Steam Next Fest 2025 has wrapped up, and the results are in. This week’s Wishlist Wednesday spotlights the most played demos of the event — three standout indie games that captured players’ attention and climbed the charts. Each one stood out for its polish, creativity, and strong player reception. Whether you missed the event or just want to know what everyone’s talking about, these are the games worth adding to your wishlist.
⚔️ Half Sword
Developer: Half Sword Games
Half Sword is a physics-based medieval combat simulator featuring authentic 15th-century arms and armor. It’s brutal, grounded, and unapologetically realistic.
You’ll duel in physics-driven tournaments where every swing, parry, and stumble matters. Precise mouse controls let you master real Historical European Martial Arts techniques and climb from commoner to champion. Each victory earns you renown, gold, and new armor to forge—or risk—on your next fight.
However, Half Sword is not for the faint of heart. Its lifelike gore and visceral impacts made it one of the most-played demos of the entire festival.
👉 Wishlist on Steam
🛡️ Tears of Metal
Developer: Paper Cult
Tears of Metal is a medieval hack-and-slash co-op roguelike inspired by Scottish legends. You and your battalion must reclaim your homeland, one bloody battle at a time.
As you fight across handcrafted battlefields, you’ll uncover the mystery of the Dragon Meteor and the invasion it unleashed. Between campaigns, expand your settlement to unlock new upgrades and challenges. Combine artifacts, earn powerful abilities, and experiment with explosive hero builds.
Because of its mix of large-scale co-op action and roguelike progression, Tears of Metal became a clear festival favorite. Each run feels like a cinematic march toward victory—and disaster.
👉 Wishlist on Steam
🎲 Slots & Daggers
Developer: Friedemann(creator of SUMMERHOUSE)
A retro mini-roguelike inside a slot machine—steady your blade … and spin! Slots & Daggers fuses fantasy combat with the rhythm and flash of an arcade machine.
This solo project overflows with personality: crude sketches of odd goblins, crunchy hip-hop beats, and a world that feels both funny and dangerous. It’s short, focused, and endlessly replayable.
Even so, it’s packed with charm. Every spin brings a mix of luck, skill, and that satisfying “pling pling pling” of coins. For fans of Balatro or Peglin, this one’s an easy pick.
👉 Wishlist on Steam
💡 Explore More:
See the full list of this year’s most-played demos on Steam’s official Next Fest spotlight page.
🌾 Don’t Miss: No One Leaves the Field
Our own folk-horror demo is now live on Steam — a descent into cursed farmland where no one truly escapes.
👉 Play or Wishlist Now
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