Steam Next Fest, returning three times annually, serves as a treasure trove for gamers eager to uncover hidden gems. It is the premier venue to preview your next obsession, ranging from high-budget AAA blockbusters to imaginative indie projects that might otherwise fly under the radar.
With the current event now live, we’ve waded through the massive catalog to spare you the heavy lifting. Here are our top picks from the June 2026 Steam Next Fest that deserve a spot on your hard drive.
1
Valor Mortis
First up is Valor Mortis, an atmospheric first-person soulslike that first turned heads during Gamescom 2025. You step into the boots of a Napoleonic-era soldier tasked with battling former comrades who have been twisted into undead nightmares.
The demo showcases a blend of visceral melee, ranged combat, and supernatural abilities across two distinct chapters—one building to a climactic boss encounter and another highlighting advanced movement and enemy design. Mark your calendars: the full game launches on October 13.
2
Pigeon: A Love Story
Part of the charm of Next Fest is encountering the refreshingly bizarre. Pigeon: A Love Story is a standout in this regard. You’ll navigate a meticulously scaled recreation of London from the perspective of a bird, weaving through thousands of others in a desperate search for your soulmate.
It’s a surprisingly engaging social sim where your coos and interactions lead to rejection or helpful tips, ultimately guiding you toward your true love while you explore famous city landmarks.
3
The Devil’s Due
The “Balatro-like” subgenre is flourishing, and The Devil’s Due is a compelling new contender. It utilizes familiar poker-based mechanics and deck-thinning strategies, but swaps the standard aesthetic for the deepest pits of hell.
The art direction is haunting, featuring grotesque opponents themed around the Seven Deadly Sins. The added ability to cheat brings a risky, high-stakes layer to every round that keeps you on the edge of your seat.
4
Security 51
While many games have followed in the footsteps of Papers, Please, Security 51 brings a fresh, paranoid twist to the genre. As the front-desk guard for the infamous Area 51, your role is to vet visitors through IDs, photos, and x-ray scans to identify extraterrestrial threats.
Managing the flow of traffic is demanding, especially when your tasks range from routine verification to identifying infected subjects who shouldn’t be allowed inside. With rotating rules and high-stakes decision-making, it’s a brilliant exercise in anxiety-inducing bureaucracy.
5
Enginefall
Imagine the tension of Snowpiercer combined with the survival mechanics of Rust, and you have Enginefall. It’s an innovative take on the survival genre designed to be more accessible, stripping away the fear of losing everything while you’re offline.
You’ll fight your way through armored trains traversing a ruined world, deciding whether to form alliances or embrace PvP to hoard rare loot. Whether you strive to become the conductor or simply escape with your life, the choice is entirely yours.
6
Empulse
If you’ve been pining for a new arena shooter that prioritizes momentum, Empulse is here to scratch that itch. It’s a high-octane experience that feels like a spiritual successor to the best movement-based shooters on the market.
Featuring grappling hooks, speed boosts, and massive mechs, the game is easy to pick up but offers a steep skill ceiling. Mastering the fluidity of the movement system makes every match feel incredibly rewarding.
7
The Incentive Program
Match-3 games don’t often get a spot in the spotlight, but The Incentive Program is a fascinating exception. Trapped in a desk job with a terminal that holds the key to your survival, you must clear increasingly difficult puzzles to stay alive.
You’ll need to master multipliers and clever modifiers to create massive combos and survive this dark, puzzle-filled office nightmare. We will continue updating this guide as we discover more standouts throughout the event, which runs until June 22.
Source: Polygon
