10 Games From The June 2025 Steam Next Fest You Should Check Out – Part Three
Welcome back, dearest reader, to the third and final instalment of the Steam Next Fest June 2025 edition! We’ve been having a whale of a time trying out all manner and genre of games. I’ve had my fill of detestable horrors, mind-breaking deckbuilders and even the odd rhythm game or two. Not content to leave you with just 20 games we reckon you should play; however, we ventured forth into the Steam Next Fest and plucked another 10 from the bottomless cavern that is the library of demos.
Rossko once again joins me on this third entry’s odyssey. Without further ado, please do enjoy the following 10 games we think you should check out.
Arcadian Days by Immersiv Games
I’m still not over the emotional trauma and turmoil that Farewell North put me through, but if you think I’ve learnt my lesson, you’re sorely mistaken. Loyal dog companion aside, Arcadian Days is a relaxing and serene experience. Well, when my PC is able to run it. This is a stunningly rendered title, with luscious rolling hills, foliage swept in the wind and a sky box that glows with the blue hue of your favourite summer days from yonder years.
Like most of the other times I’ve covered the Next Fest, one or two of these more laid-back and Zen titles sneak in. Not only do they break up the usually violent and breakneck speed of most video games, but they’re wonderful expressions of art in and of their own right. Arcadian Days is another one of these meditative spaces for gentle exploration and reflection, and sometimes that’s just what we need.
Arcadian Days will be strolling through the fields to Steam in Q3 2025. It’s being developed and published by Immersiv Games.
Ball x Pit by Kenny Sun
Probably the most Devolver Digital-type game I’ve ever come across. Part base-building and part rogue-like auto battling dungeon crawler, Ball x Pit is far more exhilarating and fun than it has any right to be. For fans of Vampire Survivors, this may be your new fix – if you dare risk another addiction coming to fruition. The demo features the game’s dungeon run with the first character class, and briefly introduces the base-building options that’ll be available.
Watching the trailer before playing it, I basically wouldn’t have been able to tell you what it is. Having played it, I still mostly can’t. What I can tell you is that I had a blast. My first run had me spitting lightning, with vertical lasers pinging across the screen. Then I got a baby sac, which fired canon balls that spawned baby canon balls. Then I fused my lightning with my baby sac and fired lightning balls that spawned baby lightning balls. This game is wild, and I love it.
Ball x Pit will be defying all logic on Steam at some point in the future. It’s being developed by Kenny Sun and published by Devolver Digital.
Creepy Tale: Snow Child by Creepy Brothers
Outside of Grim Fandango, I’ve never been one for point-and-click adventures. Even so, the Tim Burton and Alice in Wonderland crossover that’s Creepy Tale: Snow Child did a fair job at winning me over. It’s very much a dark atmosphere, creepy fantasy vibes, with some light puzzling and exploration along the way. Taking on the role of Blizzy, you need to venture down into the very heart of evil itself to undo a rather large mistake.
It’s charming in its own dark and discomforting way. The creature design is both cute and grotesque, the animation work reminded me of Salad Fingers (for those old enough to remember those kinds of… traumas), but the overall tone is lighthearted in spite of the gloom. Not one I’d typically pluck for, but Creepy Tale: Snow Child could be a very charming little point-and-click jaunt if that’s what you’re in for.
Creepy Tale: Snow Child is coming soon to Steam, though no release window as yet. It’s being developed and published by Creepy Brothers.
Fresh Tracks by Buffalo Buffalo
If there’s one thing I’m a sucker for, it’s a rhythm game. What’s that you say? A rhythm game with Nordic Gods, a blindingly gorgeous aurora, and you’re on skis? Video games are a wonderful art. Fresh Tracks is a perfect example of why the Steam Next Fest is so brilliant. The chance to find a snowy gem nestled amongst the avalanche of other titles strutting their stuff.
The music is an eclectic mix of techno-synth beats, all of which had me jamming along with no issue. Not only that, but even on normal mode, Fresh Tracks is a challenging rhythm game. You’ll need to move track, lean to avoid walls, jump over obstacles, slash enemies and send missiles back to their senders in pure Elvis pazazz. There’s a lot to this one already, and I’m already a fan. Oh, and Peter Stormare voices a Norse God in it, so obviously it’s amazing.
Fresh Tracks will be heading down the slopes on Steam on August 12th. It’s being developed and published by Buffalo Buffalo.
Future War Tactics: SOF vs Alien Invasion by QuadCom Interactive
The name Future War Tactics: SOF vs Alien Invasion hardly rolls off the tongue, but the XCOM-like turn-based strategy gameplay rolls right down a hill with no issues. The dialogue and text have a litany of typos and comically poor voice performance, but as a strategy title, it’s pretty solid. Think of a more grounded XCOM with more standard issue weaponry and soldier styles.
Featuring the tutorial and the first playable level, the demo demonstrates that Future War Tactics: SOF vs Alien Invasion has a good understanding of what makes an XCOM game tick. It’s also more forgiving than most, as while mistakes will be punished, your troops can take a fair beating. Upgrade your units, take on alien squads and rid the world of interstellar invasion, just with a much longer title.
Future War Tactics: SOF vs Alien Invasion will be finding cover on Steam July 2025. It’s being developed by QuadCom Interactive and published by Brightika Inc.
Ground of Aces by Blindflug Studios AG
The Battle of Britain is one of the most iconic moments in British history, thanks to the heroism of the troops who kept those runways functioning under relentless bombardment. Ground of Aces channels that energy into a resource management colony simulator, by having you prepare runways, send out sorties for missions and look after your soldiers doing the grunt work.
