Adventure game demo round-up for Steam Next Fest – October 2025

• Features by Adventure Game Hotspot staff
• Published:

October isn’t just shaping up to be a fantastic month of new releases, but thanks to the latest Steam Next Fest, there’s a plethora of bite-sized demos to snack on too! Many are from promising new developers, while others are highly anticipated sequels or original offerings from the likes of Meredith Gran and Three Bees (Perfect Tides), Postmodern Adventures (Nightmare Frames, An English Haunting), Sive Five Games (Lair of the Clockwork God, Time Gentlemen, Please!), The Wild Gentlemen (Chicken Police), Tarsier Studios (Little Nightmares), Spooky Doorway (The Darkside Detective) and Rusty Lake (you guessed it: the Rusty Lake series), as well as the upcoming prequel to Simon the Sorcerer.

All this and so much more await, with something for every taste and preference. But as usual, don’t dilly dally! Some of these demos will only be available until the end of the Next Fest on October 20th, so best get cracking.

(New demos will be added as they become available, so be sure to check back later in the week for new arrivals.)

An Abyss of Dreams

Developer: Studio Chien d'Or

As the Great Darkness shrouds the province of Quebec, young Thérèse’s life is upended when, after her mother’s death, she is placed in the Saint-Nicolas-de-la-Passion Orphanage. She finds herself in a place ruled by violence and cruelty, where God Himself seems to turn a blind eye to the suffering of His children. At night, Thérèse is transported to another world. It seems more peaceful, almost enchanting, but she quickly realizes that horrors beyond comprehension lurk there. And perhaps this world, which appears only in her dreams, can explain the strange phenomena that occur within the orphanage’s walls.

Download for Windows PC

Amanda the Adventurer 3

Developer: MANGLEDmaw Games

Immediately after the events of the previous game, the series finale follows Riley Park as they work to uncover the secrets surrounding the strangely interactive children’s show, Amanda the Adventurer. Having survived their Aunt Kate’s attic after being left a stack of VHS tapes of the 90s-style cartoon, Riley trailed the mysteries to Kensdale Public Library, where new secrets and dangers awaited them. Now, after barely escaping the library with their life, thanks to the help of an enigmatic masked woman, Riley must explore the abandoned Hameln Entertainment facility to finally discover the truth.

Download for Windows PC

The Berlin Apartment

Developer: btf

A handyman is tasked with refurbishing an old apartment in the city of Berlin, Germany. In the course of his extensive renovation work, he digs deeper and deeper into the history of the apartment. Relics from past times turn out to be silent witnesses – and former companions – of the apartment's previous inhabitants. With each new find, he tells his daughter the story behind this trace of a past adventure — with its own protagonists, in its own genre, with a very different atmosphere, but always set in the same four walls.

Download for Windows PC

Brownie’s Adventure: The Final Resolution

Developer: Beardy Ramblin Games

After being fired from the Pilchard press, stranded in a hellish alien dimension (South Yorkshire) and finally defeating Grundolph and retiring, your life is good now. The 'Spoon of Power' is locked safely away. Sure, Grundolph's spirit is still alive within it but... So what? It'll be fine. Relax.

Download for Windows PC  

Cairn 

Developer: The Game Bakers

As pro climber Aava, you embark on the ascent of Mount Kami, a summit that has never been reached. Explore the terrain, read the rock face from the ground and plan your route carefully. Solve problems while on the wall to navigate difficult sections. You can climb on anything, so choose your path wisely! Along the journey, meet unexpected companions and hear from those left on the ground. Discover the mountain's history and decide what Aava is willing to sacrifice to achieve her dream.

Download for Windows PC

Call of the Golden Valley

Developer: O'Saurus Studios

You are Danielle, an American tourist travelling to an old town in the Australian countryside to visit your friend Marisa. Upon arrival, you discover that Marisa is not only nowhere to be found, but that she’s actually one of the many people who have recently vanished without a trace from this seemingly harmless small country town. In order to save your friend, you must search the internet for clues, solve mysterious puzzles and uncover the conspiracy behind the vanishing hikers of Golden Valley.

