The latest edition of Steam’s Next Fest, a regular event that gives players access to hundreds of free demos, is running from now until March 2. Being able to sample such a large range of games is both exciting, and a little intimidating, given how easy it is to accidentally waste time sorting through the seemingly endless list.
To solve this problem, we’ve piled together five games that stand out from the crowd, either for their innovative gameplay, amazing co-op potential, eye-catching art, or some combo of all three. From sea-faring pirate RPG adventures to turn-based combat to battle the forces of an evil fast food empire, these indie games have a little something for everyone.
Table of contents
Windrose
Anyone looking to satiate their hunger for more pirate-based gameplay (after some past disappointments), look no further than Windrose. This survival adventure game brings players to an alternate Age of Piracy, only bigger and better, with ongoing rivalries between great empires and loose coalitions of pirates. Moving between land and sea, Windrose allows players to engage in combat everywhere while collecting resources to upgrade their very own settlement.
The best part of Windrose is that it’s co-op, which means a group of up to four players can join together to embark on a swashbuckling adventure and conquer the seas.
Voodoo Fishin’
The next entry into the newly established “friend slop” genre, Voodoo Fishin’ drops players into an atmospheric swamp full of legendary catches. The game is online co-op up to four players, and it comes with proximity voice chat, which already sounds like the perfect set up for a good time with friends.
What sets Voodoo Fishin’ apart from other fishing simulators is its swampy setting, where the fish get stranger and some things may start to bite back the further places venture in. With cute character customization and a clear goal, Voodoo Fishin’ is good, simple co-op fun.
John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando
While not truly an indie title in the traditional sense (the game was developed by Saber Interactive), John Carpenter’s Toxic Commando deserves a shout out during February’s Next Fest.
A co-op zombie shooter that harkens back the fun of Left 4 Dead with the overwhelming hordes from World War Z, Toxic Commando is a crowd pleaser game for any friend group. John Carpenter, the legendary director, helped write the story and score which should be a huge selling point for anyone familiar with his work (The Thing, Christine, and Halloween). Toxic Commando comes out shortly after Next Fest ends, so this is a great opportunity to sample the game and get your crew hooked while the demo is available.
Blast Cats
Perfectly described by its own developers on Steam as “a love letter to classic 3D platformers”, Blast Cats looks like it was taken straight out of the PS1 era. Play as a spunky pink cat, throwing bombs and smashing enemies with a hammer, all while exploring levels that feel handcrafted to be as beautifully retro as possible.
From the soundtrack to the low-poly look of the game, Blast Cats is worth checking out for anyone that yearns for the days of Crash Bandicoot and Spyro the Dragon.
Dosa Divas
Save the world from a tyrannical fast food empire (which just so happens to be run by your sister) through the power of cooking. Two sisters and their spirit-mech companion must journey across a series of communities to dish out homemade meals to hungry people. Through real-time turn-based combat, players can battle the forces of overly processed food and bring flavor back to the world.
The unique, food-based story and combat of Dosa Divas helps it stand out from the crowd, which makes it well worth taste-testing during the Next Fest.
