The Steam Next Fest February 2026 is now live, giving PC gamers the opportunity to dive into 1000s of free demos at absolutely no cost. Allowing players to find some underrated gems ahead of their launch, and most importantly, add them to their wishlists, the event is guaranteed to get you excited about the upcoming year of gaming, all whilst shedding a light on some of the smaller, independent studios out there.
Featuring everything from puzzles to exploration, mysteries to horror, there is something for everyone and these are some of the free demos that have caught my eye this time around.
15
Cat Isle
A cozy pixel-art adventure
Developed by domkegames and pixelduckoo, Cat Isle is an upcoming cozy pixel-art management game where you will be in charge of building restaurants, expanding and decorating the town, and most importantly, living alongside some adorable felines. As your cats make the most of your ever-growing town, you will need to keep them fed and happy as they find their purr-fect home. Fans of Spiritfarer and Animal Crossing: New Horizons will love this one.
14
Hozy
House Flipper meets Unpacking
Fans of the House Flipper series will love Hozy, a relaxing puzzle game which tasks players with restoring a forgotten neighborhood, one cozy room at a time. By cleaning, painting, and organizing, you will be able to decorate abandoned homes in order to bring each space back to life with your very own visions. For fans of Unpacking, this relaxing and cozy title is guaranteed to see you lose track of time and put your own spin on an otherwise forgotten town.
13
Zero Parades
From the studio behind Disco Elysium
Developed by ZA/UM, the studio behind Disco Elysium, comes Zero Parades: For Dead Spies, an espionage RPG where you will take on the role of a brilliant yet tormented operant who must embark on one final mission. As you gather a broken network and recruit your army of spies, you will soon untangle a web of lies and secrets, and do what it takes to prove yourself — or ruin it all again, of course. With psychological depth mixed with a truly stunning, deep world, Zero Parades: For Dead Spies aims to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Disco Elysium itself.
12
Outbound
Make a home on wheels
If you are anything like me, then you have always dreamed of buying a camper van and taking it on the road. Whilst that dream may not become a reality for me, it is definitely possible thanks to Outbound, a cozy base-building game where the base is your very own home on wheels. Either solo or in co-op play, you will be able to explore a colorful world as you build and decorate your very own van. However, you will also need to keep it running, so the sun, wind, and water will be your friend as you upgrade your vehicle, grow crops, and live off the land in this adorable cozy title.
11
Swan Song
A musical puzzle adventure
If you are a fan of intricate puzzle adventures, then you will love Swan Song, a cozy puzzle game which aims to help you slow down, relax, and unwind as you solve various puzzles found within a beautiful music box. After completing a puzzle, you will be able to turn the key and hear a composition that helps guide your small swan to safety. With stunning and warming visuals, a beautiful soundtrack, and challenging yet fun puzzles, Swan Song will be the perfect game to unwind with during the most stressful of days.
10
Coffee Talk Tokyo
The latest installment
In the latest entry in the beloved visual novel series by Chorus Worldwide Games, players are heading to Japan in Coffee Talk Tokyo to set up a late-night café. As with previous installments, you will be tasked with making drinks for your diverse and eclectic customers, all whilst learning about them and their problems along the way. Hear the heartfelt stories in a deep and story-rich world and shape the lives of humans and yōkai alike in a city of paper and steel, where old and new coexist.
9
Farm to Table
With simulation games becoming all the rage in recent years, it is time for another and this one will task you with building and running your very own five-star Michelin restaurant. In Farm to Table, you will need to do everything to help your restaurant boom, from growing the crops, raising the livestock, catching fish, and even making your own produce as you help grow your organic business into a one-stop shop for all the locals. Sat on a hill overlooking a stunning Mediterranean-looking island, this game looks as beautiful as it does fun.
8
The Witch’s Bakery
A Studio Ghibli-esque adventure
Fans of Studio Ghibli, or more specifically Kiki’s Delivery Service, will love The Witch’s Bakery, a 2D adventure RPG where you will live a magical life as a witch and baker in the heart of Paris. Not only will you manage your bakery and bake all of its delicious products, but you will also get to venture out into the streets, visit iconic landmarks, and even hand out croissants to people you meet along the way. However, as a witch, you will also need to keep on top of your magical abilities, and in a daily day-to-night cycle, you will have to manage all of your tasks in this stunning, story-rich adventure.
7
Divinum
Hack and slash your way to victory
In this action-adventure, hack-and-slash fantasy title, Divinum blends stylish and expressive combat with rewarding exploration as players master devastating combos and craft unique builds in order to fend off invaders and uncover the secrets behind your island’s history. With Fjor not yet strong enough to rid her island of the threat, it is up to you to harness her ancestral abilities and protect what is most sacred to her people. Each run will make you stronger as you embark on an intricate combat system, test your skills, and challenge the cursed foes of old.
6
Dread Fields
Cows have never been scarier
Set on an isolated farm where you have decided to move to escape the chaos of city life, Dread Fields will see you embark on the routine of a standard farmer: milk the cows, chop wood, fish, feed the animals, mow the grass, and so on. However, your peaceful life is soon shattered when the former owner’s secrets rise to the surface from beneath the very ground itself. In this slow-burn rural horror, you will experience life on an Eastern-European farm, battle its isolation and your loneliness, and discover a story that ends in multiple different ways based on your choices.
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