Top Steam Next Fest Games: Best New Demos (June 2026)

• Full Release Date: July 10, 2026
• Developer: Game Studio Inc.
• Publisher: Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc.
• Steam Page

Echoes of Aincrad wears its Sword Art Online roots right on its sleeve, and that’s a big part of why it immediately clicks, by leaning fully into the fantasy of climbing a massive floating castle floor by floor, but builds it as a focused single‑player action RPG instead of an MMO.

The demo throws you into the first floors of a massive floating castle, where you’re building your own character from scratch, swapping between weapon types, and unlocking skills that actually change how you fight.

It’s all real‑time combat, with dodging, timing hits, managing stamina, and enemies that hit hard enough that you can’t just mash your way through. You explore open fields, eerie ruins, and tight corridors while picking up quests, crafting materials, and gear that slowly shape your build.

It captures that mix of danger and wonder SAO fans will recognize, but with its own grounded, hands‑on feel that lets you carve out your own playstyle as you fight your way through Aincrad one floor at a time.

• Full Release Date: August 18, 2026
• Developer: Frogwares
• Publisher: Frogwares
• Steam Page

The Sinking City 2 feels like Frogwares finally making the game they wanted to make the first time around, now that they’ve fully regained control of the IP after that long, messy legal battle with their old publisher.

Instead of the detective‑focused, semi‑open‑world mystery vibe of the original, this sequel goes all‑in on survival horror, with tight over‑the‑shoulder camera, brutal resource scarcity, and monsters that look like they crawled out of a nightmare you’d rather forget.

The flooded city is darker, moodier, and way more oppressive, and the shift away from investigation toward pure tension makes the whole thing feel like a studio cutting loose after years of being boxed in.

Even from the early look, you can tell they’re rebuilding the experience from the ground up. Heavier atmosphere, more cinematic pacing, and a world that feels like it’s actively trying to swallow you whole.

• Full Release Date: July 30, 2026
• Developer: Bellring Games
• Publisher: Skystone Games
• Steam Page

Mistfall Hunter gives off this “lost in the woods but in a cool way” energy, dropping you into a fog‑choked wilderness where every step feels like you’re trespassing on something ancient.

The demo doesn’t rush you. Instead, it nudges you to slow down, pay attention, and actually hunt rather than sprint from one fight to the next. You’re gathering materials, tinkering with gear, and following trails that feel more like puzzles than breadcrumbs.

The creatures you’re tracking aren’t just targets; they’re part of the world’s mood, lurking just out of sight until you finally corner one, and the whole tone shifts from quiet exploration to frantic survival.

It’s the kind of game where half the fun is just soaking in the atmosphere before everything inevitably goes wrong.

• Full Release Date: June 25, 2026
• Developer: 1047 Games
• Publisher: 1047 Games
• Steam Page

EMPULSE feels like 1047 Games finally letting loose after Splitgate, taking everything they learned about slick movement shooters and cranking it into something way more ambitious.

Instead of portals, you’re now sprinting across walls, boosting through the air, and dropping into mech suits that hit like freight trains. It’s got that unmistakable Titanfall energy, but filtered through a studio that clearly loves fast, expressive combat.

The demo shows off a mix of infantry gunplay and mech‑on‑mech chaos, all wrapped in a clean sci‑fi style that makes every arena feel like it’s built for momentum.

And because 1047 regained full creative control after stepping away from Splitgate’s live‑service grind, EMPULSE comes across like a passion project, becoming sharper, bolder, and way more confident about what it wants to be.

• Full Release Date: June 23, 2026
• Developer: Hologryph, TowerHaus
• Publisher: tinyBuild
• Steam Page

SAND: Raiders of Sophie instantly stood out during Summer Game Fest, one of those reveals where you see five seconds of gameplay and go, “Oh yeah, I’m in.”

The whole thing has this scrappy, diesel‑punk energy as you tear across a massive desert wasteland on your customizable walker‑mech, scavenging ruins, looting rival crews, and trying not to get swallowed by the literal ocean of sand beneath you.

The demo leans into that chaotic, player‑driven adventure vibe, when you’re hopping off your walker to raid abandoned structures, diving into shootouts that feel messy in a fun way, and constantly eyeing the horizon for storms or other factions rolling up to ruin your day.

It’s got that perfect mix of jank, charm, and ambition, the kind of game where half the fun is the stories you accidentally create while trying to survive the dunes.