With only a few days left until the start of the June 2026 Steam Next Fest, this year I want to give it double coverage, considering the huge number of titles on the horizon set to debut, whether through brand-new announcements or, more importantly, playable demos.
The festival kicks off on June 15 and runs through the 22nd, and there’ll be plenty of exciting stuff to check out.
That’s exactly why I’m getting an early start by listing lots of RPGs that have already made a playable demo available, or will do so as soon as the festival goes live. Next week, I’ll put together another article covering any standout surprises that prove worthy of attention.
So today’s regularly scheduled roundup of new games to try is entirely focused on 16 demos that, in my opinion, are absolutely worth your time.
Sovereign Tower
- Developers: WILD WITS GAMES
- Platforms: PC
- Release date: August 6, 2026
- Steam Page
I’m opening this recap with Sovereign Tower, a story-driven management RPG I already had the chance to try a few months ago. In the past few hours, the game announced both its release date and a brand-new demo, which will be available starting on the 15th.
The game puts players in charge of a magical tower, a kingdom full of problems, and a Round Table packed with knights who are talented, flawed, and often difficult to manage. Every quest becomes a small judgment call. Who has the right stats? Who can handle the situation without making it worse? And who is likely to return with a victory, a scandal, or both?
That focus on assignment, reputation, and consequence gives this game a strong RPG management hook. Strength, Agility, Charisma, Magic, and Wit shape how knights approach missions and how the tower’s political web reacts to each outcome.
Add factions, romance, time manipulation, and a dry comic tone, and Sovereign Tower starts to feel like a narrative strategy game built around leadership. I think this could be one of the more unusual demos to try during the festival.
PRELUDE Dark Pain
- Developers: QUICKFIREGAMES
- Platforms: PC via Steam
- Release date: Q3 2026
- Steam Page
The inspiration drawn from tactical RPGs like Final Fantasy Tactics is unmistakable, but throw in dark fantasy settings and a story that promises to take itself seriously, and you’ve got all the ingredients for PRELUDE Dark Pain.
The demo introduces the early part of Act 1 and includes a separate battle scenario, which should help players judge both the story and the combat system without spending too much time in the tutorial.
Height, facing, and movement routes are part of the dynamic maps you will fight in. Some encounters appear to push forward through shifting spaces, which can give battles a sense of motion.
For anyone who still looks for games like Fire Emblem, Final Fantasy Tactics, or Tactics Ogre in new indie projects, PRELUDE Dark Pain deserves an early download.
Astracolypse
- Developers: Astracolyptic
- Platforms: PC
- Release date: Coming soon
- Steam Page
Announced on my pages just a few days ago, Astracolypse pushes turn-based combat into a hostile survival RPG world.
Honestly, judging by the visual style alone, I wouldn’t say this looks like an indie project, but we’ll have to see how it all comes together. As for the game world itself, it has already collapsed under the weight of forbidden magic, and the Astras, rare humans born with immense arcane power, carry that catastrophe in their blood.
Food, crafting, recruitment, exploration, and combat all seem connected. A bad choice outside the battle may leave the party weaker when the next fight arrives. A useful recruit may change the shape of a run. A scarce resource may force an ugly compromise. Those kinds of problems are exactly what can make this survival RPG work.
The demo should show whether Astracolypse can keep its systems together while still making the world feel dangerous. If it finds that balance, it could become one of the darker standouts of Next Fest.
Roguecraft DX
- Developers: Badger Punch Games
- Platforms: PC
- Release date: Coming soon
- Steam Page
Roguecraft DX goes straight for the old-school roguelike vibe. I’m following this project on Twitter, and I’ve already given the demo a shot.
Anyway, in this upcoming RPG, players descend through procedural dungeons, test unidentified potions, search for hidden rooms, deal with strange enemies, and try to survive long enough to learn from each mistake.
A compact structure makes it a good fit for Steam Next Fest. Some demos need time before they reveal their best ideas. Roguecraft DX should be easier to understand within minutes.
Every step carries weight, every item may become useful later, and every wrong move can create a problem that snowballs quickly. For players who enjoy traditional roguelikes, this one looks like a smart download.