Download for Windows and Mac

Casting Whispers 

Developer: Lantern Bay Entertainment

1961. Corburgh, Connecticut, USA. An old industrial city plagued by urban legends, the sins of its past, and unexplained phenomena. For Victoria, a lab assistant working in the field of psychic and mental psychology known as Extra-Sensory Perception (ESP), Corburgh was always home. A place to study and learn. But tonight, something is very wrong with her trusted mentor, Professor Henry Zubringer. Something lies in wait at his apartment building. Something that has sat hidden in the heart of Corburgh for a very long time. Enter the shadows within 1195 Norman Ave., investigate what happened there, and try to save your friend... and yourself.

Download for Windows PC

Confidential Killings – A Detective Game

Developers:  BRANE, Lorenzo Boni

A series of murders is shocking Hollywood! Take on the role of a keen-eyed investigator piecing together twisted scandals. By carefully examining crime scenes, analyzing clues, and linking evidence, you’ll unravel a web of conspiracies behind closed doors. Every choice brings you closer to the truth—or deeper into the lies that define a city built on fame and secrecy.

Download for Windows and Mac

Cryptic Tales: Crossroads

Developer:  Innervation Bros

Jon’s dreams were filled with music and a love life he once had. Now they’ve curdled into nightmares, weaving between memories and unknown realms. What's worse, Jon begins to realize that something is stalking him. His old work pager keeps notifying him of new messages. Who is sending them? What do they want? And can he trust any of them? Hoping to get to the bottom of it, Jon explores his surroundings to uncover who’s behind it.

Download for Windows PC

Dark Atlas: Infernum

Developer: Night Council Studio

Step into the role of Natalia Asensio, Grand Master of an ancient esoteric order. As society collapses and dimensional barriers shatter, supernatural forces are unleashed into the world. Trapped in a dusty basement, drugged and barely remembering your identity, you must engage in a battle of wills that could open the gates of hell. Haunted by the voice in your head that tortures and commands you, your only choice is to follow its cryptic orders. The end of the world may be the beginning of your struggle, but your greatest battle is against the dark forces trying to tear apart both your mind and reality. Every step forward is a battle against the unknown horrors that lie ahead.

Download for Windows PC

Dark Auction

Developer: IzanagiGames

Noah sets out alone into a mysterious castle deep in the Black Forest in search of his father, who never returned after attending a secret auction. There Noah witnesses a shocking scene and encounters something that…should not be of this world. Soon Noah realizes he is trapped in the castle along with other participants. To uncover the truths hidden in the auction items, he must follow the rules and take part in this strange auction.

Download for Windows PC

Dark Fracture 

Developer: Twisted II Studio

In a forested area of the Northeastern USA lives Edward, a lonely man tormented by a tragic past, whose only solace is in the medicine that helps him to get through the day. Edward is barely able to cope with his issues, which are only intensified by the solitude of his workplace at a body farm – a decomposition research facility. One night, while working the dreaded midnight shift, a chain of disturbing events draws Edward ever closer to losing his sanity, as the very fabric of reality seems to unravel and twist around him. Is it merely Edward’s mind playing tricks on him? Or perhaps there truly is something darker clawing at his heels, threatening to drag him into the depths?

Download for Windows PC

The Dark Rites of Arkham

Developer: Postmodern Adventures

Detective Jack Foster rejoins the police department after a traumatic incident to take over the investigation of what appears to be mere political blackmail. Soon, however, he's faced with the discovery of a gruesome ritual murder that took place in a sealed room, from which no one could have gotten in or out without being seen. Along with his new partner, Harvey Whitman, an expert on cults, Foster dives deep into the shadows of the city of Arkham. The case will get even darker when they find out it is related to three witches that escaped the Salem trials in 1693, and a conspiracy that could put an end to the world as we know it.

Download for Windows PC

The Doll Shop 

Developer: Atelier Sentô

When the childhood friend of a quiet, secretive dollmaker living in the Japanese countryside returns to the village, he must choose between his beloved dolls and the hope of a new life... if it’s not already too late.

Download for Windows PC

Earth Must Die

Developer: Size Five Games

These moronic Terranoids think they can just roll in here and take over my beautiful Tyrythian kingdom? The kingdom that I built from the ground up with my bare hands, and only sort of inherited from my dear, sweet, extremely dead father? This is complete bullsh*t, and I'm going to make them dead.

