It's time again for indies to take center stage during Steam Next Fest! Morzey and I have filtered through tons of promising games to bring you 5 games we look forward to the most. Sit back, relax, and watch a few trailers (or all!) made by some very dedicated and talented developers. Next Fest ends on March 3rd, so you still have the weekend to explore your favorites!

 

Morzey's Picks

 

Fellowship

 

 

Fellowship is a cooperative dungeon crawling adventure where players form a band of heroes and embark on a journey through various fantasy-driven lands. This game is literally World of Warcraft Mythic+ dungeons in its own game, and I am here for it! Set in a vibrant, hand-drawn world, the game features dynamic combat, diverse character classes, and deep synergies between party members, just like an MMO-esque dungeon group should! Players must navigate treacherous environments, overcome challenging enemies, and make crucial decisions that shape their adventure. Developed by Chief Rebel, Fellowship emphasizes teamwork, strategic planning, and character progression, offering an ever-changing experience with each run. With an emphasis on replayability and cooperative gameplay, this title aims to deliver a fresh twist on what all of us MMO-nerds love – bring on the sweats! 

 

Khazan 

 

The First Berserker: Khazan is an action RPG with souls-like elements that plunges players into the brutal world of the legendary warrior Khazan. Talk about BANKAI, this game is blending some pretty intense hack-and-slash combat with deep storytelling with what looks to be some impressive world building! The game follows Khazan’s journey through a dark fantasy world teeming with monstrous foes and political intrigue. With the weighty, visceral combat, players can unleash devastating combos and abilities while customizing their warrior’s build. Developed by Neople, this title pays homage to classic action RPGs while introducing modern mechanics and cinematic storytelling. Fans of epic dark fantasy narrative I think, will really like this one!  

 

 

AFTERBLAST

 

AFTERBLAST is a fast-paced roguelike shooter set in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by monstrous creatures. Players take on the role of a lone survivor, or co-op with a fellow survivor, navigating procedurally generated levels while utilizing a vast arsenal of powerful weapons. With what looks like some great, fluid movement mechanics, strategic upgrades, and increasingly difficult enemy encounters, every run presents a fresh challenge, shoutout replayability! Developed by Lumino Games, this banger features a distinctive visual style and adrenaline-fueled gameplay reminiscent of classic arcade shooters. If that sounds like something up your alley, definitely go check this one out! 

 

 

MechaKnights: Legends

 

 

MechaKnights: Legends looks like an awesome high-fantasy, high-intensity mech combat game where players pilot massive war machines in large-scale battles! Set in a dystopian future ravaged by war, the game features customizable mechs, heavy firepower, and strategic engagements against massive chonky dragons, at least in this demo! Developed by Animanicks, the game blends arcade-style mech action with deep customization, allowing players to outfit their machines with different weapons, armor, and abilities. With large battlefields, destructible environments, and a focus on high-speed combat, if you’re into mechs punching big monsters, definitely check this one out! This may be my secret pick, highlight!  

 

 

Worship

 

 

Worship is a dark and chaotic action game where players lead a cult dedicated to an ancient eldritch god – yes please! With fast-paced, top-down gameplay inspired by Pikmin, players must recruit followers, perform rituals, and wage war against rival cults in a world reminiscent of Lovecraftian horror. The game offers both single-player and cooperative multiplayer, allowing players to spread their twisted faith together. Developed by Chasing Rats Games, Worship features a unique blend of action, strategy, and resource management, challenging players to build their cult while surviving the horrors that lurk beyond the veil of reality. Cult of the Lamb fans, line up! 

Lecksea’s Picks

 

Instants

 

This upcoming casual puzzle game developed and published by Endflame offers a comforting and cozy experience with unique gameplay that really stood out to me. The game gives players a heartwarming journey through time, tasking them with arranging family photos chronologically within albums to piece together the story of a family across generations. The game features hand-drawn, colorful visuals and is designed to provide a relaxing, story-rich experience. And of course, there’s cute stickers, fun backgrounds, and colorful washi tape for all your scrapbooking needs. To me, Instants looks like a great way to wind down and chill out on a Sunday afternoon, and I’m excited to see more of it!

