We Tested Over 30 Demos During the Steam Deck Builders Fest Event, These Caught Our Attention

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We tried out over 30 demo versions during the Steam Deck Builders Fest event, which ended this Monday, and we must admit that there were many surprising titles, most of which were very high quality. For this reason, we bring you ten selected titles that intensely interested us, which only proves that indie games can certainly have interesting concepts.

Preserve

First on our list is a unique game with puzzle elements where we will use various cards to create biome habitats with different natural environments, from alpine forests and arid deserts to stunning Caribbean reefs, each with its own animals, plants, and, of course, challenges. The goal is to encourage and maintain a successful and diverse biome, where every component coexists in symbiotic harmony.

In Preserve, you can expand the map not only horizontally but also layer natural habitats vertically, creating an interconnected environmental network. In addition to standard modes like Harmony and Puzzle gameplay, the Creative mode gives you the ability to build a world without any restrictions, while the Photo mode allows you to capture and share your creations at the end of each session.

Although this title still does not have a concrete release date, publisher Grindstone announced that it will be available for PC this summer.

Northwind

Northwind combines roguelite and deckbuilding elements, where you will hunt monsters, gather resources, and explore new cards in the town. The Early Access version, which will be available this year, will feature two mercenaries playable across three unique landscapes, over 150 cards, and more than 50 different monster types.

One of the specific features of this game is the ability to melt down cards, which allows you to discover different new combinations, enhance existing cards, duplicate them, and so on. Throughout your adventure, you will unlock new town services and discover card blueprints to progress further. You will also encounter new monsters and face new challenges to increase your level.

On the other hand, the full version will bring three new mercenaries, a total of eight unique landscapes, around 250+ cards, and 60+ monster types. If you didn’t manage to play the demo version of this game, you can still do so on Steam.

Knights in Tight Spaces

This is a tactical deck-building game set in the same universe as Fights in Tight Spaces, the successful game from the Ground Shatter studio. It is a standalone title that takes us back to medieval times, delivering a new and dynamic experience of the beloved gameplay while retaining the same stylish look and exciting combat animated sequences.

Victory in this game isn’t just a matter of who has the best cards, but also of learning how to control the environment. You will need to carefully position your characters around enemies and obstacles, ensuring you maintain your tactical advantage. Recruit new characters and assemble your company as you travel and discover new areas on a procedural map, uncovering the mystery of the secret society that hired you.

Additionally, explore the possibilities of teaming up various characters and experimenting with different card combinations. With 300 cards, different classes and equipment, and an upgrade system, Knights in Tight Spaces provides countless hours of deck-building fun, whether you are a seasoned tactician or new to the genre.

Knights in Tight Spaces does not have a concrete release date but will be available for PC via Steam.

Menace from the Deep

Menace from the Deep is an intriguing roguelike and deckbuilding game set in a dark world, inspired by Howard Lovecraft and the Cthulhu Mythos. Taking place in the 1920s USA, the story revolves around a secret occult society. In it, you will collect and upgrade various cards while fighting various enemies and monsters with the help of numerous allies.

The game features three types of inventory, from relics and equipment to consumables. The visual style of the game is striking, and the mechanics appear well-thought-out and engaging. The combination of roguelite elements with card-based strategy adds a layer of depth that feels both challenging and rewarding.

Menace from the Deep will be available for PC via Steam sometime this year.

Wild Seasons

Wild Seasons is a blend of card gameplay and gardening where you cultivate different plants and use them to fight various enemies. Throughout the game, you will need to upgrade your cards, and it’s important to carefully tend to your plants, watering them regularly and removing the ones you don’t need.

Each card adds power to your constellation. Cards you play when high-power stars are lit have a double effect. If you plan wisely, you can turn any battle around. Depending on how you care for your plants, they can grow into different variants. Discover what your plants can become and unlock their full potential.

Wild Seasons will be available soon on PC via Steam.

