It’s like going into a grocery store where every aisle is just absolutely covered with people handing out free nibbles to try. It’s Steam Next Fest time once again, and we’re here to help call attention to some of the demos that are on offer for MMO nerds like us, whether you want cute, grim, or just about anything in between.
This is by no means an exhaustive list, to be sure, so if you’ve got a demo that’s worth the drive space to check out, then let us (and everyone else) know in the comments. And, of course, we’ll call out gen AI tool use where its disclosed for those who enfold that into their demo downloading decisions. With that, let the sample smorgasbord begin!
We’ve talked about it a lot, but it’s worth noting regardless: Loftia’s demo is live with opening introduction beats, some pastoral activities, and the multiplayer combat-free Adventures delves.
Another cozy one we’ve followed here on MOP is Spirit Crossing, with its demo promising a look at some of its more communal-centered gameplay about small acts of kindness.
Scramble Knights Online bills itself as an “MMO-lite action RPG” for some bite-sized adventures, dungeon delves, and hangouts. And better yet, demo progress will carry over when it enters into early access.
Swordeye’s demo on Steam promises hardcore action, multi-directional combat, and PvPvE extraction from within a dangerous and deadly tower.
Here’s one we haven’t seen in a while: Co-op surfin’ pirate ARPG Surfpunk has a demo online during this month’s Next Fest that promises a reworked forge, 32 new mods and four new skills, and new cutscenes and new cosmetics.
Shadowstone, aka the tabletop RPG-ish co-op roguelite from the same team behind Sunderfolk, has its demo online now, which our readers surely already knew about.
Explore colorful realms and capture slime critters to help you along in World of Slime, which updated its demo ahead of Next Fest’s start with new areas and creatures. The Steam page points out gen AI was used for some 2-D image assistance, while final art was produced by artists.
Another critter capturing title is Never Wither, an open world multiplayer survivalbox with a demo that offers its opening region, 19 different creatures to nab, and four bosses to fight. Its AI disclosure points out how “final works combine AI-generated foundational designs with human artistic revisions,” so bear that in mind.
The sandboxy next coming of ArcheAge, aka ArcheAge Chronicles, has its demo online with “roughly two to three hours of quest content” according to the demo’s announcement.
Grimrain is promising an open world of old school MMORPG vibes with exploration, crafting, player housing, and dungeons that are either instanced or openly available to plumb. Gen AI was utilized to create this one’s logo.
Helrift’s demo also appears to be leaning into some old school vibes, where players hunt monsters, craft items, and then enter into open PvP fights.
Care to play as a robot working in a packing facility with you and up to three friends, dealing with orders, assembling goods, and managing “unexpected incidents” along the way? Then Shift Happens: Together may be for you. “Generative AI was used as a supporting tool for the creation and refinement of text content and graphical assets used in the game,” the page states.
RingOut is an arena shooter with a twist: There are no health bars, just building heat until opponents are… well, knocked out of the ring. The game’s Steam page does disclose that generative AI was used for its music but not for anything else.
The multiplayer game Ram Fights is as straightforward as it gets: “Who is the true G.O.A.T. of the arena? Build your dream fighting beast, charge at full speed, and launch your friends across the map,” its Steam page declares. Also its cover art utilizes gen AI according to the disclosure.
“A cozy and spooky co-op adventure where two puppies rescue their owner from a haunted mansion” is what’s being offered by Haunted Paws.
The demo for seamless open world MMORPG Clash of Adventurers sees players taking up one of three roles (attacker, defender, or supporter) to party up and take on quests and monsters. Its AI disclosure claims that gen AI tools are used for some of the game’s icons.
The co-op RPG Wyldheart, which hangs its hat on the ease of drop-in drop-out multiplayer, has its demo online. MOP’s MJ also took a look at this one last week on OPTV as well.
