As usual, this year’s Steam Next Fest has an incredible library of games with demos available to try for free. It’s hard to know what’s worth playing when you’re just scrolling down the list. Luckily, I’ve played a bunch and have narrowed down a list of the best Steam Next Fest demos you need to play before it’s too late. And if you are reading this after this Next Fest, you should at least wishlist these games.
Best demos from Steam Next Fest June 2026
Sovereign Tower
Imagine a game like Dispatch, but instead of sending superheroes, you’re sending knights of the Round Table to clean up the messes of the kingdom. In this visual novel medieval RPG, you play as a Sovereign of a magical tower who must recruit a unique crew of knights and assign them quests.
Your choices truly matter in Sovereign Tower, and they can either mean success or disaster for your kingdom. This was the first demo I played, and it was my favorite demo so far. The smart and witty dialogue, coupled with the quest management—and dare I mention the possibility of romance—was so impressive in the demo that it made this game a day one purchase for me.
Scarlet Deer Inn
Scarlet Deer Inn melds a story-based platformer, a dark medieval folk tale, and embroidered art all into one game. You play as a mother and tavern owner who lives a pretty ordinary life before she quickly stumbles into a world of dark secrets hidden within her village.
The most impressive aspect of Scarlet Deer Inn is the hand-embroidered characters. This game is crafted by a husband-and-wife duo from the Czech Republic, and you can tell just how much care was put into the demo—and hopefully the rest of the game.
Security 51
Anyone who is a fan of games like Papers, Please has to try out Security 51. You play as a security officer within Area 51 and have to decide who enters and who shouldn’t leave. Analyze documents, check for abnormalities with X-rays and cameras, and quarantine anyone suspicious.
Each level adds something new to the table, and you constantly have to keep track of new rules. You can already get a lot of fun out of the demo itself, which makes waiting for the full release even harder.
Ambroise Niflette & the Gleaned Bell
The most adorable detective game has a demo out, and you should check it out if you love games like Ace Attorney or Duck Detective. Ambroise Niflette & the Gleaned Bell is a stop-motion inspired mystery game where you play as a detective in a miniature-style village to investigate a missing bell.
Take notes while speaking to villagers, cross-examine their stories, and gather evidence to track down the thief and the missing bell. I was so enraptured by this game’s toy-like art style that I had to try it, and it’s now at the top of my list of most anticipated games.
Aside from these standout games, we also have a list of the best chill simulator games at this Steam Next Fest you can try out.
