20 Games You Should Be Looking Forward To in 2026 (Based on Steam Next Fest Impressions)

Steam Next Fest February 2026 delivered one of the strongest demo lineups in recent memory. With so many playable slices of upcoming games across every genre, it was genuinely difficult to put the controller down (and even harder to narrow down a list). The indie space in 2026 is firing on all cylinders: Metroidvanias with combat that rivals the genre’s all-time greats, survival games blowing up on Steam wishlist charts, spiritual successors to classics that fans have been waiting on for decades, and wildly original concepts that nobody asked for but everyone wants.

After spending time with a wide range of demos during and around Next Fest, here are 20 games worth putting on your radar for 2026 (in no particular order).

1. Armatus

Developer: Counterplay Games | Publisher: Fictions | Release Date: 2026

• Returnal-inspired Third-person roguelite shooter set in post-apocalyptic Paris
• Room-to-room structure with a focused, lean loop
• Celestial upgrade system hints at a compelling late-game power fantasy
• Demo available now on Steam with Game Pass day-one confirmed for launch

Armatus drops you into the ruins of demon-infested Paris as the last supernatural warrior of an ancient order, scythe in one hand and a gun in the other, hunting for the Sunless Gate: humanity’s last hope. This third-person roguelite from the studio behind Godfall has a strong foundation: the gunplay is crisp and satisfying, melee evolves meaningfully with upgrades, and the snowballing power fantasy of stacking celestial abilities onto your build gives it real momentum. The boss fight at the end of the demo is a highlight. Some rough edges remain—the dash feels too short, enemy sponginess disrupts pacing, and the weapon system needs more flexibility—but none of it feels insurmountable. The full game has serious potential.

2. Divinum

Developer: Sigil Games | Publisher: Sigil Games | Release Date: 2026

• Hack-and-slash Metroidvania with a deep, expressive combat system
• Launch, juggle, and combo enemies with two distinct primary weapons
• Rune system provides meaningful build customization, not incremental upgrades
• Developed by Sigil Games with a free demo currently available on Steam

The Metroidvania genre churns out new entries constantly, and standing out has never been harder. Divinum finds a way. Built around a protagonist named Fjor defending her northern island from mysterious invaders, what immediately separates it from the crowded field is its combat. Launching enemies into the air, following with two-weapon combos, weaving in dodges and parries. It’s expressive and deep in a way that most Metroidvanias simply aren’t. Add an elegant pixel art style, fluid animations, and a Rune system that doesn’t offer lazy stat bumps but genuinely game-changing modifiers, and Divinum is looking like a sleeper hit that could sit alongside Ori and Hollow Knight as genre standouts.

3. Wild Blue Skies

Developer: Chuhai Labs / VITEI Backroom Inc. | Publisher: Humble Games | Release Date: 2026

• Star Fox-inspired on-rails shooter from a veteran Nintendo programmer
• Modern anime-style visuals with accessible, responsive controls
• Branching paths, secret missions, and a score challenge system for replay value
• Coming to PC and Xbox Series X|S in 2026

Led by Giles Goddard—a programmer who worked on the original Star Fox 64—Wild Blue Skies is the on-rails shooter revival the genre has been waiting for. It captures everything you love about Star Fox 64‘s gameplay, wrapping it in a modern, stylized anime art style that looks genuinely awesome. Crucially, it doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel. Pilot Bowie Stray and the Blue Bombers through diverse biomes, pull off dogfights, tackle cinematic boss encounters, and enjoy a fully voiced cast with natural banter between missions. The voice acting seems strong so far, and the boss battle in the demo was a blast. It’s arcadey, it’s tight, and it feels right.

4. Windrose

Developer: Windrose Crew | Publisher: Windrose Crew | Release Date: 2026 (Early Access)

• Pirate survival game with seamless ship-to-land exploration and naval combat
• Build outposts, manage crews, and craft gear across procedurally generated islands
• Supports up to four players in co-op with dedicated servers at Early Access launch
• Already surpassed one million Steam wishlists after its demo release

Think Assassin’s Creed Black Flag meets multiplayer survival. Windrose is a pirate survival adventure set in an alternate Age of Piracy, blending the classic build-craft-survive formula with seamless naval combat, crew management, boarding actions, and open-world exploration. You’re betrayed and left for dead, and what starts as a revenge story spirals into a larger conflict between empires, pirate clans, and ancient supernatural forces. The demo already hit over a million wishlists and nearly 17,000 concurrent players. The naval combat and the transition between ship and shore feel seamless, and the depth of the survival systems is impressive. For anyone looking for their next big survival obsession, this is the one to watch.

