Steam Next Fest (formerly Steam Game Festival), the triannual celebration of games, is having its first outing of 2025 as the time of writing this. Steam Next Fest February 2025 is as big as ever, featuring over 2000 games taking part. It also means that visibility will be an issue more than ever, with hundreds of promising demos getting lost in the mix. But fret not. As usual, the Gameffine crew is here to help the cream rise by suggesting our staff’s favorite demos of the season! Boot up your PC and log in to Steam, and let there be demos!
Lushfoil Photography Sim: A Photographer’s Dream (Cheez)
If you’ve ever been drawn to the idea of photography but don’t want to shell out thousands for gear, or if you just love getting lost in beautiful landscapes. Lushfoil Photography Sim is the kind of game that might be exactly what you’re looking for. Developed by Matt Newell and published by Annapurna Interactive, this isn’t just a game where you take pictures, it’s a full-on photography simulator that puts you in some of the most breathtakingly realistic locations I’ve ever seen in a game.
The environments, from the rugged cliffs of Castle Rock Beach in Australia to the peaceful temples of Yamadera in Japan, feel alive. Lighting, weather and tiny details like moving leaves and shifting clouds all contribute to a sense of immersion that makes you forget you’re sitting at a desk. There’s no UI cluttering the screen just you, your camera, and the world around you. What really makes Lushfoil Photography Sim stand out, though, is its deep camera system. If not, it’s a great introduction to real-world photography concepts. You can experiment with different settings, play around with depth of field, and see firsthand how small adjustments completely change a shot. It’s one of the most satisfying photography systems I’ve used in a game.
Even though this is just a demo, it already feels incredibly polished and immersive. Whether you’re a photography enthusiast or just someone who loves beautiful, open-ended exploration, Lushfoil Photography Sim is shaping up to be something special. If you haven’t tried the demo yet, go download it, you won’t regret it
Wheel World: A Cycling Adventure with Real Personality (Cheez)
I went into Wheel World not really knowing what to expect. Cycling games are pretty rare, and when they do pop up, they usually fall into one of two camps, either ultra-realistic sims or casual arcade style racers. But this game? It’s something different. Developed by Messhof and published by Annapurna Interactive, Wheel World feels like an open world love letter to biking culture, blending exploration, racing and customization into a game that’s both relaxing and surprisingly deep.
From the moment you hop on your bike, you can tell this game is made for people who love cycling. The world isn’t just a backdrop, it’s built around biking, with paths winding through bustling cities, quiet countryside roads, and rugged off-road trails. The demo gives you a small slice of what’s to come, letting you explore freely, take part in races, and customize your ride. The bike physics feel great, too. You can feel the difference between pedaling on smooth pavement versus struggling up a dirt incline. There’s a real sense of momentum, coasting downhill feels fast and exhilarating, while climbing takes effort. It strikes a nice balance between realism and accessibility, it’s not a hardcore sim but it’s not overly arcadey either.
After playing the Wheel World demo, I’m excited to see more. The mix of open-world biking, deep customization and competitive racing gives it a ton of potential. If the full game expands on what’s here with more locations, bigger races, and deeper progression, this could be something really special. Whether you’re a cycling fan or just looking for a fresh, unique game, Wheel World is definitely worth keeping on your radar.
Nerd Simulator: Average Gameffine Staff (Rishikesh)
Nerd Simulator is a game with the potential to be well received by its target audience—players who enjoy simple puzzle-solving with a click-and-progress element. The demo is now available for free, allowing everyone to try it out.
In the game, we step into the life of Mervin, a 40-year-old, obese nerd who still lives with his mother in a household largely run by her. As the player, we take on the role of Mervin as he ventures out in search of jobs. The demo is primarily set in Mervin’s room, where we are in constant contact with ZB, a hacker who provides Mervin with “unconventional” jobs. Our task is to solve puzzles as Mervin to complete these assignments.
Developer Radiakate has done a commendable job of bringing to life the rare and exaggerated specimen that is Mervin, making for a truly entertaining experience. An enjoyable demo—definitely worth checking out!
FUMES: Burn Rubber (Jay)
FUMES’ Steam page lists the game as “Straight-forward, fast paced, intense” car-combat game and that’s just what it is. Just after booting it up, FUMES puts you in a Mad Max-inspired wasteland without any context. You are a car and you are being chased by other cars. You kill cars or cars kill you. It’s as simple as that. However, after destroying several grunts and a mini-boss, a behemoth of a vehicle roaming the wasteland. You can methodically make your way up the towering truck and try to dismantle it or die trying. Whatever you end up doing, the real game starts then. Like I said, the gameplay loop solely revolves around roaming the wasteland, blowing up cars, collecting scrap, upgrading your car, rinse and repeat. Some players may find this loop shallow and repetitive, but for someone like me who dislikes the complexities often associated with such games, FUMES is a breath of fresh air. Wishlisted and waiting!