Tendryll

The game that pleasantly surprised me is Tendryll, a title that combines grid-based gameplay and turn-based combat with deck-building elements. Each hero possesses their own card deck, and every turn grants a guaranteed Movement Card, ensuring your heroes are always ready for a fight.

In addition to movement cards, heroes also possess unique attacks and skills that give them powerful ways to manipulate their own position and the position of others on the battlefield. You’ll be able to knock enemies backward against walls, teleport to random locations to gain a combat advantage, or throw allies and enemies across the room, dealing heavy damage to the area where they land.

The Early Access version will feature over 170 cards, 115 relics, three or more heroes, five bosses, 35 unique encounters, and 20 combat modifiers, and players will be able to enjoy it for one year. The full version will bring a lot of additional and improved content, including new bosses, cards, relics, and new characters with their unique archetypes, plus over 50 new cards.

Tendryll launches on April 30th for PC via Steam.

Novus Orbis

Novus Orbis is a roguelike game based on combining deck-building through a space-time loop: you collect cards, receive blessings, add pets, and enhance your abilities. It’s essential that you link cards in the correct sequence for maximum power. Your goal is to explore, upgrade your character, and become stronger to restore order to your land.

Every time you play a card or end your turn, enemies will approach and attack you. They can also attack during your turn. You can choose from three classes with entirely different card sets and mechanics. Each class has over 100 cards, and cards are divided into six types: Attack, Skill, Equipment, Item, Special, and Trouble.

“Two years ago, I decided to embark on a journey to see if I could make this game all by myself. Novus Orbis has a similar playstyle to Slay the Spire, inspired by the challenge and secrets of The Binding of Isaac,” said developer Seizo Games.

Escaping Atlantis

Escaping Atlantis is a unique card battler game where you must escape the sinking island of Atlantis while monsters from the deep stand in your way. To do this, you will need to recruit a team of eccentric Atlanteans, uncover their stories, and lead them in tactical turn-based battles—all while riding a turtle.

You must protect your turtle, as its ability to manipulate time is your only chance for survival. Even with its powers, you’ll need to train your team and seek powerful artifacts to be able to defeat the vast number of enemies on this hostile island.

You may not defeat every enemy or be able to help all your friends on the first try, so you need to get to know your team, and you’ll soon figure out how to play your cards correctly. Interestingly, you can get to know the characters better through various events, earn their friendship through conversations, and unlock new abilities.

Escaping Atlantis does not have a concrete release date but will be available for PC via Steam.

Harvest Hunt

In the game, players will use stealth elements while sneaking through the cornfields of Luna Nova, meeting a colorful cast of characters—each with their own stories and personalities, who together uncover the truth about the village’s curse through fragments of its past.

You will also need to survive the night’s horrors, sacrificing health for useful tools, facing a hostile environment, and gathering vital resources for your village, all while trying to fight a monster much stronger than you are. As a roguelike title, Harvest Hunt will offer 10-15 minute gameplay sessions tailored to the player’s own card deck.

Harvest Hunt is launching this May and you can still play its demo version on Steam.

Crawlyard

Crawlyard is a hybrid roguelite deckbuilder and action RPG that allows you to blend long-term strategic decisions with real-time combat. Build your Dolls, upgrade your skills, choose your allies, and uncover the secrets of the house by exploring the deepest layers of its background.

Card synergy is key; learn how active abilities, passive effects, and special mechanics interact with each other. Your Dolls can use different ability cards, further enhanced by a perk system. The game also comes with three core playable archetypes—the Knight, Thief, and Mage—which can be further customized. Each time you defeat bosses, you can upgrade your characters.

During your journey, you will encounter special events and make choices that can influence the outcome, bringing unexpected rewards or increasing the difficulty. Get to know other characters and encourage them to open up to you, learn about their traumas and flaws, and influence their future—perhaps even in a romantic way.

Crawlyard is coming out very soon for PC via Steam.