10 Can’t Miss Steam Next Fest Games You Can Try Right Now

Steam Next Fest has officially launched, celebrating hundreds of upcoming titles on the PC gaming platform. The event, which lasts from June 15 through 10 a.m. PDT on June 22, shines a spotlight on some of the most exciting games coming to the digital storefront. From indie debuts to large-scale projects, there’s sure to be something for everyone in this week-long celebration.

Many of the games highlighted during the event have playable demos, so you can try them out ahead of their launch. The only problem is that there are so many games on display that picking which ones to check out can be a daunting prospect. If you’re overwhelmed and spoiled for choice, check out 10 of the most exciting and interesting upcoming releases of the June 2026 Steam Next Fest.

Wilderings: The Lost Spring

Wilderings: The Lost Spring is a game about hope and restoration from Herobeat Studios, the devs behind Endling. The game revolves around exploring the open world, and collecting the creatures that inhabit it.

Work together with the critters you befriend to heal the broken world, expand your base, gather resources, and battle enemies. Wilderings combines elements from Roguelites and Metroidvanias to bring fun and challenge to every run.

As you progress, you’ll uncover fun new ways to explore the world. Grapple, wall-run, and glide your way from one biome to the next, uncovering more about the world and discovering more friends to collect.

Desolus

Travel through time and space in Desolus, a game by solo developer Mark J. Mayers. Explore a trippy world that’s slowly falling apart around you, solving M. C. Escher-like puzzles along the way.

Desolus asks players to navigate through portals and travel through time. Restore Gothic structures in a city by pulling in different parts of them from different timelines in this beautiful game.

Don’t Fret

Mascot horror has gotten a little stale recently, but Don’t Fret by Scary Kid Studios brings a fresh new twist to the genre. In this horror title, you play as Fret, a sentient guitar stuck inside an abandoned music school.

You’re not alone: as you traverse through the dark hallways, you’ll be chased by dark and twisted enemies. Solve music-themed puzzles, use sound to distract enemies, and find clues about how you ended up in this musical predicament in the first place.

IRON NEST: Heavy Turret Simulator

War games have made it very easy to point and shoot at your enemies from heavy weaponry. Too easy, according to IRON NEST: Heavy Turret Simulator. This war game by Nick Nieuwoudt and Dominik Latos plays out from the control room of said heavy weaponry.

Your task is to receive and carry out orders from High Command. To do so, you’ll need to manipulate levers, wheels, and buttons to maneuver artillery into position and turn the tides of war. Of course, it’s just you in this control center, and it’s completely up to you whether you follow your orders or go off the rails.

Valor Mortis

Return from the dead and battle for Europe and the world in the upcoming Soulslike title, Valor Mortis. You awaken as a former soldier in Napoleon’s army and find the battlefield overtaken by horrific monsters as a plague rolls through war-torn Europe.

Valor Mortis is being developed by One More Level, who also created Ghostrunner. Expect sword-wielding, gun-slinging action against grotesque enemies. Uncover the secret behind the plague that’s taken over Europe and find a way to stop its spread—or face the worldwide consequences.

Over The Hill

Over the Hill by Funselektor Labs and Strelka Games takes us back to a simpler time, and reminds us that sometimes, it’s all about the journey. Drive vehicles from the 60s to the 80s through beautiful landscapes, off-roading and camping out in the grassy hills of real-world locations.

Go solo or make it a group road trip with up to three friends. Along the way, you can discover new locations through portals, gather materials from meteorites, and deal with real weather and driving conditions. But through it all, remain calm and enjoy the cozy world of nature surrounding you.

Roguecraft DX

Step into a Lovecraftian world in Roguecraft DX, where you’ll encounter everything from “shadowy abominations to the unnervingly aggressive chicken.” Developed by Badger Punch Games, this is a recreation of the 2024 Amiga title, and a love letter to classic isometric exploration games.

Dive into procedurally generated dungeons that transform into a new challenge every time. Choose from one of three playable characters, each with their own special skills and abilities that change the way you approach every run.

Runs are designed to last between 30 and 40 minutes, making them perfect for bite-sized gaming sessions. Uncover the legend behind the ever-shifting dungeons and seek the riches hidden in their depths… if you can stay alive long enough.

Echoes of Aincrad

Echoes of Aincrad is a new JRPG from Game Studio Inc. and Bandai Namco, that’s launching on July 9 Create your hero and join a colorful cast of characters on their quest into the floating castle of Aincard.

The title features real-time battles through a varied collection of landscapes, from lush meadows to fantasy cities. Forge the perfect hero for you and find the right combination of equipment and skills to aid you in your battles.

As you travel deeper into the lands, you’ll uncover more dangers and lore. But you won’t be alone: you’re joined by companions who will become stronger as your bond with each character grows. Backed by Bandai Namco, this RPG is one to keep an eye out for—and like the other games in this list, you can try it ahead of launch with the free demo.

Onimusha: Way Of The Sword

It’s a good time for Soulslike fans, as Capcom’s classic samurai series Onimusha returns after about two decades without a new mainline game. Onimusha: Way of the Sword places players in epic samurai sword battles through a twisted version of Edo-era Kyoto.

Follow the legendary samurai Miyamoto Musashi as he fights through a fantasy version of the historic city. Wield the powerful Oni Gauntlet on your quest to defeat the evil that has befallen the land, and discover the secrets behind your own past.

This title takes the game series in an exciting new direction while remaining true to the Onimusha franchise. The game stars beloved samurai movie star Toshiro Mifune as he travels around the old city, slaying monsters and collecting their souls to power up.

Mistfall Hunter

Mistfall Hunter is what happens when the extraction shooter is sent back in time into a Dark Fantasy world. This Soulslike extraction game is Bellring Games’ debut title, and it’s an ambitious one.

The game looks like it combines the gameplay and atmosphere of Elden Ring with the satisfying game loop of scavenging, fighting, and extracting. Enter a PvPvE world that’s consumed by a devastating mist, and harvest the goods within as you fight for your life.

Like Elden Ring Nightreign, you can either dive in solo or with a three-person group. Work together to avoid rival hunters and overcome the obstacles along your way in one of the most popular titles at the June 2026 Steam Next Fest.

Brand

Valve

Original Release Date

September 12, 2003