The 50 most played demos on Steam: You’re responsible for numbers 1 and 2, admit it!

Medieval times and strategy among the top demos at Steam Next Fest? That’s just crying out for GlobalESportNews!

Yesterday evening saw the end of Steam Next Fest, where you could try out numerous demos of upcoming games for free. Valve has already published an evaluation of which titles were most popular among users.

The resulting Top 50 is based on the number of page views on the store pages during the event and is intended to reflect user interest.

The Top 5 at Steam Next Fest

Let’s take a closer look at the most popular games of the event. But you’re probably responsible for the medieval simulation and tactical strategy game in the top two spots anyway.

1. Half Sword – This is a physics-based combat simulation with historically accurate weapons and armor. In duels and group fights, you face AI opponents with swords, spears, morning stars, and many other weapons. (Click here for Steam page, release planned for 2025)

1. Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era  – The traditional mix of global turn-based strategy, role-playing elements, and tactical battles returns. In single or multiplayer games, you lead one of six different factions to victory. You build cities, recruit units, and add powerful heroes to your armies. (Click here for the Steam page, release planned for 2026)

3. YAPYAP  – In this co-op game, you break into the archmage’s tower with up to six little wizards to wreak havoc and steal stuff. You have to use spells to solve little puzzles and make your way through the tower. The special thing about this game is that you activate the spells with your voice. Once you’ve caused enough chaos, you have to escape from the tower. However, there are all kinds of powerful creatures that want to prevent you from doing so. (Click here for the Steam page, release date not yet known)

3. Final Sentence  – A battle royale for players with fast fingers and good language skills. You type predetermined sentences on a typewriter against a time limit. If you make a mistake, a masked man holds a revolver with only one bullet in the chamber to your head and pulls the trigger. This orthographic Russian roulette can be played in large groups of up to 100 players or in smaller groups of 4 to 8 friends. (Click here for the Steam page, release is still planned for 2025)

3. Reanimal – The new game from the studio behind Little Nightmares 1 and 2 sends you on another horror adventure. In this co-op game for two, you play as siblings trying to find your missing friends, and to do so, you must traverse a dark and sinister world. (Click here for the Steam page, release date not yet known)

By the way: Many of the demos are still available to play for free. Just visit the overview page for the top games at Steam Next Fest and look for the “Install Demo” button. In the box above, you’ll also find a few games that we’ve taken a closer look at and would like to introduce to you. All of them made it into the top 50.

Overview of all games

1. Half Sword
2. Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era
3. YAPYAP
4. Final Sentence
5. Reanimal
6. Everwind
7. The Cube, Save Us
8. Misery
9. Long Drive North: Koop Caravan Simulator
   

10. Car Service Together
11. Roadside Research
12. Crashout Crew
13. Servant of the Lake
14. Tears of Metal
15. Painkiller
16. CarX Drift Racing Online 2
17. Ultimate Sheep Racoon
18. Starsand Island
19. Carnival Hunt
20. Systemic War
21. Godbreakers
22. Eastern Era
23. YunYunSyndrome!? Rhythm Psychosis
24. Road to Vostok
25. iRacing Arcade
26. Marvel Cosmic Invasion
27. Quarantine Zone: The Last Check
28. Master of Command
29. Teamfight Manager 2
30. Cloudheim
31. The Legend of Khiimori
32. Cairn
33. Demeo x Dungeons and Dragons: Battlemarked
34. Menace
35. The Last Caretaker
36. Of Ash and Steel
37. Storebound
38. Hellmart
39. LORT
40. Skate Story
41. ’83
42. SealChain: Call of Blood
43. Desktop Defender
44. Motorslice

Whether you’re looking for survival horror, multiplayer shooters, strategy games, or a new simulator, Steam Next Fest had pretty much everything. Many of the games even have a release date in 2025 or at least in the first few months of next year. Maybe there’s a highlight of the year hiding in the top 50 for you.