5. Vampire Crawlers

Developer: poncle / Nosebleed Interactive | Publisher: poncle | Release Date: April 21, 2026

• Turbo-turn-based deckbuilder dungeon crawler from the creators of Vampire Survivors
• Fast-paced card combat with zero waiting—actions chain instantly without animation locks
• Features familiar characters from the Vampire Survivors universe in a new setting
• Releasing April 21, 2026 on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, iOS, and Android—day one on Game Pass

Vampire Survivors proved poncle could capture lightning in a bottle. Vampire Crawlers: The Turbo Wildcard from Vampire Survivors proves they’re not a one-hit wonder. This isn’t Vampire Survivors reskinned—it’s a completely different beast. A turbo-turn-based, card-driven dungeon crawler (a “BLOBBER,” in poncle’s terminology) with roguelite elements, it shares little mechanical similarities with its predecessor. But somehow, it captures the same addicting gameplay loop through an entirely new lens. The Turbo-Turn system hooked me immediately, even though deckbuilders are nowhere near my favorite genre. Multiple strategic layers, snappy pacing, familiar faces from the Vampire Survivors universe, and a day-one Game Pass launch make this a must-watch.

6. Bobo Bay

Developer: NewFutureKids | Publisher: NewFutureKids | Release Date: April 29, 2026

• Chao Garden-inspired virtual pet sim with deep breeding and customization systems
• Raise Bobos from Saplings to full-grown creatures with unique traits and personalities
• Compete in races, brawls, and relay events across a growing competition calendar
• Developed solo by NewFutureKids, releasing April 29, 2026 on PC

Bobo Bay is the Chao Garden successor fans have been asking Sonic to deliver for decades, except it doesn’t force you to play through a Sonic game to enjoy it. You find Bobos, raise them, feed them to build stats, and enter them into competitions like races and karate matches. You also run a store and use your Bobos to help rebuild the desolate Bobo Bay through Public Works Projects. With thousands of customization combinations through breeding, accessories, and traits, the depth is real. The town has day-and-night dynamics, procedurally generated island exploration via jetski, and a warmth to it that’s hard to resist. It’s a dream come true for anyone who lost hundreds of hours to Chao Garden and never stopped missing it.

7. Coffee Talk Tokyo

Developer: Toge Productions / Chorus Worldwide | Publisher: Chorus Worldwide | Release Date: May 21, 2026

• Third standalone entry in the beloved Coffee Talk series, now set in Tokyo
• Brew drinks for an all-new cast of humans and yōkai with branching storylines
• New latte art tools, sprinkle stencils, and the Tomodachill social feed add fresh layers
• Releasing May 21, 2026 on PC, PS5, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch

Coffee Talk Tokyo is the third standalone chapter in the beloved Coffee Talk series, and from everything shown so far, it’s carrying the same cozy, supernatural atmosphere that made the first two so special. Set in a late-night Tokyo café, you brew drinks for a brand-new cast of humans and yōkai, with each cup shaping the direction of conversations and storylines. The writing, character work, and setting are all as strong as ever, and the new recipes are a delight to experiment with. A new latte art system with sprinkle stencils and the Tomodachill social feed add fresh mechanics without disrupting the vibe. The lo-fi soundtrack by returning composer AJ Jeremy keeps everything perfectly chill.

8. REPLACED

Developer: Sad Cat Studios | Publisher: Thunderful | Release Date: April 14, 2026

• Narrative-driven 2.5D cyberpunk action platformer with Arkham-inspired free-flow combat
• Set in an alternate-history 1980s America where the U.S. nuked itself instead of Japan
• Handcrafted pixel art and cinematic set pieces that have been over five years in the making
• Releasing April 14, 2026 on PC, Xbox Series X|S—including day-one on Game Pass

REPLACED has been one of the most anticipated indie games since its jaw-dropping reveal at E3 2021, and after playing the demo, those expectations feel entirely warranted. You play as R.E.A.C.H., an AI trapped in a human body in an alternate 1980s America reshaped by nuclear catastrophe. The handcrafted 2.5D pixel art visuals are as stunning in motion as they’ve ever looked in screenshots. With Arkham-style free-flow combat, cinematic exploration, and a dark cyberpunk narrative, REPLACED brings the full package. The demo was compelling enough that Sad Cat Studios delayed launch to April 14 after processing feedback. Given the quality already on display, it’s a great sign of how seriously they’re taking this.

