Steam Next Fest can be a strong visibility boost for indie developers, but it is not a shortcut. Here is why timing, demo quality, messaging, and pre-launch planning matter more than ever.
GOTW #42: Windrose is pirate survival with real ship-to-shore momentum Windrose is our Fix Gaming Channel Game of the Week #42 because it’s not trying to be “a pirate skin” over generic survival. It’s built around a clear loop: survive and progress on land, then take that strength back to the sea for naval fights,…
Read More “Windrose is GOTW #42 — Pirate Survival That Lives on Land and Sea” »
A new Steam Next Fest demo arrives February 23 Zombie Assault: Resurgence is heading into Steam Next Fest with a playable demo starting February 23 (running through March 2). It’s a top-down shooter with RPG progression and upgradeable weapons, playable solo or in co-op with up to four players. If you’ve been following the flood…
ShipShaper feels like a “flow-state” tool — and it’s 100% my kind of creative game I first interviewed Tomas Sala back in 2025 (Bulwark and his design philosophy) — and if you missed that one, it’s right here: Innovation and Expansion: Tomas Sala on Bulwark’s Edge of the World update and game design philosophy. So…
Read More “ShipShaper demo launch — Tomas Sala on flow, minimalism, and creator-friendly exports” »
A wishlist milestone — and a playable demo to back it up Carbon, a cyberpunk/biopunk-flavoured action RPG from Hardwired Studios, has just crossed 40,000 wishlists on Steam — a strong early signal for a project that’s still building toward launch. We’ve seen how wishlist momentum can translate into real visibility for indies (for example, Hypercharge…
Read More “Carbon passes 40,000 Steam wishlists as its cyberpunk ARPG demo gains traction” »
A climb that should feel epic — but the demo kept breaking the illusion Reviewed on PC.Demo First Impressions Everest: Real Climbing Simulator has a concept that should sell itself: a tense, grounded climb where every step matters. But the demo I played turned into a string of “WTF” moments — glitches, bugs, and immersion-breaking…
Read More “Everest: Real Climbing Simulator Demo Impressions — A Climb That Falls Apart Fast” »
A tactical roguelike built around loops, cards, and long-term decision-making January 19, 2026 — Kingdom Loop is an upcoming tactical roguelike that blends loop-based progression with turn-based strategy and deckbuilding. The free demo is available now on PC via Steam, giving players an early look at its core systems ahead of a planned full release…
A demo that leans on stealth, puzzles, and pure dread January 16, 2026 — This week’s Fix Gaming Channel Game of the Week pick is The 9th Charnel Demo — a tight horror slice that gets to the point fast: atmosphere first, tension second, and a constant “keep moving” feeling underneath it all. If you’re…
Read More “The 9th Charnel Demo nails dread fast — stealth, puzzles, and no comfort (GOTW #37)” »
A checkpoint sim where one wrong call can doom the living Quarantine Zone: The Last Check is a border checkpoint simulator set in a collapsing city, where a rampant zombie-like infection is taking hold — and your station is the last line before everything spills over. Players take command of the final checkpoint and inspect…
Read More “Quarantine Zone: The Last Check — “Papers, Please with Zombies” hits Jan 12” »
Operation Purge Demo: early sci-fi survival impressions from Titan Reviewed on PC.Score: 5/10 Operation Purge is a single-player, story-driven sci-fi survival game set on Titan, one of Saturn’s moons. You play as an astronaut who crash-lands after responding to a distress signal and has to explore the wreckage, repair key systems, and manage limited oxygen…
Read More “Operation Purge Demo: Promising Sci-Fi Survival Held Back by Bugs” »
Yes, Island of Hearts has a free demo on Steam. Download it now, watch our full gameplay, and see a real Gamescom moment with the developers before trying the game yourself.
A frantic neon-soaked beat ’em up demo in the streets of Nuevo Tokyo Reviewed on PC.Score: 6.5/10 Mexican Ninja wastes no time showing you what it’s all about: fast hands, loud hits, and an even louder personality. This frantic 2.5D beat ’em up roguelike throws you straight into the neon-soaked streets of Nuevo Tokyo, where…
Read More “Mexican Ninja Demo Review: Neon, Fists, and Fury” »
Hands-on at gamescom asia × Thailand Game Show 2025 (Bangkok): ‘RAD — Repeat After Death’ turns your past runs into your worst enemy Fix Gaming Channel spoke with Derric about RAD — Repeat After Death, a 2D action-roguelike where your previous runs return as hostile echoes that mirror your moves. A free demo is live…
Read More “Interview: RAD — Repeat After Death makes your last run the enemy (Steam demo).” »
Automation, strategy, and survival in space — why Space Drilling Station is our Game of the Week #18 Space Drilling Station is one of those indies that makes sense the moment you feel the loop. You’re thinking vertically, automating smart, and actually caring about the crew that keeps the whole thing running. Best part? You…
Read More “Game of the Week #18 — Space Drilling Station’s Free Demo Shows Big Promise” »
A rhythm-driven indie brawler quietly building massive hype with zero big-budget marketing June 27, 2025 – Out of nowhere, Dead as Disco is capturing attention on Steam without flashy campaigns or publisher backing. The game recently crossed 400,000 wishlists, making it one of the most impressive sleeper hits of 2025. Trailer Rumble may require a…
Read More “Dead as Disco’s Silent Steam Takeover Is 2025’s Best-Kept Secret” »