Download for Windows PC

Eilean Mor: The Lost Keepers 

Developer: Dead Witness

The year is 1900. Off the coast of Scotland, all contact has been lost with the lighthouse on the remote island of Eilean Mor. The light no longer shines at night. No one is answering the radio. And the three lighthouse keepers have vanished without a trace. You are a reserve lighthouse keeper, sent to investigate the silence. What begins as a simple relief mission soon descends into a psychological horror experience one rooted in isolation, madness, and a mystery buried deep within the island.

Download for Windows PC

Finch & Archie

Developer: Octarine Arts

After losing his previous canine partner, Finch swore never to work with another dog again. But then Archie appeared — a newly graduated police dog who changed his life. Together, Finch & Archie must track down a serial murderer who’s on the loose while solving various criminal cases in 1930s America. This new team will have to learn to work together, communicate efficiently and interact with each other to catch that serial killer and restore peace to the city.

Download for Windows PC

Finding Your Way 

Developer: Ben James Games

Embark on a journey through a world you once knew, now shrouded in darkness. Splash it with color to reveal your path forward through the invisible levels, and turn it into beautiful artwork as you play. Restore this dreamy realm's forgotten beauty and light as you uncover its secrets.

Download for Windows PC

Goodnight Universe

Developer: Nice Dream

You are Isaac, a 6-month-old baby, developing mysterious psychic powers. What you want most is to be loved and accepted by your family, but a secretive tech corporation wants you for their own. The game features an immersive “camera as controller” mode, expanding on the innovative use of camera-based technology that the development team is known for.

Download for Windows PC

Insomnia: Chapter One

Developer: Melon Polygons

Ethan Miller, a young technician, begins his descent into the collapsing corridors of Perseus. What starts as a routine maintenance assignment becomes a nightmare of paranoia, betrayal, and grief. Ethan must uncover what really happened beneath the ice – and what still lurks in the dark.

Download for Windows PC

The Last Case of John Morley

Developer: Indigo Studios - Interactive Stories

After months spent recovering from injuries sustained during his last case, Morley is visited by the enigmatic Lady Margarette Fordside, an English countess haunted by a tragic past. Lady Fordside engages Morley to investigate the unsolved murder of her daughter, which occurred on a fateful night 20 years ago. The police closed the case by arresting scapegoats, but the countess is convinced that the real killer remains at large. What begins as a quiet look into an old case becomes a haunting investigation into forgotten places and long-hidden truths that refuse to stay buried.

Download for Windows PC

Maelström Legacy: The Tesla Mystery

Developer: Wistfulware

Hayao Maelström is a young Japanese scientist and inventor who receives a letter signed by Nikola Tesla, inviting him to an event that takes place every ten years at the Scientific Congress at the Eiffel Tower in Paris. However, as Tesla finishes his opening speech, the lights go out, and when they come back on, Tesla has disappeared! While the police are on the case, Hayao and his dog Alpina conduct their own investigation to find out the truth behind these events. 

Download for Windows and Mac

Master Lemon: The Quest for Iceland

Developer: Pepita Digital

Inspired by true events as a tribute to André Lima, a vibrant adventurer whose passion for languages and cultures knew no bounds, the game stars Lemon, a polyglot with a dream of learning Icelandic, who is tasked with saving a distant land from a threat that devours memories and endangers the world's linguistic heritage.

Download for Windows PC

Moses & Plato: Last Train to Clawville

Developer: The Wild Gentlemen

An ambassador on a peace mission has been killed on board the Clawville Express, and you are the main suspect! Be the slyest fox detective and find the real killer in a race against time. Sniff out clues, eavesdrop on conversations, and interrogate passengers. Can you solve the case before the train reaches the last station? If not, war can break out between the two biggest powers of the Wilderness!

Download for Windows PC

Nighthawks

Developer: The Curiosity Engine

Six months ago, you died and were reborn. A vampire. A predator. Not a mere creature of the night, but one of its masters. At least, that’s how things were supposed to be. Unfortunately, the world has changed. The secret is out. Vampires have finally been exposed, and though your existence is tolerated, your new thirst is not. You came to the one city willing to promise a fresh start, only to find suspicion and starvation waiting on its dark streets. Seize the night as a modern monster, stepping out of the shadows to build a thriving nightclub empire through fear, seduction, and forbidden supernatural gifts. Your second life begins tonight.