9. GRIDbeat!

Developer: Ridiculous Games | Publisher: Acclaim | Release Date: Out Now

• Rhythm-based dungeon crawler where every action syncs to an electrifying soundtrack
• Navigate a neon grid Mainframe as a hacker escaping a fortified corporate network
• Boss encounters called Cyber.Mind battles test your mastery of beat-based combat
• Out now on PC (Steam) and Nintendo Switch as of March 26, 2026

GRIDbeat! is a rhythm-based dungeon crawler with a hacking narrative that’s as stylish as it is mechanically tight. You’ve just breached Knoss.OS, the most heavily-fortified corporate network on the planet, and now you’re trapped in the Mainframe with every move, attack, and ability synced to a pulse-pounding electro soundtrack. The visuals are vibrant and neon-soaked, the music is exceptional, and the core mechanic of moving on the beat inside a grid-based labyrinth is genuinely innovative. Evading security protocols, battling AI gatekeepers in boss encounters, and upgrading your hacker’s toolkit as you go deeper into the system makes for an experience that’s completely unlike anything else on this list.

10. Super Meat Boy 3D

Developer: Sluggerfly | Publisher: Headup Games | Release Date: Out Now

• Super Meat Boy makes the leap to isometric 3D while preserving the series’ punishing feel
• New mechanics include horizontal wall running and a mid-air dash inspired by SMB Forever
• Over 300 levels of brutal platforming with bandages to collect and characters to unlock
• Out now on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2 as of March 31, 2026

It’s Super Meat Boy in isometric 3D, and it works really well. Sluggerfly worked closely with Team Meat’s Tommy Refenes to nail Meat Boy’s feel in three dimensions, and the result is the same tight controls and brutal, unforgiving level design the series is known for. The same gory deaths, the same screen-filling replays of all your failed attempts. The same helpless Bandage Girl at the mercy of Dr. Fetus. Horizontal wall running and a mid-air dash have been added to the kit, giving the game its own identity while keeping the core intact. It launched today, March 31, with day-one Game Pass availability—go get on it.

11. Parasite Mutant

Developer: IceSitruuna | Publisher: IceSitruuna | Release Date: 2026

• Parasite Eve spiritual successor with an Active Time Chain combat system
• Play as psionic agent Nova investigating a flooded, monster-infested abandoned city
• Combines real-time movement with turn-based tactical action in a horror RPG setting
• Developed by Chinese indie studio IceSitruuna, coming to PC and PS5 in 2026

Parasite Eve fans have been starved for decades, and indie studio IceSitruuna has stepped up to fill the void. Parasite Mutant is a bio-horror RPG following psionic agent Nova investigating an abandoned, monster-overrun island city, built around an Active Time Chain (ATC) combat system that’s a clear spiritual heir to Parasite Eve‘s Active Time Battle. You move freely in real time and pause to issue commands, creating a constant tension between survival and strategy. This game is a lot of fun even without any nostalgia for the original—the demo almost made me want to go back and play Parasite Eve for the first time. The semi-fixed retro camera, the horror atmosphere, and the tactical combat make it a genuinely compelling package.

12. Denshattack!

Developer: Undercoders | Publisher: Fireshine Games | Release Date: June 17, 2026

• Tony Hawk meets Jet Set Radio with trains in a dystopian Japan setting
• Over 50 levels of high-speed trick-based rail riding with combo scoring and side challenges
• Story mode with fully voiced anime-style cutscenes and strong character design
• Releasing June 17, 2026 on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2—day one on Game Pass

Have you ever wanted to kickflip a train? Probably not. Although nobody asked for this, Barcelona-based Undercoders has delivered one of the most original concepts of 2026. Denshattack! Is a Tony Hawk and Jet Set Radio-inspired game where you pull off stylish tricks and navigate hazardous tracks at high speeds in a dystopian Japan. The train is your skateboard, and somehow it works beautifully. What makes it even more surprising is how narrative-driven it turns out to be: great anime-style cutscenes, strong character designs, and a story about reclaiming abandoned railroad lines from a dystopian megacorp. The soundtrack is also phenomenal. The demo is a must try for gamers looking for something unique and extremely fun.

13. Ecrazeus Castle

Developer: Meringue Rouge | Publisher: Meringue Rouge | Release Date: Mid-2026

• High-octane arcade action RPG inspired by Kirby Air Rider’s City Trial and Smash Run
• Dual-wield over 50 weapon variations across seven types, each with unique functionality
• Explore randomized stages and power up before tackling the castle’s boss encounters
• Solo project by Paris-based developer Meringue Rouge, coming to PC mid-2026

I’ll admit: Ecrazeus Castle is a hard game to look at. The overly exaggerated character designs and low quality textures nearly made me quit before giving it a real chance. But, I’m so glad I didn’t, because gameplay is ultimately what makes or breaks a game—and Ecrazeus Castle absolutely delivers. Think a high-octane action RPG version of Kirby Air Rider‘s City Trial or Smash Run from Super Smash Bros. for 3DS: freely explore an open map, defeat enemies, and grab as many stat power-ups and weapons as you can before time runs out. With dual-wielding of over 50 weapon variations, each feeling distinct and fun, plus fast, fluid movement that gets more exhilarating as your stats climb. This is a textbook example of “don’t judge a book by its cover.”

