A festival of free demos has started in Steam
The most popular platform for gamers traditionally holds the "Next Fest" event, during which the public gets free access to many new releases. This time, the festival will run in Steam until June 22, so everyone has the opportunity to take advantage of the generous offers from publishers and developers. And we will help you navigate by pointing out those projects that are definitely worthy of public attention. And we will focus on online genres.
What to check out during the "Next Fest" festival in Steam?
The development of the online shooter Empulse has already entered the home stretch — its authors invite people to evaluate the free demo. The game is made by studio 1047 Games, known for the multiplayer action game Splitgate. In the new release, two teams of six participants fight each other using elements of acrobatics and a giant robot — it can be captured to turn the tide of the battle. Gamers have long compared this project to Titanfall, and now anyone can try it out.
Another interesting offer will please fans of multiplayer racing. In Toybox Havoc: Arcade Combat Racing, users control toy cars, driving along tracks inside rooms. You can arrange a race on a track made of bookshelves or ride surrounded by kitchen utensils. The main thing is not to crash into an orange or a stool leg. In addition, the cars are equipped with various gadgets, including rockets and mines.
In Mistfall Hunter, you will have to fight according to the rules of extraction shooters: assemble a squad, enter the map, defeat opponents, take the loot and leave the location while the heroes are still intact. It's just that the setting here is fantasy, and instead of assault rifles, characters use spells, swords, axes and bows. Six classes are promised, but they will be allowed to be changed right during a raid in order to choose the fighting style that best suits a particular situation.
And how about a cartoon football with MOBA rules? In the free demo of Field of Heroes, mages, orcs and other fairy-tale characters fight on the same field. By the way, the football here is according to English rules, not American — you need to kick the ball across the field, trying to get it into the opponents' goal. It's just that the teams consist of five people, and the enemies cast spells and shoot, and AI-controlled monsters also appear on the stadium from time to time. In general, there will be no time to get bored.
Those who want to tickle their nerves can download the free demo of The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu — a cooperative horror inspired by the stories of Howard Lovecraft. Here you have to go deep into the jungle of uncharted lands in a group of four. Gamers take on the role of conquistadors armed with muskets, bows and swords, and monsters from another world await the squad in the thickets. Each raid starts on board a galleon, where you sign a contract with the captain, and then set off to fulfill the agreement and search for treasures.
Another interesting offer will please fans of multiplayer racing. In Toybox Havoc: Arcade Combat Racing, users control toy cars, driving along tracks inside rooms. You can arrange a race on a track made of bookshelves or ride surrounded by kitchen utensils. The main thing is not to crash into an orange or a stool leg. In addition, the cars are equipped with various gadgets, including rockets and mines.
In Mistfall Hunter, you will have to fight according to the rules of extraction shooters: assemble a squad, enter the map, defeat opponents, take the loot and leave the location while the heroes are still intact. It's just that the setting here is fantasy, and instead of assault rifles, characters use spells, swords, axes and bows. Six classes are promised, but they will be allowed to be changed right during a raid in order to choose the fighting style that best suits a particular situation.
And how about a cartoon football with MOBA rules? In the free demo of Field of Heroes, mages, orcs and other fairy-tale characters fight on the same field. By the way, the football here is according to English rules, not American — you need to kick the ball across the field, trying to get it into the opponents' goal. It's just that the teams consist of five people, and the enemies cast spells and shoot, and AI-controlled monsters also appear on the stadium from time to time. In general, there will be no time to get bored.
Those who want to tickle their nerves can download the free demo of The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu — a cooperative horror inspired by the stories of Howard Lovecraft. Here you have to go deep into the jungle of uncharted lands in a group of four. Gamers take on the role of conquistadors armed with muskets, bows and swords, and monsters from another world await the squad in the thickets. Each raid starts on board a galleon, where you sign a contract with the captain, and then set off to fulfill the agreement and search for treasures.
17 June 2026