Download for Windows PC

No More Work for Ito 

Developer: Poética Software

Daniel is exhausted. Work has drained him. And things only get worse when he’s forced to pull an all-nighter, just after hearing unsettling whispers about office murders. The team has to deliver the entire project by morning, and the pressure is crushing. Normal stuff... But why won't any of his colleagues tell him about Ito?

Download for Windows, Mac and Linux

OPUS: Prism Peak

Developer: Sigono

You are a photographer weary from life’s misfortunes, stumbling into an ethereal realm while driving back to your hometown. To escape, you’ll have to confront elements from your past and learn to make peace with them through the lens of your trusty camera. The pictures you take slowly unveil the mystery via nostalgic rediscovery.

Download for Windows PC

The Oversight Bureau

Developer: Iconic Interactive

You are candidate 404, trapped inside C.U.T.E. – a rehabilitation program designed to make you a more “appropriate” member of society. Day in, day out, you run the gauntlet. Enduring simulations designed to strip away who you are, and become who you could be. The program is the first of its kind, and prides itself on being a sans-human facility. There will be no escaping. The only way out is through...

Download for Windows PC

Perfect Tides: Station to Station

Developer: Three Bees

Perfect Tides: Station to Station continues the story of now 18-year-old Mara Whitefish, who leaves her small island for school – and life – in the big city. Uprooted from home and aspiring to write, Mara spends most of her time in transit, looking for knowledge, adventure and a sense of belonging in the adult world.

Download for Windows and Mac

Provoron

Developer: Tara Kan

Step into the white feathers of Ankou, a crow shunned by those around him. Undeterred, he sets out to make new friends and save the world from an invasion of strange, mischievous red demons. These demons steal and break things, interfere with Ankou’s goals, and simply perch on his head and shoulders, making life feel overwhelmingly heavy at times… but only Ankou knows of their existence.

Download for Windows PC

REANIMAL

Developer: Tarsier Studios

In this co-op or single-player horror adventure game, you play as an orphaned brother and sister who go through hell to rescue their missing friends. Exploring by boat and on land, you must use your wits to survive, work together to escape the hellish island, and the dark secret that haunts you.

Download for Windows PC

Riddlewood Manor

Developer: Peanut Button

On a mission to purify the haunted halls of Riddlewood Manor, you will solve puzzles, meet strange characters, and purge malevolent spirits. Uncover the dark history of the Riddlewoods, but first, you’ll have to survive a demonic doll.

Download for Windows and Mac

Scholar Adventure: Mystery of Silence

Developers: Ayose Trujillo & Making Enemies

In the first installment of the Scholar Adventure saga, William is a young writer searching for inspiration for his first novel. His journey takes him to a remote abbey whose monks have taken a vow of silence. What begins as a simple literary quest soon turns into a chilling enigma: within its walls lies a secret that should never have been uncovered.

Download for Windows PC

The Séance of Blake Manor

Developer: Spooky Doorway

Halloween, 1897. A group of mystics from across the globe gather in the west of Ireland to rip open the veil between worlds and speak directly with the dead. 48 hours before the séance, Evelyn Deane goes missing. Detective Ward is summoned to find her and uncover the culprit before someone else disappears. But the manor and its residents have more than one secret to hide. Can Ward safely navigate the haunted corridors to save Miss Deane before it is too late?  

Download for Windows PC

Servant of the Lake

Developer: Rusty Lake

Welcome to the Vanderboom house, home of Aldous and William Vanderboom. You are late; you are meant to start your housekeeping duties immediately! Solve the puzzles needed to fulfil your daily tasks, look after the household, welcome an unexpected visitor and help the brothers achieve their alchemical ambitions.

Download for Windows and Mac

Sherlock Holmes: Night Stalker

Developer: Gamercury AI

This detective game features core gameplay powered by the latest AI model, delivering a brand-new immersive interactive experience. As Sherlock Holmes, you will engage in battles of wits with dozens of AI-driven characters, uncover clues, and solve intricate puzzles. Every clue must be obtained by you—the renowned master detective—through conversations, interrogations, emotional persuasion, exploration, and deduction.

Download for Windows and Mac

Simon the Sorcerer Origins

Developer:  Smallthing Studios

After moving to a new house, the teenaged Simon is drawn into a foreign world by an ancient prophecy that will reveal his origins. This world is populated by powerful yet mostly useless wizards and strange creatures. On his journey, Simon must solve a series of tricky puzzles, operate alchemical devices, and learn powerful spells. And yes, taste a few disgusting stews!

