The first 2023 Steam Next Fest has concluded. Now that the dust has cleared, I've gathered my opinions on some of the greatest demos I saw at Steam Next Fest 2023. Out of the sixteen fresh demos that I downloaded at first, only twelve made the cut. These 12 options are all rather intriguing on their own, and there is no ranking system in place. However, as the great majority are categorized as sports titles, simulators, and racers, there is considerable overlap.
The top demos we tried at Steam Next Fest 2023
Ball(room) blitz Baldy BounceTaking control of a sphere is a common feature in an intriguing subgenre of "sports" games. These names with a ball motif are surprisingly common, whether that's a real ball or a marble (typically). However, Baldy Bounce aims to soar further by using a more inventive idea that combines elements of a 3D platformer-adventure game with a ball-puzzler.The absurd plot of Baldy Bounce sees you controlling a soccer ball after aliens invade Earth, zapping a population of people, and changing them all into different balls. You now have to go off on a journey that will take you through a variety of locales as you roll, bounce, and kick.Captured using AnyBet365The demo's single city level served as a decent preview of what the entire game has to offer. You are introduced to your ball's many skills right away, such as double leaping, forward sprinting, brief hovers, and even the capacity to instantly halt in the air and descend. All of these are in addition to the fundamental traversal mechanism of being able to "kick" the ball by directing its height and direction.The secret to navigating the terrain and conquering the many obstacles strewn across each level is to chain these talents together. In the demo level, for example, there were basketball games, rolling around checkpoint courses, breaking boxes, and landing in changing target zones. Additionally, there are several chests strewn around that hide surprises and stuff for customization.Baldy Bounce is a little independent film that has a fun and bold concept. Aside from some minor kinks in the presentation, this is a strong 3D platformer that really sticks out.Now available are Baldy and Bounce.
Rolling rhythm and rock —
In keeping with the pure ball-based game idea, one of the finest Steam Next Fest 2023 demos I've ever played is the insane rhythm game BandRoll. You have to maintain momentum by changing to a new line as soon as the previous one finishes so that your ball continues to move around the track automatically.You have to synchronize your switches with the rhythm since everything here is done to the pace of the music.Captured using AnyBet365A further tactic to maintain rhythm is to transfer lanes right before they finish, providing you with a visual and auditory cue. However, in BandRoll, time is crucial, and you will have to redo the whole song if you miss even one beat. Still, the rhythms are very hot. The bright, eye-catching graphics provide a delightful touch to the whole thing.The anticipated release year for BandRoll is 2023.Head vacant, simply slothDriftwood — While skateboarding games are nothing new, controlling a really cool sloth as he skillfully rides a longboard along a twisting route is a very unique idea. Driftwood is just that, delivering a lo-fi feel with its lovely style that combines vibrant images with dark sounds. You'll get points by kicking up leaves, gliding around bends, cutting close to passing autos, and getting some air.Captured using AnyBet365Driftwood is a game that is perfect for unwinding and having fun, as it provides a smooth and flowing experience. It's not a high-octane trick showcase like Tony Hawk's Pro Skater.The fact that it includes skating at all is about the only real resemblance to the majority of other skate games. Apart from that, it is by itself a distinctive, laid-back experience that is well worth seeing.2023 is when Driftwood is anticipated to be released.