14. Atre: Dominance Wars

Developer: Ironward | Publisher: Ironward | Release Date: Q2 2026

• Lore-rich 4X strategy hybrid with real-time tactics, RPG progression, and god-game powers
• Three victory paths—Conquest, Ascension, Omnipresence—with shifting alliances and betrayals
• Unique species, arcane spellcasting, and artifact-forging set it apart from traditional 4X games
• Developed by Croatian studio Ironward, launching Q2 2026 on PC

Atre: Dominance Wars is a 4X strategy game strategic combat that offers a meaningfully distinct loop from the likes of Civilization or Anno. Developed by the Croatian studio behind The Red Solstice series, it puts you in the role of an Elder—an ascendant sorcerer—pursuing godhood in a world threatened by a cosmic cataclysm called The Merge. The production value is strong, the setting is rich with lore, and the hybrid of 4X empire building, real-time tactics, and RPG progression through powerful spells and artifact-crafting makes it feel fresh. Betrayals and shifting alliances are baked into the design, and three distinct victory conditions keep each session unpredictable. Strategy fans looking for something with personality should keep a close eye on this one.

15. 13Z: The Zodiac Trials

Developer: Mixed Realms | Publisher: Mixed Realms | Release Date: 2026

• Character-action roguelite inspired by Chinese Zodiac mythology from Singapore studio Mixed Realms
• Six unique animal spirit characters with distinct, expressive combat styles
• Hades-style roguelite structure with permanent upgrades and solo or 2–4 player co-op
• Demo available now on Steam with Early Access planned for 2026

13Z: The Zodiac Trials is a character-action meets Hades roguelite built around Chinese mythology, and it’s one of the most fun action demos at Next Fest. Play as animal spirit challengers competing to claim the 13th seat among the Zodiac Guardians: six playable characters, each with a wildly different moveset. The fox is a fast combo-driven swordswoman, the raven is a ranged assassin, and the panda is a hard-hitting bruiser. The combat is fast, stylish, and deeply satisfying. Permanent upgrades between runs and co-op support for up to four players round out a package that’s already drawing favorable comparisons to Hades and Devil May Cry alike.

16. Clockwork Ambrosia

Developer: Realmsoft | Publisher: OI Games | Release Date: April 22, 2026

• Steampunk Metroidvania 2D shooter with a deep weapon modification and building system
• Explore diverse biomes with beautiful pixel art, from cloud cities to sunken underground kingdoms
• Mix weapon mods for wildly different combat builds, from missile barrages to sniper rounds
• Developed by Realmsoft and published by OI Games, releasing April 22, 2026 on PC

Clockwork Ambrosia is a steampunk Metroidvania fused with a 2D shooter and a weapon-building system that gives it a genuinely unique flavor. You play as Iris, an airship engineer stranded on a mysterious island after a crash, exploring a gorgeous pixel art world across cloud cities, mushroom forests, and sunken kingdoms. The weapon modification system is the star of the show. Stack synergies to create screen-filling shot splitters, missile barrages, and armor-piercing sniper builds that completely change how you approach encounters. The level design is non-linear and rewarding, the narrative hooks are intriguing, and the eight planned chapters suggest a substantial full game. For Mega Man and Metroidvania fans who want their combat to have a little more mechanical depth, this is a promising sleeper.

17. Darkhaven

Developer: Moonbeast Productions | Publisher: Moonbeast Productions | Release Date: 2026

• Diablo-style ARPG from original Diablo and Diablo II creators at Moonbeast Productions
• Procedurally generated, fully destructible open world with vertical movement and voxel exploration
• Intentionally anti-incremental itemization: rare finds that reshape builds, not tiny stat bumps
• Solo or multiplayer with PvP and co-op support; Early Access launch planned for 2026 on PC

Darkhaven comes from a team of veterans who built the original Diablo and Diablo II, and they’re not playing it safe. This is a Diablo-style isometric ARPG with one major differentiator: the entire world is procedurally generated and fully destructible. Voxel destruction lets you smash through walls and floors to find hidden paths and loot, and the combat is built around real skill expression—jumping, climbing, dashing, and repositioning matter here, not just stat checks. The itemization philosophy is intentionally against “balanced banality,” promising gear that genuinely feels powerful and rare items that can reshape your build. The loot loop is satisfying, and the promise of a fully moddable game with in-client creation tools makes the long-term potential exciting.