Download for Windows, Mac and Linux

A Storied Life: Tabitha

Developer: Lab42

You arrive at the house of someone close to you who recently died to find a ruined memoir and a letter of interest from a publisher. Picking through the items that made up this person’s life, you’ll choose what stories you want to tell from their past, using the belongings they’ve left behind. Each room of the house is filled with trinkets and treasures, but you can only keep so many items. Once you’ve packed everything up, it’s time to write a chapter. Each item comes with its own list of words to fill out the memoir, and each word takes the story in entirely new directions. Will you remember this person as a loving parent? A shy recluse? Or perhaps an erratic eccentric? The choice is yours – though the publisher might not appreciate it if your story makes no sense.

Download for Windows PC

Super Chillers: The Chat Room

Developer: Rose Arcana Games

At Nari’s school, everyone is talking about a mysterious chat room that posts eerily accurate horoscopes, foretelling events before they happen with chilling precision. But when the predictions turn dark and murders start occurring, Nari realizes the horoscopes might be more than just creepy coincidences. As the deadly patterns unfold, Nari must uncover the truth before the next prediction is about her.

Download for Windows PC

Tatari

Developer: Hidden Tower Studios

Take the role of a detective from Tokyo who tries to solve the mysterious case of the disappearance of a young camper. Follow the trail of evidence to guide you through an enigmatic and paranormal case connected with a Japanese urban legend.

Download for Windows PC

Tides of Tomorrow

Developer: Digixart

A world struggling to survive in the wake of the Great Flood. As a deadly plastification threatens to kill all living things, steel yourself to face the numerous challenges posed by this ocean planet. Find a cure, explore floating platforms, or deal with the threats exposed by the community. As you delve deeper into the mysteries of Elynd, you’ll encounter a diverse cast of characters. Each one has their own moods, motivations and perspectives on the planet’s fortunes. Choose your allies carefully, as every decision has the potential to create new adversaries. Keep one close eye on your friends’ adventures too! Their actions will shape your own story, requiring you to carefully react to an unpredictable world.

Download for Windows PC

The Tragedy of Deer Creek

Developer: Sparrowland

In the winter of 1997, photographer Charlotte Gray ventures into the remote woods of southwest Alaska, to the derelict logging camp at Deer Creek. Having photographed ghost towns throughout the Midwest, Charlotte expects the worn remains of a piece of American labor history, but what she finds is a place that seems to be eerily frozen in time, harboring numerous secrets sleeping deep beneath the Alaskan snow. Bit by bit, Charlotte discovers fragments from the lives of the people who once lived here, and in piecing them together she starts to unravel the tragedy that befell Deer Creek and its people.

Download for Windows PC

UFOPHILIA

Developer:  k148 Game Studio

Take on the role of an investigator obsessed with UFO phenomena. Armed with specialized tools, explore remote locations filled with anomalies, uncover which alien is present, and capture photographic evidence, all while surviving unpredictable abductions.

Download for Windows PC

Void Inside

Developer: AdroVGames

In a world devastated by radiation, the surface of the Earth has turned into a lifeless wasteland. People long ago sought refuge in underground shelters, but even there, death caught up with them through disease. You are the last survivor in your shelter, completely alone, surrounded by silence and the bodies of those you once knew. After many days of despair, you decide that staying any longer is meaningless. You leave the shelter and board a monorail, not knowing where it leads or what awaits you ahead.

Download for Windows PC

VORON

Developer: Merk Games

You are a raven with an important task: guiding lost souls to their new home. In an emotional journey about life and death, learn how to fly, explore a Norse-inspired tiny open world, gradually learn the mysterious “Souls Language” by interacting with characters, and don’t forget to croak from time to time — that's what a raven does, right?

Download for Windows PC

Who Summoned It?

Developer: Crooked Foot

The Kingdom of Knotgud needs you! A terrible creature known as the Booglo has been summoned and torments the land! Thankfully Riki Rocktoe, the soft-boiled truthmeister, is on the case. But he's not alone. Accompany Riki as the possessed Scroll of Truth, which only allows true statements to be written on it. Yes, you're a piece of parchment. A magical piece of parchment!

Download for Windows PC