Games You Shouldn’t Miss After October’s Steam Next Fest

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This edition of Steam Next Fest is nearing its end, but we managed to try out several demos from the event (you can check them in the Reviews section). Since it’s impossible to cover everything in written form, I decided to put together a list of games that stood out to me during the festival. Who knows, you might find something interesting among these picks.

Fantasy Aquarium

Let’s start with something cozy. Fantasy Aquarium offers card-pack opening, toy capsules, and other charming activities to help you build your own fantasy fish box. Together with a cute Kanban girl, you care for baby creatures in beautifully crafted aquariums, you can trade them for gold or keep them for regular fixed payouts. The goal is to immerse yourself in relaxing music and calming gameplay while building your aquarium kingdom from scratch.

Astra Noctis

Astra Noctis blends early soulslike strategic combat, metroidvania-style exploration, and a modern 2.5D side-scrolling world. You play as “Exile,” one of 12 beings created by the Lord of Time, KAI, tasked with protecting the Goddess QUOD. But as KAI’s orders evolve into an attempt to imprison QUOD, and you refuse, you’re executed for treason. Your vow to protect QUOD later brings you back to life. If the engaging story and genre fusion aren’t convincing enough, the demo currently sits at 100% positive reviews on Steam.

Wild Rumble

Football fans, this one’s for you. But what if football wasn’t a simulation or management game? Welcome to Wild Rumble, a 3v3 roguelike football title where you build your team while scoring goals across hazardous arenas. To defeat the evil Football King and lead your squad to victory, you’ll choose abilities that fit your playstyle and upgrade teammates to maximize their potential. Play with up to 3 friends via Steam Remote Play or up to 6 locally.

Journey to Earth

Imagine this: you’re a seasoned astronaut participating in a powerful space program. However, after a malfunction, you’re stranded in deep space near Pluto. Your mission is to make it back to Earth, overcoming challenges, managing limited resources, using tools wisely, and relying on intelligence to find your path. Each planet offers distinct adventures and creatures, and every decision affects your odds of survival. Will you make it home, or be lost forever in space? Discover the answer in Journey to Earth, sci-fi action-adventure.

Gnomdom

Next on the list is Gnomdom, a point-and-click puzzle game filled with tiny gnomes who need your help getting home. Dive into a hand-drawn world where art meets gameplay in a hypnotic style. This debut project by a two-person team offers charming illustrations, relaxing levels, natural environments, and atmospheric sounds, a wholesome gnome-focused adventure.

Yellow House

For the fearless, we recommend Yellow House, a nonlinear horror visual novel that plunges you into a distorted mind surrounded by cruelty and lies. Set in a town surrounded by dense northern forests, it quickly becomes clear that you can trust no one, perhaps not even yourself. The protagonist returns to their hometown but begins to see unsettling things in the twilight of this half-forgotten place. All roads seem to lead to the iconic Yellow House, threatening to trap anyone who crosses its threshold.

Content warning: The game includes violence, gore, mature themes, mentions of suicide and self-harm, alcohol use, and partial nudity.

Ballionaire

Yes, you read that right — Ballionaire is a fast-paced pachinko roguelike where you drop a ball, hit triggers, and earn in-game money. Build the perfect pachinko board and activate wild combos, choosing new triggers each round to increase chaos and profits. Survive by paying tribute to three Old Men who challenge you by altering the game in devious ways. You can even create your own triggers using Ballionaire’s Lua-based custom API.

Deathless Death

“Bless me, Father, for I have sinned.” You’ll hear these words in Deathless Death, a narrative puzzle game with psychological thriller elements. You play as a priest entering a world filled with thoughts and illusions. By listening to the confessions of four sinners, you’ll uncover secrets of their pasts and unravel their intertwined fates involving a mysterious woman. Soothe their restless souls, hear the turmoil in their hearts, and extinguish the flames of their desires. Will you redeem them, or condemn them?

Windblown

You won’t have to wait long for this one: Windblown launches on October 24. This fast-paced action roguelite for 1–3 players comes from the creators of Dead Cells. You lived peacefully in Ark, a floating village orbiting the massive, deadly Vortex. But your island is now under attack… and it’s your turn to save your people. Dash across ever-changing islands, fight relentless enemies, and face towering bosses eager to tear you apart. The world of Windblown awaits, leap into a vibrant sky adventure.

Ari Buktu and the Anytime Elevator

Last but not least from Steam Next Fest is Ari Buktu and the Anytime Elevator. Created by a former Disney attractions designer, this single-player adventure follows Ari, a student taken on a journey through history by his eccentric professor during a quest for lost treasure. Enjoy uplifting music, quirky outsider characters, and cinematic 2.5D platforming puzzles as you unravel the secrets of the magical Tiara Nefertari.