Get moving! Slaloms, sunny side up
Race to the TropicsThe idea of an egg race is probably known to you: run while holding an egg in a spoon and don't let it drop until you cross the finish line. Eggcelerate! This concept is taken to a whole new level in Race to the Tropics, where your job is to move an egg that is rolling about in a basket that is attached to a motorcycle.There are a lot of ways you can (and will) launch your egg into the air using the bike's speed, the terrain's roughness, and even how you turn. The object of this game is to become an expert at maintaining your speed without letting your egg launch into space.Image sourced from TyreBytes LLCEvery course has different kinds of obstacles, such sharp turns, confined spaces, and even large leaps, all designed to make you drop the egg. The time to beat is shown by the ticking clock while all of this is happening.There's at least a lot of sweetness in the presentation area to help soothe the inevitable aggravation of constantly losing your egg, thanks to its low-poly graphic style and wacky visuals. Despite how difficult this tiny racer is, I still had a great time playing with it.\i>Eggcelerate! The publication of Race to the Tropics\i> is scheduled for 2023.World Tour of Formula Retro Racing — Virtua racing craziness
With its super low-poly graphics and straightforward course design, Formula Retro Racing - World Tour is a throwback to the legendary era of early 3D racers, such as Sega's Virtua Racing. In terms of racing games, it's among the greatest Steam Next Fest 2023 demos I've ever played. Even with its simplicity, the game has an arcade feel to it, down to the menu clocks and simple vehicle customization.There are two different kinds of racing vehicles available: classic race cars and open-wheel racers. Though it's intentional, the latter are far more slick and prone to drifting. Therefore, the experience you get on the track will vary greatly depending on the kind of vehicle you drive.Whatever the case, the sensation of speed is evident. You can only attempt to outpace the opponent with your speed since there are no power-ups available. Well, that and, as I discovered almost by accident, breaking their wheels off.Captured using AnyBet365As long as you're not smashing into walls, you actually don't earn that much on the damage meter that is accumulated with each hit to your car. On the other hand, other vehicles seem to be constructed from Lego blocks. A simple touch at the proper angle causes a cartoonish explosion to occur, sending the chassis flying out into the distance and the wheels spinning.Formula Retro Racing - World Tour isn't the smoothest or most sophisticated driving model out there, but it still manages to provide a good impression of how racing games used to be "back in the day." There are a lot of other independent retro racers available, but this is by far the most well-done that I've played so far.Formula Retro Racing - World Tour will be available as an Early Access title starting on March 31.Feels like a vapourwave Octane Remix — With a lot of stylistic cues from retrofuturism and vaporwave, Octane Remix lets you steer your car around a simulated track as you accelerate, decelerate, and weave around a terrifying array of hazards. Your automobile will progressively suffer damage from lasers, chainsaws, slamming pads, homing rockets, and other weapons.The goal of Octane Remix is to advance as far across each section of the level as you can without absorbing all of the damage while attempting to do so. The progression works similarly to older races such as OutRun, in that you have branching paths that lead you to various areas of the map over time.Captured using AnyBet365Even while I believe the idea is fantastic and it does a fantastic job with its overall appearance and sensation of speed, I think the track design is really rudimentary. It feels a touch janky at times since many of the bends and inclines are just not smooth enough. Overly many collisions occur as a consequence of this. Although it doesn't entirely stop the action, this racer would be much more fluid with better courses and some cleanup of the less refined animations and other visual components."Coming Soon" is the TBD release date for Octane Remix.Pan'orama — Picturesque puzzles Pan'orama takes the puzzle match genre and adds a touch of city construction, all while maintaining the look and feel of a digital diorama. As a consequence, you are tasked with expanding your floating island using various landscape tiles in an attempt to keep running out of fresh tiles in this puzzler that has a strong Zen feel to it.You may build buildings that will give you bonus points, but in order for the structure to be created, the relevant tile types must match. To mention a few, tiles might be anything from a field tile to a rock or water tile.Captured using AnyBet365In all honesty, it took me a few minutes to really understand the essence of the game's mechanics, and I still feel like I don't fully understand the scope and depth of its strategy. Once again, however, the goal of this puzzle game is to unwind. One of the greatest demos I played during Steam Next Fest 2023, it is highly recommended due to its stunning graphics and evocative music.Pan'orama will be available on March 14.Trials with rallygators
