The first Steam Next Fest of the year happened last week, showcasing some of the best games coming to PC this year and beyond. We dived headfirst into as many genres as we could, from noir visual novels to chaotic cooking adventures. Although we didn’t get to try everything on offer, here’s the ones that really left an impression — in alphabetical order!
1. Am I Nima (HO! Games)
Inching to the top of my most anticipated horror games list is Am I Nima, a psychological-horror game where you must convince your mom that you really are her daughter. With no memories of who you once were, you’re forced into a twisted whodunnit where you can no longer tell what — or who — to trust.
This game is going to be a hit with fans of stylised horror games, but especially if you like them with a side of wordplay and mystery. Its core mechanic is deceivingly simple, combining words to unlock new dialogue options, but each combination reveals hidden layers to Nima’s fractured psyche. With the demo already teasing a few twists and turns, the full game couldn’t come any sooner.
2. As I Began To Dream (Strayflux)
From Indonesian developers Strayflux, this introspective puzzle-platformer follows Lily as she embarks on a journey through her dream world to reunite with her parents. The game is reminiscent of a Steven Universe episode, from environmental art that feels like a picture book come to life, to the thinly veiled trauma littered throughout Lily’s story.
Amidst that is a unique mechanic that has you swapping, rotating, and moving the environment around you to solve puzzles and progress through the world. After playing Paper Trail last year, I’ve been on the hunt for another spatial puzzle game to sink my teeth into — and I think I might have just found my top contender.
3. Best Served Cold (Rogueside)
Rogueside’s newest visual novel has the makings of a narrative I’m going to love, and the demo barely scratches the surface. Best Served Cold is an Ace Attorney meets Coffee Talk styled murder mystery set in alternate history Europe, where you run the last speakeasy in town in the middle of the prohibition. With a killer on the loose, serve up drinks and interrogate your customers while trying to save your bar.
Under the beautiful wood-panelled surface of this visual novel lies a surprisingly in-depth set of mechanics and a strong sense of player agency. Gathering information from your customers isn’t just about asking the right questions, it’s also about appealing to their personality quirks, loosening their tongues with the right drinks, and choosing who you can trust. Needless to say, I’ll be seated at the bar when this drops.
4. Into The Dead: Our Darkest Days (PikPok)
PikPok’s zombie strategy game has been on our radar for awhile now, but its impressive new demo gives us a proper look at what the final game will have in store. In this side-scroller shelter survival game, your job is to guide a group of zombie apocalypse survivors to safety. Choose your starting duo based on their strengths and weaknesses, move from refuge to refuge, and try to get everyone out of danger alive.
For those who played 11 Bit Studio’s This War of Mine back in 2014, the gameplay and even animations here will feel strikingly similar. Still, I find myself excited to play more of a good thing. So far I’m enjoying its approachability mixed with the right amount of challenge, and its art and sound design is gorgeously grim. Now to see if the story lives up to the hype.
5. Kill The Music (Nikko Nikko)
Kill The Music was an unexpected love for me. Despite being far from my usual genre, this rhythm action roguelite is ferociously addictive from the first beat drop. In the game, Roxie and her band are trapped in an eternal loop playing music for Death. To win their freedom, Roxie allows her bandmates to possess her body, granting her the powers to fight back.
Mechanics-wise, it feels like Crypt of the NecroDancer meets the bullet hell genre. Your instruments will automatically attack to the beat of the music, but you can press inputs to power up your damage or dodge attacks from enemies. There’s still room for polish in terms of syncing up music to the attack beats, but this was a strong proof of concept regardless.
6. SEDAP! A Culinary Adventure (kopiforge)
SEDAP! is most easily described as Overcooked in Southeast Asia, but the actual game has so much more in store. In this chaotic co-op, you play as two aspiring culinary geniuses who venture out to the mysterious Khaya Island in search of new recipes. Whip up various Southeast Asian cuisines as Som the Cooker, or battle sentient ingredients as Gon the Hunter, while you uncover the secrets behind this haunted locale.
For fans of co-op games and friendship “strengthening” experiences, SEDAP! is deliciously addictive and unabashedly cultural. The demo whets our appetites with a couple of tutorial levels, featuring Southeast Asian classics like teh O and pineapple fried rice, while introducing a combat system that takes the chaos of kitchen management to new heights. All that is to say, you know what we’ll be doing this April.
7. Whisper of the House (GD Studio)
For every cozy gamer looking to fill that Unpacking-shaped hole in their hearts, Whisper of the House is here to deliver. You play as a professional unpacker, helping various townspeople move, organise, and clean their spaces. Through your gentle touch, you can make a difference in their lives, uncover hidden stories, and even earn a little pocket change to decorate your own place.
While there have been plenty of Unpacking clones in recent years, Whisper of the House hits the mark with its polished gameplay and larger scale, taking place in a town full of houses to organise and decorate. The demo also gives us a glimpse at the storylines we can expect in the final release, including a cheeky Back To The Future inspired quest.
Love indie games? THE MAGIC RAIN is hosting the third edition of Indie Jam, a free entry Southeast Asian indie games showcase and mini conference this 26-27 April 2025 at Xsolla Curine Academy. Learn more about it here.