 

 

Spilled!

 

Two casual games, gasp! (This one I am especially excited about because I’m a big fan of tugboats.) Spilled! is an upcoming casual adventure game developed and published by Lente. In this beautiful 8-bit designed game, you pilot a solar-powered boat tasked with cleaning up oceanic pollution, including oil spills and various types of waste. As you progress, you'll recycle collected debris, earn coins, and upgrade your vessel to tackle increasingly challenging areas. The game features eight distinct zones, each presenting larger spills and diverse waste types to manage. Players can also rescue 16 different animals throughout their journey, adding a heartwarming element to the gameplay. The conservation translates into real life, too, as the developer is also donating a portion of every Steam sale to Whale and Dolphin Conservation! Designed to be completed in approximately one hour, "Spilled!" sounds like it will be a great indie to pick up when you only have a little free time to game. 

 

 

Skin Deep

 

 

Adding to the obscurity of my list but throwing in some humor, we have Skin Deep, which is an upcoming immersive first-person shooter with a fresh take on the stealth-action genre. Developed by Blendo Games and published by Annapurna Interactive, it is scheduled for release on April 30, 2025. In this humorous and quirky game, players assume the role of an insurance operative who is thawed from cryosleep to defend a starship infiltrated by space pirates and rescue talking cats. The gameplay emphasizes stealth, subversion, and sabotage within a vast, non-linear starship environment. It incorporates unique mechanics such as sneezing, the option to throw things at enemies or bash them into objects, and environmental hazards like stepping on debris, all rendered in Blendo's distinctive blocky visual style. 

 

 

Creepy Redneck Dinosaur Mansion 3

 

 

I clicked this one just for the name, but I added it to my wishlist when I saw the gameplay! Creepy Redneck Dinosaur Mansion 3genre-blending game developed by Strange Scaffold and published by Frosty Pop, set to launch in April 2025. This game humorously positions itself as a sequel to a non-existent series (Troll 2, anyone?), embracing a meta-narrative that satirizes game development and sequel culture. The game uniquely combines match-3 puzzle mechanics with Metroidvania-style exploration, a fusion the developers refer to as a "matchtroidvania." Players navigate a mansion overrun by dinosaurs and glitches, engaging in match-3 puzzles not only for combat but also for various interactions like lockpicking and debates with in-game entities. The narrative follows protagonist J.J. Hardwell as he confronts both prehistoric and digital anomalies within the mansion, all set to an eclectic polka soundtrack by composer David Mason. It looks just odd enough to get me back into playing matching games after my Candy Crush burnout. 

 

 

Total Chaos

 

 

This list just didn’t feel complete without including something creepy to round out the offerings. "Total Chaos" is an immersive survival horror game developed by Trigger Happy Interactive and published by Apogee Entertainment, slated for release in April 2025. Set in the desolate ruins of Fort Oasis, players navigate through nine harrowing chapters, each intensifying the oppressive and decaying atmosphere. The game's environments are meticulously crafted, featuring dimly lit corridors and detailed renderings of abandoned structures that evoke a constant sense of unease. The sound design is very successful in supporting the chilling environment. The game integrates survival mechanics such as resource management, crafting, and status effect monitoring—including hunger, bleeding, health, and madness. Players scavenge for materials to build and upgrade weapons, essential for confronting the grotesque creatures that lurk within the facility as they continue on their mission to reach the middle of the island where a cryptic radio message beacons. The combat system forces players to be smart about their resources, as ammo for firearms is scarce, and they often have to rely on melee. Forcing these close-quarters engagements with creepy monsters is enough to freak me out, so count me in!

 

 

What do you all think of our picks? Judging our tastes a little?? Let us know which games you think you might grab a copy of!