A physics-based racing that comes to mind is undoubtedly Ubisoft's Trials series.By combining aspects of a 2D platformer with a comparable gameplay style, Rallygator borrows a leaf from its book and creates an intriguing blend.In addition to the many cogs that you keep finding, you'll encounter environmental riddles that often lead to hidden valuables as you navigate the stages in your monster truck, driven by an alligator and his fox companion.Captured using AnyBet365In the game, you may fly, drive, sub, and more. Your monster truck may undergo several instantaneous changes in addition to power-ups that provide temporary powers like torpedo firing or the ability to fly by whirling a helicopter propeller.An intriguing level design results from combining the exploring that is characteristic of 2D platformers with a physics-based racing. Additionally, the gameplay flow of Rallygator seems quite enjoyable. It differs from the two genres it is based on just enough to have a distinct identity, and that makes it even better.In 2023, Rallygator is anticipated to be released."RoboDunk" — "Nothin' but nuts and bolts" Although the basketball sub-genre of video games may be firmly in the hands of the NBA2K series, there was a period when more bizarre, arcade-style basketball games received greater attention.The clearest example of it is RoboDunk, which isn't even intended to demonstrate any kind of basketball realism.These bolts are quite skilled and have a great deal of subtlety. For a super slam dunk, you may do some wild flips and hops, even going so far as to jump into space. To prevent your opponents from scoring, you must outmaneuver them on the floor and seize the ball from them, just like in normal basketball.courtesy of JollyPunch GamesBut with RoboDunk, you get more than just ball-stealing and ball-blocking abilities. You get arms and weapons. You may use a cannon to momentarily paralyze enemy bots in addition to pushing them. You can even wait for a court hazard, such as an explosion, tornado, or even an asteroid, to knock the opponent down long enough for you to sink a bucket with the ball.You can only get the ball to the basket by dunking it, not by awarding points based on where it is shot from. As a result, the number of points is determined by how long you can charge your dunk leap. Compared to a regular basketball game, RoboDunk is undoubtedly more chaotic. However, even in comparison to other arcade-style basketball games such as NBA Playgrounds, this is also what makes it stand out totally.In 2023, RoboDunk is anticipated to be released.Devious climbers — Intriguing creatures
While snowboarding games are nothing new, with its all-animal cast of characters, Slopecrashers is undoubtedly blazing its own trail. Another notable distinction is the use of power-ups and even the capacity to glide in midair after large leaps.You'll do acrobatics, grind rails, and stick landings to maintain speed as you leap down the slopes. Along the race, there are many power-ups in the Mario Kart-style that may either immediately help you by giving you enormous speed boosts or momentarily obstruct your opponents' progress by stunning them.A list of the top Steam Next Fest 2023 demonstrations would be incomplete without a snowboarding penguin. Captured using AnyBet365With regard to more contemporary titles like Steep and Riders Republic, as well as other snowboarding favorites like SSX, all of this places it in a different league.The ability to choose between a "Regular/Racer" or "Trickster" control scheme is one contemporary resemblance. The latter sacrifices assistance in favor of more direct inputs over trickery. Because of this and the several difficulty settings, Slopecrashers offers a fair amount of skill valley for both novice and expert players.It is anticipated that Slopecrashers will be released in 2023.arranged! - Speed run on trash day
Another match-puzzle game, but this one has a different idea as well. Organize!In , you are in charge of a garbage-sorting facility's conveyor belt operations. You have to make sure that the right piece of trash goes in the right bin. There are six distinct bins, which presents a dilemma since it's sometimes unclear where an item fits.Captured using AnyBet365A glass bottle, for instance, belongs in the "Glass" bucket without a doubt. But what about a food container made of Styrofoam? Though "Plastic" is what you may think of, it really goes in the "Mixed" container.You got yourself a difficult puzzler when you add the difficulty of determining the proper locations to the constant increase in the trash's volume and pace. This may potentially be a great spin on a party title, with a big focus on cooperative play. Arrangement! will be released on TBD.Rivershine Ranch — Equine stables and tranquility
I have a lot of Steam Next Fest samples, but this is by far the most dubious one. The Ranch of Rivershine is not the type of game I would normally play since there are an alarmingly large number of (often poor) life sims with an equestrian theme. Nevertheless, while being rather basic in terms of content, the "cute" graphics and straightforward gameplay of this small life sim do at least provide another choice for a cosy, soothing game that you could like.Its highly stylized graphics are romanticist of games from the mid-2000s, which gave the whole thing a nostalgic feel, at least to me. You assume control of a fresh group of residents who have just relocated into the sleepy community of Rivershine.Captured using AnyBet365Here, you'll raise your preferred horse, train them, and compete in cross-country events while living on your own ranch. Your horse's abilities become better the more you ride it. Your horse has to be fed, groomed, and given care in order for it to be happy, healthy, and robust.As the tale goes on, you'll come across a cast of individuals to engage with, complete tasks from, and purchase products from. Once again, this is not a deep, really captivating life/farm sim. Furthermore, it doesn't appear to be making an effort to be. However, it's a fitting title for a modest little book about a modest little peasant who rides a horse.The anticipated release year for The Ranch of Rivershine is 2023.The event is still offering a ton of amazing new demos.
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