Are Game Demos Always a Good Idea?

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Game demos have made a major comeback in recent years. In the past, the trend leaned more toward buying a game to try it rather than offering a demo upfront. Today, demos are seen as a crucial part of game promotion, not just “try before you buy” tools, according to GameDiscoverCo.

PC Gamer states that “demos are now meta.” They attract new players and generate publicity. Festivals like Steam Next Fest offer major opportunities for game discovery, where demos can significantly increase a game’s visibility. These events often lead to more traffic, better algorithmic ranking, and increased influencer attention on platforms like YouTube and Twitch.

But is having a demo always a good idea? Some experts, like Chris Zukowski, believe it’s beneficial to always have a demo ready, especially in case a streamer wants to cover your game during a quiet period. On the other hand, Steve Stopps from Excalibur warns against this approach, particularly after release. He argues that a demo can cause some potential buyers to play the demo instead of purchasing the game. If they don’t like the demo or never get around to playing it, you may lose a sale.

Stopps suggests that developers carefully monitor traffic to their Steam page to understand the demo’s impact. He advises removing the demo if it no longer helps with visibility or conversions.