We Love It’s guide to…
Next Fest is awesome, but HUUUGE and gone too quickly! The Next Festival Explorer is here to do the hard work of finding you the best, possibly hidden, demos to play!
EXPLORE THE DEMOS ↓
A cute, challenging roguelite tower defense. A campaign across 4 planets, 14 unique towers, a map editor, endless mode and a massive skill tree for gameplay that's all your own.
Some 2D art assets (e.g. icons, store capsules, background art) were created with the help of generative AI image tools and then curated and edited by the developer. No AI-generated content is produced live during gameplay.
2D Images, Marketing Assets
HueTrix is a colorful block-stacking puzzle with a roguelike twist: clear lines to earn cash, then spend it in the shop on powerful mythic relics. Chain combos across seven colors, stack permanent upgrades, and build a game-break…
This game's background music was created using generative AI, and its visual effects were also produced with the assistance of generative AI.
Music, Other
Build a survivor camp, gather resources, craft defenses, and fight as a hero in this singleplayer of an action-RPG RTS hybrid. Survive enemy waves while growing your bases.
This game uses generative artificial intelligence for some supporting assets, including icon artwork and voice/audio lines. AI-generated content is used as part of the game’s presentation and interface, while gameplay systems, rules, balancing, and overall game design are created and implemented by the developer.
2D Images, UI Elements, Voiceover
A thrilling Co-op Action Roguelite for 1-4 players! Play as mischievous ghosts, create insane weapon synergies, catch humans, and turn them into pumpkins. Deliver your harvest to the crypt, expand the map, and unleash vibrant cha…
AI tools are used exclusively to translate game content into different languages.
Localization
In 1996, thirty-two children died in their beds at an orphanage. Thirty years later, Stephen walks back through that door. Six of the seven seals are broken — and the voice guiding you is one of them. Manage your inventory, finis…
Marketing and Store Visuals: AI tools were utilized during the concept design and background detailing phases for the thumbnail images, posters, and promotional materials on the Steam store page.Sound Design and Trailer Music: AI-powered sound and music production tools were used in the prototyping and production processes for the game’s promotional trailers and in-game atmospheric background sounds.Text and Localization Support: AI assistants were used to edit store page descriptions, marketing copy, and language optimization.
2D Images, Marketing Assets, Sound Effects, Music, Writing, Localization
A roguelike match-3 puzzle game where you continuously swap gems to build combos and use relic effects to boost your score. Create a different build each run and clear each stage.
Generative AI was used during development to assist in creating some pre-generated visual assets for the game and its promotional materials, as well as parts of the English localization. All AI-assisted content was reviewed by the developer and edited where necessary. No content is generated by AI while the game is running.
2D Images, Marketing Assets, Localization
Act as AIB Test 5, operate within a surreal virtual skyscraper, wield an extensive arsenal of weapons and gear, defeat hostiles, collect loot, and complete an infinite stream of test trials.
Some material images and sound effects are AI-generated.
2D Images, Sound Effects
Handslayer is a single-player roguelike built around poker hands. Every battle is a tactical duel where you build not one, but three hands to defeat your opponent. Collect powerful relics, discover ancient artifacts, and forge ga…
Some visual assets and promotional artwork were created or assisted using generative AI, then reviewed and refined by the developer. All gameplay systems, game design, programming, balance, and core content were created by the developer. No generative AI is used during gameplay.
2D Images, Marketing Assets
"Shadow War" is a 2D action game focused on combat with a Japanese-inspired atmosphere. Enjoy a variety of combat actions by combining normal attack combos, parries, guarding, and skills that consume Spirit.
Machine translation has been used for language localization.Some background elements, such as grass and trees, were created using AI-generated images and then manually edited and refined.
2D Images, Localization
A cyberpunk duel of pure reads. Both fighters lock in a move in secret, then flip at the same instant — no reflexes, no combos, just mind games. Strong eats Weak, Weak pierces Guard, Guard parries Strong. Loved the bluffing in In…
Some visual assets — character art/portraits, sprite artwork, and store/marketingcapsule images — were created with the help of generative AI image tools, thenedited, composited, and curated by the developer. All such assets are PRE-GENERATEDduring development; the shipped game performs NO live/runtime AI generation. Nogenerative AI produces text, dialogue, or any player-facing content at runtime.All generated assets were reviewed by the developer to ensure they contain noinfringing or inappropriate material.
2D Images, Marketing Assets
Three stranded civilizations fight for the ancient Monoliths of a living moon. Build a streaming economy, field armies on land, sea and air, and hold the map to ascend in a large-scale real-time strategy game.
Generative AI tools were used during development to help create some of the game's art, textures and icons, audio (including music and voice), in-game text, and store and marketing materials. The game does not generate any AI content during gameplay.
2D Images, UI Elements, Music, Voiceover, Writing, Marketing Assets
Shield Knight is a pixel-art 2D side-scrolling action game. Master the timing of melee and ranged blocks, counter slashes, arrows, and shockwaves, and fight through fast-paced stages and boss battles to uncover the truth behind t…
Some pre-generated 2D artwork used in the game and store materials was created or assisted with generative AI tools during development, then manually reviewed, edited, resized, and integrated by the developer. The game does not use live-generated AI during gameplay, and no player input is sent to any generative AI service.
2D Images, Marketing Assets