These Are The Games I’m Going To Try During Valve’s Famous October Festival
The Steam Next Fest of October 2024 just kicked off a few hours ago, and it’s one of those events that I both love and hate at the same time. I love it because once you dive into the dedicated store page—which you can find here—you can get lost among the huge number of titles participating in the event. Often, you’ll stumble across that game you’ve been eagerly waiting to try, or you might even discover a brand-new title that’s being announced during the festival.
Now, the reason I hate it is pretty simple: a lot of these demos are time-limited. For me, that means only a few hours to sample a massive list of RPGs and Strategy Games. The deadline for this edition of the festival is October 21, 2024, which is when the event officially wraps up.
Given the limited time and knowing I’m not the only one with a long list of games to check out, I thought it might be useful to share a few suggestions. These are demos that I plan to prioritize and that you might find interesting, too. Luckily, a good number of these demos aren’t exclusive to the festival, so you’ll have more time to try them out even after the festival ends.
Promising Turn-Based RPGs and JRPGs
I have to kick things off by talking about an RPG I’m eagerly waiting for and one I can’t recommend enough: Neon Blood. This is a 2.5D RPG—a style that’s really gaining traction these days—that puts you in the shoes of a detective in a futuristic cyberpunk world. Your mission? Uncover intricate conspiracies in the city of Viridis.
You’ll be exposing these secrets through a deep and complex dialogue system to gather clues and learn every secret the city holds. On top of that, you’ll dive into turn-based combat in classic JRPG fashion, where you can bring various allies you meet along the way. The pixelated graphics are stunning, and the game is set to drop next month on both PC and consoles.
Another title that’s been on my radar is VED. This RPG has been in development for about 12 years, and it’s really turning heads thanks to its unique art style. It’s a story-driven RPG set in a fantasy world full of choices that lead to multiple endings, with a combat system inspired by Slay the Spire—but with a twist: movement plays a critical role in battles. You’ll also explore floating islands in a world beautifully rendered with a distinctive graphical style. VED is set to release in November as well.
Now, if you’re into SRPGs like Fire Emblem, you absolutely have to check out Stratagem Lost. It incorporates all the classic mechanics that define the genre while adding a killer visual style that I’d describe as “Heavy Metal,” matching the soundtrack perfectly. Just a few days ago, the game launched its Kickstarter campaign, and there’s a demo available to try before deciding if you want to back the developer. Speaking of Kickstarter campaigns, there’s also Forge of the Fae.
An indie JRPG that’s in the final days of its very successful crowdfunding campaign. While the campaign is wrapping up, the game already offers a demo where you can explore its world, steeped in Celtic folklore and inspired by 1800s Ireland. You’ll step into the shoes of Fiora, facing classic turn-based combat with a unique system that lets you harness the power of crystals to unlock new skills and spells. What sets this game apart from typical JRPGs is the branching paths that open or close based on the choices you make. Plus, the demo isn’t tied to Steam’s Next Fest, so you can take your time diving into it.
Battle Brothers-Inspired, Revolutionary Strategy Games And Leadership-Based RPG
If you’re into retro aesthetics and games like Battle Brothers, then The Adventurers is a must-try. I take pride in being one of the first to announce this gem. It’s an open-world RPG launching in Early Access this November, but you can already check out a demo that lets you experience the first 14 in-game days of your heroes’ journey.
This is a sandbox-style adventure where you start by creating your characters from scratch, choosing from the three available classes (with more to come in the future). From there, you’re free to explore a vast fantasy world, taking on quests, facing random events, and battling enemies on grid-based maps.
The Adventurers definitely shows a lot of promise, but there’s still a lot of work to be done, especially when it comes to refining the UI. Right now, it feels a bit too bare-bones and simplistic for my taste. That said, it makes sense, given that the game is still in the early stages of development and has a long road ahead. In any case, the demo is available, so you can try it out and form your own opinion.
Another title to try is Bonaparte: A Mechanized Revolution. An upcoming turn-based strategy game set in an alternate steampunk version of the French Revolution. The game allows you to step into the role of Céline or César Bonaparte, fictional relatives of Napoleon. Your mission is to shape the future of France, whether through defending, reforming, or overthrowing the monarchy.
The game features two core elements: political maneuvering and tactical combat. Politically, you’ll navigate complex alliances with historical figures like Robespierre, Lafayette, and royalists, choosing sides and passing laws that affect both the nation and your battlefield strategy. On the battlefield, you’ll command both conventional troops and giant steam-powered mechs called Colossi, making for intense, strategic fights where unit positioning and mech management are key to victory.
Decisions made in the political arena influence the game’s narrative and combat outcomes, giving you control over France’s revolutionary future. The turn-based combat system involves positioning units on hexagonal grids and managing the heat buildup of your Colossi, adding layers of strategy to every encounter. Scheduled for release in Q1 2025, the demo is perfect to jump right away on this promising strategy game.
