Game On: The 5 Most Thrilling Multiplayer Demos of Steam Next Fest Focused on PvP

It's that time of year again when we indulge in a wave of demos during Steam's Next Fest, only to wait patiently for the full releases once the event wraps up. Steam’s biannual demo showcase is in full swing this week, and I've been keeping an eye on what's trending. Unsurprisingly, multiplayer games dominate the list.

Here are the top 5 demos from Steam Next Fest this week:

1. Delta Force: A new free-to-play extraction shooter/Battlefield-like experience.
2. Supervive: A hybrid of MOBA and battle-royale gameplay.
3. Strinova: A free-to-play anime hero shooter.
4. Rivals of Aether 2: A 2D platform fighter.
5. Gladio Mori: A slow-motion physics-based sword dueling game.

This ranking is based on Steam's daily active player charts for Next Fest. A similar list from Steam.db, based on peak concurrent players, features the same games but swaps Gladio Mori for the co-op platformer Popucom.

Harvey Randall has tested Supervive, noting that it blends quick battle royale matches with a steep learning curve. "Supervive’s combat is all about skillshots, turning MOBA-style team fights into pure displays of mechanical prowess," he says.

A few folks from PC Gamer have also checked out Delta Force. Morgan Park previously played it during an open beta and appreciated the Battlefield-like conquest mode, though he found the gun sounds a bit off and felt the game didn't quite reach the scale or polish of Battlefield 2042. Still, it's a solid pick to try before the beta wraps up.

Multiplayer games topping the charts at Next Fest is no surprise—it’s become a trend in recent years. Co-op and multiplayer titles tend to be more expensive, and groups of friends are always searching for the next big game. Plus, with free demos, who can resist?

However, the multiplayer focus seems even stronger this time around. June’s Next Fest had more variety, with games like Tiny Glade breaking into the top 5, though another free-to-play multiplayer shooter (Once Human) took the top spot then, too.

If you’re looking for something off the beaten path, Robin Valentine recommends trying Ballionaire, a quirky roguelike that mixes elements of Balatro and Pachinko. Harvey Randall has also spent some time with Windblown, a new roguelike from the developers of Dead Cells. Clearly, roguelikes are still going strong in our gaming circles.

Steam Next Fest runs through the weekend, wrapping up early on Monday, October 21, so there's still plenty of time to check out any demos that catch your eye. And just as a heads-up, the next Steam sale, Steam Scream Fest, kicks off a week later on October 28!

Source: PC Gamer