Initially, I was rather overwhelmed by all the systems involved. Might not be rocket science, but airplane science is apparently just as hard. However, don’t be deterred, as once I got to grips with managing the various resources and I was sending out my Gladiator aircraft to go and fight the good fight. If you’re into war-themed media and love a good management sim, Ground of Aces will have you lifting off in no time.
Ground of Aces will be deploying to Steam in July 2025. It’s being developed and published by Blindflug Studios AG.
Into The Grid by Flatline Studios
Into The Grid fully humbled me. Normally, I’d be fairly confident in my rogue-like, deckbuilding acumen, content that my previous experience would carry me well. Carry me, it did not. The demo for this one serves up both the tutorial and a full level or run to try out. You clear rooms, hacking into various ATMs (they’re not called that) to unlock cards, consumables and shards to spend.
Unfortunately, every new room and interaction you engage with brings the ire of the Watchers, raising your trace and then alert levels. Higher levels = very bad times, I can confirm. Even though it kicked my keister to the curb completely, I had a great time with this one. The deckbuilding combat system is fleshed out and engaging, while the room clearing gameplay is tense and full of tough decisions to weigh up. If you’re up for the challenge, check this one out.
Into The Grid will be hacking into Steam in Q3 of 2025. It’s being developed and published by Flatline Studios.
Kick’n Hell by Fire Foot Studios
Ever wondered what would happen to a gym bro if they only did leg day? Me neither, but Kick’n Hell basically gives us the answer anyway. In this rather off-the-wall, frenetic platformer, you must kick and hoof your way back out of the depths of Hell. It’s only natural to see human brains in the fiery pits of the Devil, and to stomp them to defy gravity. It just makes sense.
I’ll be honest, I sucked terribly at the demo. It’s the kind of game speedrunners will not only fall in love with, but most likely marry and move to Hawaii with as well. Well, if Hawaii were on fire, and they had to kick all the coconuts instead. Either way, the manual aiming for the parkour jumps and the ludicrously bouncy physics make for a hilariously fast-paced game that’ll rattle and entertain.
Kick’n Hell is clambering up from Hell onto Steam July 21st. It’s being developed and published by the appropriately named Fire Foot Studios.
Unmourned by Codebros Studios
Anyone who says “I need to go down to the basement” having just suffered a terrible nightmare and awakens to a totally dark, very obviously haunted house, is not someone to be associated with. Looming darkness, slow movement, lights flickering, apparitions of dead folks – I love my games to be tranquil, clearly. Unmourned is a psychological horror game that mixes your normal everyday paranormally afflicted home with surreal nightmare sequences.
During the demo, I faced the horrors of the darkest basement, ran from a Victorian lady ghost while trying to find a key in a library, and followed a blood trail up the stairs. I mean, nothing says welcoming and friendly like a bucket of blood up the stairs does it? Not for the squeamish or faint of heart, this one impressed with its use of lighting and surprisingly good production values.
Unmourned will be spiritually testing you on Steam in Q4 of 2025. It’s being developed and published by Codebros Studios.
Mall Simulator 2025
Words by Rossko Keniston
‘Oh, look! Rossko has played another simulator’, the masses will bellow.
Well, yeah. They’re kinda my thing these days. Who knew there was such a vast range of simulated jobs available on Steam? And they’re certainly easier to get into than real jobs, so why not just open a mall and watch the money pile up? Exactly. Mall Simulator 2025 is exactly what it says on the tin, like most simulators, it doesn’t mince its words, and you’re stuck into running your own shopping mall, which isn’t a dream I knew I had until the other day.
Of course, the fundamental difference here compared to other simulators is you’ll be opening a variety of stores, rather than just one particular niche, which certainly ups the stakes somewhat and in this case, the Two Point vibes coming off this thing is palpable. Granted, I’m not very good at the Two Point games despite my enduring love for them, but here it feels like I’ve found the holy grail of simulators – one that I’m actually fairly competent at playing. Such a game must be treasured, lest it disappear from my grasp. I demand a physical version immediately.
Seriously, I thoroughly enjoyed this demo, and I await the full release with an impatience not unlike awaiting your favourite shop to open in the mall. Throw every last care away. Let’s go to the mall.
TODAY.
Steam Page – Developed and published by F13 Games.
What a day. Or week. What even is time and space anyway? It’s certainly not linear, and neither is the Finger Guns team’s gaming taste. I even played a point-and-click. What parallel dystopic universe is this?! Anyway, back on topic. We hope you’ve had a phenomenal time with the Steam Next Fest June 2025 edition thus far. Thankfully, you have until the 16th to play all of our recommendations, alongside the 100s of others still available. Aren’t you lucky?
Joking aside, in a year where the majority of gaming news has been headlined by layoffs, “underperformed expectations”, and industry executives syphoning money or enthusiasm from anything that moves, I want to once again shout out what a joy the Steam Next Fest and other events like it are. Indie developers toil tirelessly, often for years and with very little immediate reward, to create and display their artistic works of expression for our pleasure.
If you have seen any games you like the look of, that made you laugh, or even made you hurl your controller (looking at you, rogue-likes), please take a moment of your time to let the devs know. Often, these games are headed as solo projects or in exceptionally small groups of hard-working people who deserve all the praise and love in an industry that’s otherwise rather ruthless. Wishlist, leave comments, send tweets (or whatever it is now), post reviews. Whatever you can do, it’ll be massively appreciated.
Otherwise, I hope you have an absolutely splendid rest of the Steam Next Fest June 2025. It’s been a pleasure to bring you some games we’ve enjoyed, and on a personal note, I want to say thank you to everyone who responded to our call to arms and to you for taking the time to read these features. I hope you’ve enjoyed reading them quite as much as we’ve enjoyed writing them.
For now, it’s farewell from us. But, rest assured, as sure as the sun rises in the morning, we’ll be there to cover more games at the next Steam Next Fest.
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