The demo has had a resurgence over the last few years and there have been plenty of demos hit Steam during the Summer Game Fest. I managed to play a fair few and here are some quick impressions of the ones that stood out to me.
A Tiny Sticker Tale
Sometimes a game will just make you smile and that is the case with A Tiny Sticker Tale. A cozy puzzle adventure where you place stickers on levels to solve puzzles. Nothing is overly complicated and the bright colourful visuals and cute characters can be sure to put a smile on your face.
A Tiny Sticker Tale comes out soon on Steam
Jusant
Climbing in games can often be some of the worst bits. Usually feeling like it is there to add padding to the game artificially. So building a whole game around the mechanic is risky. Thankfully DONTNOD seem to have nailed the mechanic and made it a rewarding experience. The demo for Jusant does a great job of selling the game’s concepts and I highly recommend checking it out.
Jusant is coming soon to Steam and Consoles
Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew
As I get older I find myself playing more and more ‘slower paced’ games. Something that allows me to stop and think for a bit. Probably due to my vision issues too. Strategy games fall into that category and with Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew, I think I have found one that ticks many boxes for me.
There is a time manipulation mechanic that doesn’t feel awkward to use and the game offers a lot of freedom when it comes to how you approach, despite being a stealth based tactical game. I found my time with this thoroughly enjoyable and am a bit gutted I need to wait a couple more months for the relase.
Shadow Gambit: The Cursed Crew releases on Steam 17 August 2023
There are plenty more games I am yet to try from this year’s Summer Game Fest and with Steam Next Fest coming up, keep an eye on the site for more recommendations.
