I love Next Fest, it’s a great time to find out what interesting new games are on the horizon. Next Fest is also an interesting one to cover as it occurs three times a year.
Disclaimer: As far as I am able to tell these demo’s don’t use AI. However, the full release may, please stay vigilant and check before purchasing (assuming you care about AI being in your games).
Guns ‘N Goblins
Developer: Lance, Argl
Publisher: SoulGame
Release When?: Q2 2027
This is an Incremental Horde Shooter and Base Builder. The premise is simple: kill the goblins (and other beasties) to get money which you use to upgrade your base and arsenal.
The demo does a good job of teasing that there is more to come in this title, buildings you can create but not use because they aren’t included in the demo and upgrades you can’t get for the same reason. I’ll definitely be checking this out later.
There Are No Ghosts at the Grand
Developer: Friday Sundae
Publisher: Friday Sundae
Release When?: December 2026
This game caught my interest the moment I discovered that the musical element is all done in Ska. I friggin love Ska and it’s so rare to see it represented these days. It’s a hotel renovator, though from what the demo shows you end up renovating far more than just the hotel.
What I’ve not mentioned is that there’s also an underlying mystery that seems eldritch in nature. The demo is a little stuttery, something I really hope is fixed before the full release, because I’d hate for such an interesting game to be marred by bad performance.
Derelikt
Developer: Visuwyg
Publisher: Hyperstrange
Release When?: 13th November 2026
If you like immersive sims, especially ones with a sci-fi setting like the System Shock series or Prey (2017) then this game will be right up your alley.
The demo itself is fairly extensive if the full game is like what I experienced this is looking to be very good.
Murder Meet Cute
Developer: Kitico, Laborare, Crybaby Studios
Publisher: Kitico, Laborare, Crybaby Studios
Release When?: 20th January 2027
One part FakeOS game and one part Visual Novel but entirely dripping with 90’s aesthetics and references.
This is definitely a game I’ll be on the look out for, but I have to say the demo was very very short.
Beastfolk Barber
Developer: Safe Flight Games, GameWorks
Publisher: Sigono Inc
Release When?: TBA
There’s something really fun about cutting the hair of the various species in this game and the worldbuilding you receive from the conversations you have with the customers both before and during the hair cut is wonderful. I wanted to learn more about it all.
I think this will be one of those games I end up playing when I need something unlike my other games. A palette cleanser if you will.