Happy Bastards
- Developers: Clever Plays
- Platforms: PC
- Release date: To be announced
- Steam Page
I was genuinely impressed by the Happy Bastards demo I played this week. I love the visual style, the ideas behind it, and the flow of the combat system, which officially makes it one of my most anticipated titles.
Regarding the game, we are talking about a tactical RPG where we go around as we like, letting the band of mercenaries do the hard work while someone else (us) claims the glory.
Its world is crude, violent, and full of bad people making worse choices, but beneath the nasty humor sits a serious tactical framework. Battles take place on compact maps where position, elevation, targeting, and unit rotation can change the outcome quickly.
Happy Bastards uses a Tag-Team Swap system that lets players rotate fighters during battle, while a shared Command pool gives each round a different rhythm from standard unit activation.
Injuries, dismemberment, permadeath, grafting, and necromancy all point toward a game where consequences are part of the fun. It is ugly in the right way and you should give absolutely a try.
The Life and Suffering of Prince Jerian
- Developers: Schisma Games
- Platforms: PC
- Release date: Coming soon
- Steam Page
Next on my list is The Life and Suffering of Prince Jerian. Second chapter in The Life and Suffering Series.
Set in the same severe universe as The Life and Suffering of Sir Brante, it follows the crown prince of the Blessed Arknian Empire as he grows into power and decides what kind of ruler he wants to become.
For those who don’t know, this is a narrative RPG about class, duty, tradition, faith, and political survival, where every choice can leave a mark on both the protagonist and the empire around him. The demo that will be available in the next few days, and I think it’s worth it, especially if you like games with a strong story-driven gameplay.
Entropy
- Developers: Lovely Hellplace
- Platforms: PC via Steam
- Release date: August 18, 2026
- Steam Page
Another original and worthy demo to try is Entropy, which comes from Lovely Hellplace, the studio behind Dread Delusion, and carries that same taste for strange worlds, decaying fantasy, and uncomfortable beauty.
This time, though, the structure shifts into a party-based turn-based RPG. The story begins in Draenog, where a theatre performance is interrupted by demons at the gates. From there, performers, mercenaries, and unlikely allies are pulled into a journey that looks far bigger than its opening scene suggests.
The game supports a party of up to six characters, with gear, perks, spells, mercenaries, and choices that can shape the surrounding world.
Its retro 3D look gives it an old PC RPG texture that deliberately lets Entropy look odd, bleak, and rough around the edges in a way that feels intentional. That personality alone makes the demo worth trying.
HellSlave II: Judgment of the Archon
- Developers: Ars Goetia
- Platforms: PC
- Release date: 2026
- Steam Page
I absolutely loved the first entry in the series for the unmistakable Berserk-like vibe that Ars Goetia’s game carries with it. HellSlave II: Judgment of the Archon looks set to deliver even more, while staying true to its brutally dark and demonic setting.
Stronger encounter design, deeper builds, and more meaningful choices would give HellSlave II a clear reason to return.
If the demo delivers on those points, HellSlave could become a solid pick for anyone who likes their dungeon RPGs harsh, bloody, and loaded with dark fantasy flavor when it launches in 2026. For sure, a game I recommend trying.
Space Scum
- Developers: Sole Survivor Games
- Platforms: PC
- Release date: 2026
- Steam Page
To be honest, I recommend Space Scum pretty often in my lists, or at least I remember featuring it multiple times. This Battle Brothers-in-space take has recently updated its playtest build, adding even more content to dig into.
Space Scum is a tactical sci-fi RPG about leading a mercenary crew through dangerous contracts on hostile planets. Players recruit fighters, accept jobs, gather equipment, build reputation, and try to keep the squad alive through missions.
Fans of XCOM, Battle Brothers, or mercenary management games should find a lot to test here.
Food Devils
- Developers: Studio Daimon
- Platforms: PC
- Release date: 2026
- Steam Page
Now, for an SRPG I’ve been following for a long time, and one I definitely recommend keeping an eye on, is Food Devils, even if it might sound absurd at first. Its gameplay loop, though, has surprisingly smart internal logic.
It combines tactical RPG combat, roguelite expeditions, monster hunting, cooking, and restaurant management into one strange cycle. Players gather ingredients from dangerous biomes, prepare meals, attract adventurers, and bind those adventurers to contracts before sending them back out into the wild.
