I finally had the chance to play some games during Steam Next Fest: February Edition. I'm usually pretty busy during Next Fests, so I was really excited to get to check out some demos for games I've been looking forward to. Below you'll find my lil recap of the games I played!
Games
Seeking Adventure
Off-stream, I'm a big fan of the hidden object game genre. It's relaxing just spending time finding things in a low-stakes world. I especially love the Hidden Through Time series. Seeking Adventure caught my eye because it combines hidden object mechanics with dice rolling. So I downloaded the demo to check it out.
I wish that there was a little more to the tutorial in the demo. After loading it, I was basically put into a level and expected to figure things out. Seeking Adventure also feels less like a hidden object game and more like a point-and-click adventure game where you're looking for loot in the environment in order to fulfill NPC requests and occasionally fight NPCs. The fights come in the form of rolling against NPCs to see if you can out-damage their health, with your roll being affected by any sort of armor or weapons that you might have equipped.
While the initial game was fun, it still felt like there was something missing for me in this one. I'm not sure if it would be addressed by a tutorial or potentially some additional writing to explain why we're doing certain actions, but there's something that keeps me from fully recommending this game. It's cute and if you're looking for a different take on the hidden object or search and find genres, it might be a good fit for you! Let me know if you check it out.
Find more info here
Canvas
(couldn't find a link to the trailer for this post, but here's their Kickstarter trailer!)
I've really gotten into board games over the last few years. Mostly I try to take a look at games that have solo and group modes that aren't like terribly competitive. One game that I've been excited about for a while but haven't had the chance to play in person is Canvas. It's a game where you take transparent cards and stack them together to make paintings. Each card has unique art on it that you can combine with others to create wondrous pieces. The problem is that I'm not actually that great at reading the rules for board games lol. For some reason, my brain always has a really hard time trying to decipher what the rules are asking of me.
I was really really excited to see that they are working on a digital version of Canvas for Steam because it meant that I might get to have an easier time understanding the rules. I quickly downloaded it and queued up a game against the computer. It works really well, to be honest. The game is explained clearly and there are good animations when drawing cards and creating paintings. It was a lot of fun to play until I slightly broke it and got stuck trying to make a painting lol. But it's an early demo of the game that will no doubt have some bug fixes, this will definitely be a game that I look forward to picking up to play with online friends when it comes out!
Is this Seat Taken?
This year has been a year of puzzle games for me, for whatever reason. Is This Seat Taken? is a game where you're trying to make everyone happen in seating arrangements for each stage. There's a cute story going on in the background where a shape is trying to figure out what her path in life is going to be and learning about taking a scary step forward to do what she wants to do. But the bulk of the game is reading lil messages from the different characters to get an idea of their likes and dislikes so that you can put them in a seat that best serves their needs.
The demo is the perfect length for the tutorial and to show off the game mechanics, I'd highly recommend checking it out if you haven't. This was the demo that I enjoyed the most out of the ones that I got to try.
Monaco 2
I gotta be honest, I was not a huge fan of this demo. A friend and I have been looking forward to Monaco 2 since we found out that my computer just won't run the first game for whatever reason. The art style change looked cute and we were ready to go on some heists. And it just didn't give the vibe that I was looking for.
Monaco 2 plays more like a stealth game than anything else, which is fine, but it feels like it's advertised as more than that. I went in expecting to create a plan, maybe hack some things ahead of going into the target location, and work together with my teammate to navigate the levels. Instead, it currently feels a little more like a smash-and-grab game where you're just trying to avoid being seen by the many guards in the level. I'm interested to see if the game continues to evolve, but I'm not sure that I'll be picking this one up.
Sedap! A Culinary Adventure
Sedap! offers a new look into the overcooked game genre as a combat-cooking game. This was a demo that I wish I would have tested out with a friend. While I know that you can play these style games on your own, I really feel like they were built to be multiplayer experiences, and Sedap! is no different. This game adds an additional level of combat to the cooking experience, where you actually have to fight the local flora and fauna for the ingredients you're using to make the meal.
I love that this game centers recipes that are inspired by Southeast Asian cuisine instead of the standard pizza and burger fare that I'm used to in these games. I can definitely see myself playing this with friends in the future, but I'm not sure that I would recommend playing this on your own, it just doesn't have the same vibe.
Dunecrawl
Sometimes, you just want to be a pirate terrorizing the sands on your giant landcrab ship. I don't make the rules. And if that's a dream that you're looking to fulfill, Dunecrawl is what you're looking for. After your home is destroyed by a group of invaders, you take to the sands to become the best pirate you can while trying to understand the mystery of the Dune Crawlers.
This game really stood out to me because it's up to 4 player co-op. Each member of your party can equip different weapons and find a play style that fits them best. In the demo, I had some issues when trying to just play on my own with a controller, the game was recognizing my keyboard and controller at the same time, so I couldn't actually move my character. But once I got that sorted out, I enjoyed the combat and speed of play in the game. I'm excited to check it out even more when the full game drops, especially since I'll get to cause chaos with my friends.
Wheel World
I've been intrigued by Wheel World since the announcement trailer dropped last year. The vibes remind me of OlliOlli World and I love a game that gives me reasons to explore the world the devs have built. Wheel World centers on the story of a bike that's looking for a rider so that it can keep the world from falling apart. You play as Kat, the rider chosen by the bike to help them on their quest to find the legendary parts that will help them save the world.
Over the course of the demo, I explored the tutorial area, won my first race, and got introduced to the bike customization mechanic. All of it fits well together and I'm excited to see how they continue to build up the game so that players can really customize bikes to fit their play style. I'll definitely be picking it up when it launches.
Wanderstop
Yall. I have an unfortunate knack for choosing games that personally attack me lol. Wanderstop was not at all what I expected (which is my fault, I really should do a slightly better job of reading up on games before I start them). This demo starts on 100 as you meet Alta, a warrior who has only ever known the fight. But the years have added up and she's burnt out, even if she won't acknowledge it. The first five minutes of the game really hit hard as they explore the topic of doing all you can to be the best at what you do only to find that someone else is still better, that you can be defeated.
The core mechanics in the demo are gardening and making tea alongside Boro. There are a couple of loops where Alta starts to get scared that she's losing herself (and that she won't find herself again)
I'm experiencing burnout now, if I'm being honest with yall. I've worked really hard to get where I am in my current job and it still feels like it's never enough. I still feel like I need to dedicate a ton of time, energy, and resources just to feel like what I've done so far has mattered, and some days it still feels like it doesn't matter. So when Alta is going through her identity crisis at the beginning of Wanderstop, it really hit hard. I love that it seems like she gets to have the space to learn what it is to not feel like you have to grind every day and to be the best at what you're doing. It makes me wonder how the game will continue as you work in the tea shop with Boro and help the customers who come along.
Wanderstop is a game that I'd love to check out in the future. It explores topics that are currently very relatable and I love a game that's willing to tackle hard conversations. I hope that Alta is able to lift her sword again, but I also hope that she has the courage to know that she can put it down when she wants to, that life doesn't always have to be a fight.
Closing Out
I know this was a little late, but I still wanted to share my thoughts on the games I got to check out during the February Edition of Steam Next Fest. I'd love to know if there are other games that you're excited to check out this year, especially if they're games that you think I should play. Feel free to let me know on social media (I'm mostly on Bluesky at this point) or sign up for free membership on this site in order to leave a comment below!
Steam Next Fest - February 2025 Edition
Check out my recap of game demos from Steam Next Fest: Feb 2025 Edition!