Gothic 1 Remake – Nyras Prologue: Making Me a Man Once Again (Jay)
Me and Piranha Bytes’ debut masterpiece Gothic go way back. Alongside Fallout 2, Planescape: Torment and Hitman 2, it’s the game that made me into a man while I was still enjoying the privileges of childhood during the early years of the millennium. While Fallout 2 taught me the joy of prank calls and PS:T made me question the existence of man, Gothic taught me the invaluable lesson that the world is a fucked up place filled with douchebags and don’t expect everything to be handed out to you.
While Piranha Bytes suffered an untimely death last year, Spanish studio Alkimia Interactive and THQ Nordic are trying to keep their spirit alive through the remake of Gothic 1. While their Playable Teaser was shunned by fans, the newest demo, titled Nyras Prologue is far, far better. Featuring a standalone mini-story separate from the main game and a new character, the demo successfully introduces the core pillars and gameplay mechanics of the upcoming remake. Featuring improved visuals, vastly superior combat and some decent voice acting, Nyras Prologue actually gave me hope for the remake. Sure, it’s rough around the edges but a part of what made the original so great was its Eurojank nature. It’s still very early to predict if the remake will live up to the legacy of the original but this demo provides a solid foundation, if nothing else.
Twisted Tower (Sailesh)
3D Realms did not have a good last couple of years. Aside from CULTIC and Ion Fury: Aftershock, their recently published products like Phantom Fury, Kingpin: Reloaded, GRAVEN and WRATH, launched to lukewarm to negative reception from fans and critics. This is why they need every win they can get. Thankfully, Twisted Tower, their new publishing venture developed by Atmos Games is shaping up to be a real winner.
Heavily inspired by Bioshock, Twisted Tower is a macabre FPS where the recently-dumped on main character goes on a murderous rampage in an abandoned 1950’s resort reminiscent of Disney World. Except that every mascot there wants to kill you. Featuring a unique arsenal the likes of a whack-a mole mallet, rubber-band pistol, dart throwin’ Tommy Gun, fartin’ shotgun, bubblegum spittin’ chain-gun, sniper slingshot, skull-poppin’ magical wand, and more, Twisted Tower is all about the atmosphere and wanton carnage, of course. It also features unique paths per playthrough, making it a replayable experience. “No Gods or Kings, Only Ma…Mascots”
Total Chaos: Humble Beginnings (Subhasish)
What started out as one of the most highly acclaimed mods for DOOM II is getting its own due in the form of Total Chaos. Total Chaos is an upcoming survival horror game set on the eerie and desolate island of Fort Oasis, a once-thriving coal mining community now shrouded in mist and decay. Players take on the role of a wayward Coastguardsman who finds himself washed up on the island’s shores.
The game relies on exploration, resource management, and crafting. Players must scavenge for vital supplies and crafting materials. The crafting system also allows you to build and upgrade weapons using scavenged materials. One of the key features of Total Chaos is how it excels in creating an immersive and oppressive atmosphere. It manages to do so through its cryptic notes, haunting visuals, and unsettling encounters. The Madness system also adds a psychological horror element on top of it, warping the player’s mind and blurring the line between real and unreal.
Total Chaos also features an engaging and fast-paced first-person melee combat system. There are plenty of nightmarish foes, each with their own deadly behaviour and strategy. These abominations are quite observant of player behaviour, mimicking movements and attack patterns, making combat unpredictable and challenging. The game also features a deep inventory system where every item matters, and players must carefully manage their health, fatigue, bleeding wounds, and hunger. Overall, Total Chaos is shaping up to be a gripping and intense survival horror game with a strong emphasis on atmosphere and challenging gameplay. The demo also features a save system which is a nice touch.
House of the Dead 2 Remake: Childhood Memories (Uphar)
The House of the Dead Series has been a pivotal part for many gamers since their childhood. The nostalgic fire was rekindled in 2022 when the remake of the first House of the Dead was released for all major platforms. The news got even better when it was recently announced that the House of the Dead 2 Remake was also on its way.
The House of the Dead Series has been a pivotal part for many gamers since their childhood. The nostalgic fire was rekindled in 2022 when the remake of the first House of the Dead was released for all major platforms. The news got even better when it was recently announced that the House of the Dead 2 Remake was also on its way.
The House of the Dead Series has been a pivotal part for many gamers since their childhood. The nostalgic fire was rekindled in 2022 when the remake of the first House of the Dead was released for all major platforms. The news got even better when it was recently announced that the House of the Dead 2 Remake was also on its way.
This edition of Steam Next Fest was so packed with games that it was literally too hard to include all of our favorites and we feel bad about it. Therefore, here are some honorable mentions courtesy of Sushir, Arka and Ayush!