Cooking is not just a cute side activity. It affects recruitment, party preparation, buffs, and the next expedition. The best tactical roguelites usually work because each layer feeds the next, and Food Devils seems built around that principle.
The demo should make it clear whether the restaurant side adds meaningful decisions or simply slows down the action. If it lands, this could be one of the more memorable oddities of Next Fest.
Legends of Starkadia
- Developers: Doom Turtle
- Platforms: PC
- Release date: Coming soon
- Steam Page
Now a JRPG-Inspired. Legends of Starkadia brings a brighter sci-fi RPG tone as it follows a group of unlikely heroes pulled into conflict around the Starkadian Empire, with colorful worlds, party-based combat, and timing inputs that make each turn more active.
The combat has a Paper Mario-style touch, with attacks and defenses tied to quick-time inputs that should give battles a bit more physical rhythm while keeping the overall structure turn-based.
For players who want something lighter after several dark fantasy demos, Legends of Starkadia could be a welcome shift in tone.
Midgardr
- Developers: Holy Radish
- Platforms: PC
- Release date: Q3 2026
- Steam Page
Midgardr is closer to a solo board game than a conventional RPG. Players take charge of a remote medieval settlement, manage resources, play cards, construct buildings, and respond to events that can reshape the village’s future.
The prologue demo should be useful because Midgardr depends on rhythm and consequence. A city builder built around cards where letters, political figures, construction choices, and resource needs all appear to pull the player in different directions.
For anyone who likes kingdom management, tabletop strategy, or slower games where one turn can change a long-term plan, Midgardr could be a strong palate cleanser between combat-heavy games.
Calame
- Developers: Nextale Games
- Platforms: PC
- Release date: 2026
- Steam Page
Calame stands out as one of the more promising tactical RPGs out there. I played it last week, and here you can find a glimpse of its battle system. The game follows two rival factions, Kenmare and the Panthers, as they form an uneasy alliance against the King of Light.
The game’s Correction mechanic lets players alter terrain using a resource called Legend, turning the map itself into a tactical option. That is a strong idea because terrain manipulation can change positioning, routes, and battle options.
Add facing, class roles, Overdrives, a lovely graphic style, and faction-based character development, and Calame looks like the perfect game for SRPG fans.
Dungeon Settlers
- Developers: CanOpener
- Platforms: PC
- Release date: September 10, 2026
- Steam Page
Now, a little RTwP exception with Dungeon Settlers. An interesting strategy RPG that features a tactical combat system and colony management.
The premise follows a group trying to establish a settlement near a dangerous dungeon, where every expedition can bring resources, progress, or another body to bury.
Train settlers, manage equipment, study traits, form a party of up to four, and decide when the reward is worth the risk. The demo already available should reveal whether the settlement layer and dungeon layer support each other or feel like two separate games stitched together. If they connect well, Dungeon Settlers could be worth trying for fans of survival management and expedition RPGs.
DEORUM
- Developers: Joyhop Games
- Platforms: PC
- Release date: Q3 2026
- Steam Page
Another strange enough demo to try is for sure DEORUM, which wraps dungeon crawling in cosmic horror and ritual logic.
Its premise centers on a Divine Festival, a mysterious watcher, and a descent into a forsaken labyrinth filled with distorted creatures. Players gather nightmarish materials and craft strange coins to pay off a debt to forces that clearly operate by rules no sane person would trust.
What intrigues me most about DEORUM is its diseased and ceremonial atmosphere. So I’m going into this demo with lots of curiosity.
Ascenders: Beyond the Peak
- Developers: Ludogram
- Platforms: PC
- Release date: Q3 2026
- Steam Page
Let’s close this initial Steam Next Fest recap with one of the most anticipated tactical RPG Roguelites called Ascenders: Beyond the Peak. It turns mountain climbing into a tactical survival problem.
Players lead a small team of alpinists across cursed peaks, where every step upward can create a new risk. The party is tied together by a single rope, so movement is not just about reaching the next tile.
That rope system gives the game its strongest hook. A climber lagging behind, a bad route, or a sudden Lovecraftian threat can force brutal choices, including cutting someone loose to protect the rest of the expedition.
Between climbs, players prepare gear, manage the base camp, improve climbers, and plan routes through dangerous mountains inspired by real-world alpinism. You should give Ascenders a try.