18. MIGHTREYA

Developer: Wazen | Publisher: 505 Games | Release Date: Q2 2026

• Anime superhero action game fusing Devil May Cry combat depth with aerial hero battles
• Reya livestreams her fights, with the in-game score system tied to audience reactions
• Three weapons and over 30 unique actions across 38 stages with 24 enemy types
• Developed by sole creator Wazen, published by 505 Games, releasing Q2 2026 on PC

Imagine if Dragon Ball Z had the combat depth and score system of Devil May Cry. That is MIGHTREYA. In a world where interdimensional creatures attack the city daily, Reya takes up the mantle of superhero alongside her manager Nio, who livestreams every fight. The score system is tied to audience reactions from the livestream, which is a clever touch. Yes, the controls can be overwhelming at first—every button on the controller is in play—but once it clicks, you’re launching enemies across the map, speeding to them, and slamming them into the ground in a style rating frenzy. Solo developer Wazen, a former Devil May Cry planner, has been building this for nearly four years, and the Q2 2026 launch can’t come soon enough.

19. Duskfade

Developer: Weird Beluga Studio | Publisher: Fireshine Games | Release Date: 2026

• Kingdom Hearts-inspired 3D action platformer with fast, expressive combat and traversal
• Explore five major clockpunk regions with jump, dash, grapple, and glide mechanics
• Clock-hand sword transforms for unique physical and magic attacks across combat scenarios
• Developed by Weird Beluga Studio, published by Fireshine Games, releasing 2026 on PC, PS5, and Xbox

Duskfade is a Kingdom Hearts-inspired 3D action platformer from the Spanish studio Weird Beluga (Clid the Snail) and it feels wonderfully “PS2” in the best possible way. You play as Zirian, a young workshop apprentice trying to save his sister from a mysterious Clock Tower that has plunged the world into eternal night. The clockpunk world is vibrant and beautiful, and the combat, built around a clock-hand sword that transforms and lets you hook and glide across environments, has real personality. Inspirations from Jak and Daxter, Ratchet & Clank, and Kingdom Hearts are all clearly felt, but Duskfade is carving its own identity. The demo isn’t perfect but it has momentum, charm, and a heartfelt story that makes me excited to play more.

20. The Eternal Life of Goldman

Developer: Weappy Studio | Publisher: THQ Nordic | Release Date: 2026

• Hand-drawn 2D Metroidvania platformer with meticulous frame-by-frame animation
• Play as Goldman, an aging adventurer hunting a mysterious Deity across a hand-crafted Archipelago
• Upgrade your cane with new parts to access hidden areas and face incredible creatures
• Developed by Weappy Studio, published by THQ Nordic—coming to PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Switch day one on Game Pass

The Eternal Life of Goldman is a major highlight of Steam Next Fest 2026. It may be one of the most visually breathtaking indie games in years. Developed by Weappy Studio—creators of This Is the Police—and published by THQ Nordic, this hand-drawn 2D platformer adventure is set in a hand-crafted Archipelago steeped in ancient fables, depicted in meticulously crafted frame-by-frame animation. You play as Goldman, an aging adventurer with a cane, sent to kill a mysterious Deity no one has ever seen. Combat draws comparisons to DuckTales, with cane-bouncing, hooking onto ledges, and stylishly dispatching enemies. Every room is unique, every character is memorable, and the melancholy running beneath the adventure gives it an emotional weight that lingers. THQ Nordic just confirmed at the March 26 Xbox Partner Preview that it will be day one on Game Pass when it launches later this year.

The Bigger Picture

2026 is already shaping up to be one of the most stacked years in gaming history from a AAA standpoint, but the indie scene is matching that energy beat for beat. REPLACED wraps up a five-year journey that began at E3 2021. Super Meat Boy just made the leap to 3D. Vampire Survivors developer poncle proves it can succeed outside its defining genre. The Eternal Life of Goldman showcases that stunning artistry and heartfelt storytelling can still stop people in their tracks. And original concepts like Denshattack! remind us that indie games are still the most fertile ground for genuinely new ideas.

The games on this list span every genre and price point, developed by studios from Singapore to Spain, solo developers in Paris to veteran Diablo creators in the U.S. The sheer diversity of ambition on display during Steam Next Fest 2026 was extraordinary—and the year is only getting started. Keep an eye out for these 20 games by wishlisting them on your preferred platform.