Where to get game demos

This demo, too, isn't only available for Steam Next Fest—Despot's Game is a roguelike tactics game with screens full of both allies and enemies to handle, which sounds interesting, and the animations are gorgeous. Eye-catching turn-based RPG about a boy who wants to become the top player at—you guessed it—Dodgeball Academy.

Looks like fun for sports anime fans. The slick action RPG that tosses you onto an alien planet is one of the first games to come out of Koch Media's new publishing label Prime Matter. Survival horror set in a fast food restaurant, featuring mascots reminiscent of Five Nights at Freddy's, only… worse. I'm decidedly unhappy with this. A platformer inspired by Super Mario World and Japanese folklore that lets you control a little foxtailed lady.

This game describes itself as a "colourful fever dream", and seeing as you both manage everyday school life while working together with kraken to uncover a supervillain via a time loop, that's… fair, honestly.

This beautiful game about a woman returning to her hometown during a holiday to deliver mail made our list of unmissable Steam Next Fest demos , thanks to some seriously good writing. A mix of dating, management, and alchemy sim that tells the story of a man grieving his late wife. Note: This game contains sexual content. Story-driven adventure with a magical realism touch that feels strongly like Kentucky Route Zero. Point and click adventure that "explores the industrial swamplands and decaying suburbs of South Louisiana".

A safe bet for all fans of Southern Gothic. Deep Rock Galactic Insider Free. Pushy and Pully in Blockland Demo Free. Cake Bash Demo Free. Swim Out Demo Free. ScourgeBringer demo Free. WarriOrb: Prologue Demo Free. Destroy All Humans! Book of Adventum Demo Free. Pixel Skater Demo Free. KungFu Kickball Demo Free. Solaroids: Prologue Demo Free. Fractal Space Demo Free.

Clea Demo Free. Helheim Hassle Demo Free. Bugdom 2 3. Avatar: The Game Demo. Batman: Arkham Asylum Demo. Just Cause 2 Demo. Civilization V Demo. Grab your MREs and prepare to spend four days playing two new maps and modes for the multiplayer version of Medal of Honor. JongPuzzle 3. Order of War Demo. Puzzletron 3. Bejeweled 2 Deluxe 1. Bejeweled 2 Deluxe will allow you to play the sequel to the classic gem-swapping puzzler! Renex III 3. Tank-o-Box 1. Let's just enjoy them while they're here.

The realization hit me over the weekend as I was playing an excellent demo for the upcoming System Shock remake: I sure am playing a lot of demos these days, and they're often very good.

The games themselves aren't always winners, but the value of demos has never felt higher. That System Shock demo gives players full rein on the entire Medical floor of the Citadel Station, easily 60 to 90 minutes of game if you stop and smell the roses. And I did, across three playthroughs, in fact. Just a few days earlier, I was knee-deep in Outriders' meaty 22GB demo. I played through the entire opening of the game, chose a class, played a few missions, explored the open area, and promptly had my fill.

The game wasn't great, but I was impressed to learn that those planning to pick up Outriders when it releases will be able to transfer their progress into the full game. Players get to completely sidestep the annoying norm of replaying the early bits you've already seen so you can get on with the rest of it.

If that's not a perfect use for a demo, I don't know what is. I'm also a total sucker for the 'surprise demo' that drops at the same time as the game's announcement. That's exactly how FPS throwbacks Ultrakill and Gloomwood got me to finally start using my wishlist after 11 years on Steam. Did you know that with a single click you're notified whenever the stuff you want goes on sale? It's pretty neat!