Speaking of strategy games, there’s Burden of Command, which might not be your typical World War II strategy game. While it’s set during that sad period of history, the game places a much stronger emphasis on its RPG elements. You’re not just commanding troops in tactical battles—you’re responsible for the lives of the soldiers under your command. This adds a deep, emotional layer to the experience, making each decision feel heavy and impactful. It’s a unique approach that blends strategy with the weight of leadership, creating something both profound and touching.
Each character under your command has their own personality, skills, and morale, making the stakes of combat feel personal. The game integrates elements like combat stress, morale, and permadeath, ensuring that every choice carries weight. The tactical gameplay is centered on small-scale, squad-based combat, where managing morale, positioning, and tactics like suppression and flanking are essential to victory. However, the real challenge lies in making difficult decisions that may see some soldiers perish for the sake of the mission, or choosing to retreat to save lives at the cost of success.
CRPGs, Roguelites, and Dungeon Crawlers
Now let’s talk about New Arc Line, an RPG I’ve been following for quite a while, which recently dropped an emotional trailer that gives a glimpse into its world. At first glance, it’s peaceful and welcoming, but beneath the surface lies a dark and ruthless core. The game is set in a fascinating steampunk world, and what really piques my curiosity is its intriguing combat system. There’s no release date yet, so the best thing to do is dive into the demo while we wait for more news.
Shifting away from the more serious tone, let’s jump into something more vibrant: StarVaders. This colorful roguelite deckbuilder draws inspiration from the legendary Space Invaders, but with a modern twist. You’ll command a mech tasked with defending Earth from waves of alien invaders in grid-based battles. The game blends mechanics from popular titles like Slay the Spire and Into the Breach, delivering a fast-paced, strategic experience focused on crafting powerful card combos. It’s a must-try for fans of tactical deckbuilders with a fresh sci-fi spin! One of the standout features is the use of Chrono Tokens, which allow players to rewind turns and correct mistakes, making the game more forgiving without losing its depth. Scheduled for release in Q2 2025, the game’s demo is available for you to try.
A few days ago, I wrote an article about first-person dungeon crawlers—a genre I absolutely love, mentioning Golel and Cyclopean. Both games can be tested during the festival. As for Golel, it’s a fantasy RPG that sticks to the classic conventions of the genre but pushes you to use the environment to your advantage in order to overcome monsters that are often far too powerful to take down directly. The game boasts impressive visuals, and I’ve already had the chance to try the demo, which I found genuinely intriguing.
On the other hand, Cyclopean features a retro graphic style with grid-based exploration and turn-based combat. Get this: cats to rescue! It’s got a unique twist, and it’s definitely worth checking out the demo to see what it has in store.
Keep sticking with dungeon crawlers there’s Dual Eclipse, an RPG that features classic exploration mechanics and turn-based combat with a card system twist. You’ll have three playable classes, plenty of unpredictability thanks to the card mechanics, and lots of treasure to uncover in the dungeons you explore. It’s definitely a title to keep on your radar if you’re into that blend of strategy and dungeon crawling.
Next up is Flint: Treasure of the Oblivion, which was originally slated to release at the end of October, but I recently found out that the release date has been pushed to Q4 2024 on Steam. While there’s a bit of a delay, the demo is already available, giving you a taste of what this pirate-themed RPG has to offer. You’ll step into the shoes of a famous pirate, navigating a world of choices, and the combat system takes place on a grid with dice rolls determining your moves. If you’re a fan of isometric RPGs, this one is worth checking out.
One of the most surprising discoveries for me during this Steam Next Fest was LURKS WITHIN WALLS. It’s a horror game that immediately grabbed my attention with its creepy, well-designed monsters crafted by the well-known artist Trevor Henderson—who’s credited with creating some of the internet’s most unsettling creatures. The game also features a dynamic, fast-paced turn-based combat system, which is rare for a horror game and a welcome surprise. Definitely one to try if you’re a fan of both horror and tactical gameplay.
And More…
Those above are just a few of the standout titles from this October 2024 Steam Next Fest. Below are some more interesting games worth mentioning:
- The Book of Warriors 2:Reborn
- Shift’n Slay
- Throne Requiem
- Argonauts Path
- Fated Land
- Battle Train
- Toads of the Bayou
- Novus Orbis
- Ironmarked
- Skygard Arena
- The Edge of Allegoria
- Astral Throne
- Sultan’s Game
- Dong Wu: Odyssey
I’ll remind you that these are just a few of the games and demos I’m planning to try or at least will attempt to check out myself. Of course, I’m also looking forward to hearing your recommendations and thoughts on this Next Fest 2024. Ciao
