vast open world filled with dark secrets. Master soulslite combat and take on challenging bosses, command your ship and plunder unspoken treasures!

And on the complete other end of the scale. What if you drove your camper van around and mabe magicked a whole crafting base on it's roof while driving about the great outdoors. Maybe not quite enough to do, but it was a nice time
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2938240/Outbound_Demo/
Steam:Outbound Demo / アウトバウンド 体験版

自分だけのキャンピングカーを作り、自給自足の生活を実現しよう! 太陽光、風力、水力をエネルギー源に、電力供給装置や作業台を作り、あなたの車両をアップグレード&カスタマイズしながら、作物を育て上げましょう。最大4人のプレイヤーと共に、色鮮やかな世界を探索できます。

Survivor likes, and a direct follow up. The action is pretty different, but lots will feel familiar here. Structure has me wondering how the difficulty ramp goes, but it's interesting for sure
https://store.steampowered.com/app/3265700/Vampire_Crawlers_The_Turbo_Wildcard_from_Vampire_Survivors/
Steam:Vampire Crawlers: The Turbo Wildcard from Vampire Survivors

世界を壊滅させるコンボで魔物の巣窟と化したダンジョンを突き進め!Vampire Survivorsがお送りするVampire Crawlers: The Turbo Wildcardは、ローグライト要素ありのカジュアルなターン制デッキビルダー。自分で組み合わせた手札で、TURBOTURNTM制覇に挑戦しよう!

In one of the more unhinged(positive) art styles, I like how this actively shoves you to escape to the next map. Good to have you hustle for reasons beyond enemies aren't dying fast enough for you to handle
https://store.steampowered.com/app/4320630/Antivirus_Survivors_2003_Professional_Demo/
Antivirus Survivors 2003 Professional Demo on Steam

The family computer is infected again and it’s your job to fend off waves of viruses and adware foes with an arsenal of nostalgic Y2K-inspired weapons. Antivirus Survivors 2003 Professional is a survivor-like auto-shooter filled with nods to the days when computers were actually fun.

Strategy game corner, I'm not familiar with Terrinoth the board game or how direct an adaptation this is, but it's a relatively light tactics rpg, that is probably well intentioned given that it's meant as co-op first
https://store.steampowered.com/app/4162860/Terrinoth_Heroes_of_Descent_Demo/
Terrinoth®: Heroes of Descent Demo on Steam

Step into the epic fantasy universe of Descent with the first co-op tactical RPG forged from the legendary dungeon crawling boardgame. Lead a company of fearless heroes across Terrinoth, survive against epic boss battles in turn-based combat, and settle the fate of a world facing unending darkness.

Rougelike tactical RPG. A neat wrench they throw in the tactics layer is that most enemies have reactions so you have to juggle your own order of actions way more carefully than you would otherwise
https://store.steampowered.com/app/3222870/Valor_of_Man_Demo/
Valor of Man Demo on Steam

Forge your party. Master your fate. In this turn-based roguelite RPG, lead four heroes through a fractured realm of danger and destiny. Build synergies, unlock powerful abilities, and face ever-shifting challenges in an epic battle for survival. No journey is ever the same.

More direct followup that you would expect from the Othercide devs. Timeline mechanic is great, plenty of ways to manipulate turn order as well as push pull on how much you want to do on a turn as using over half your ap delays your next go
https://store.steampowered.com/app/3275050/Ex_Sanguis/
Steam:Ex Sanguis

戦術的でターン制の血にまみれた戦いで、世界を再び生へ導け!精鋭戦士 STILLAE を率い、STASIS の軍勢から死にゆく世界を救え。敵を斬り、時間軸の彼方へ蹴り飛ばし、優雅さと血が交わる連鎖反応を引き起こせ。

Roguelike Total War battles. Really cool combination. They've sped up and simplified that style of combat almost to it's breaking point. Interesting to try and build your army in that roguelike context
https://store.steampowered.com/app/3337380/Tabletop_Tavern/
Tabletop Tavern on Steam

Recruit a wild roster of warriors and command your mercenaries on a chaotic tabletop battlefield. With infinite builds, brutal choices, and endless replayability, Tabletop Tavern is an RTS built for roguelike fanatics.

A not well liked demo on Steam, has some real rough performance. But! There's a good strategy game managing combined arms attacking Monte Cassino as you push through the city up to the ruins. Really hope they pull this one through
https://store.steampowered.com/app/4370310/Sudden_Strike_5__Demo/
Steam:Sudden Strike 5 - Demo

第二次世界大戦を舞台とするミリタリーRTS『サドン ストライク 5』のデモ版として、「モンテ・カッシーノ攻撃」(連合軍)と「スターリングラード防衛」(ソ連軍)の2ミッションを収録。連合軍・枢軸国・ソ連の3陣営のうち2陣営を指揮し、地形と補給を重視したリアル志向の戦術と本作の中核となるゲームプレイを体験できる。

A few others. Over the top action about beating up things in stylish ways. Obvious DMC comparisons, but the trappings of keep things entertaining for your live streaming audience is a fun bit
https://store.steampowered.com/app/4159360/MIGHTREYA_Demo/
MIGHTREYA Demo on Steam

Join schoolgirl superhero Reya and her manager Nio as they embark on their journey as Hero Content Creators, fighting monstrous beings that emerge daily from a dimension beyond. Anime-inspired, heart-pounding hero action is waiting for you!

Narrative game about loss, adulthood and lonliness. Really heartfelt. Mechanically it's a pretty simple game but just some really good writing some fun visual touches add a whole bunch to this
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2824290/Fishbowl_Demo/
Fishbowl Demo on Steam

Experience the first day in Alo’s month-long story in this demo. Talk to loved ones over video calls, work from home as a video editor, sort through puzzles to rediscover childhood memories and get to know yourself better. Fishbowl is a slice of life visual novel about grief and self discovery.

And speaking of visual touches. This one is a little bit gross at times (positive). The meta narrative behind the game seems absolutely wild, and the FMV is appropriately ridiculous
https://store.steampowered.com/app/3414580/Forbidden_Solitaire/
Steam:Forbidden Solitaire

Forbidden Solitaire is a card-slashing horror game about unearthing the contents of a cryptic 1995 CD-ROM that should have never existed. From the creators of Ancient Enemy and Home Safety Hotline.

Some demos that I've played before this next fest but worth shouting out. Just a great cartography game, can't wait to get more real tools to accurately put pins on paper. 0.6 steps being only 2 stars is a bit harsh tho
https://store.steampowered.com/app/3672480/Map_Map__A_Game_About_Maps_Demo/
Map Map - A Game About Maps Demo on Steam

In this game YOU make the maps! Become the cartographer of a small crew of adventurers and use proper navigation tools like a real explorer. Map the environment to turn unknown islands into a hand-drawn journey toward a legendary treasure.

Just a great laugh, a match 3 game with a striking art style that only gets more and more extra as you progress. Curious to know what they do mechanically as you progress but also tell me more about these weirdos in this Court
https://store.steampowered.com/app/4210280/Titanium_Court_Demo/
Titanium Court Demo on Steam

A surreal strategy game for clowns and criminals.