Indie Journal 21 || Steam Next Fest June 2026

This post comes out later than I wanted but I played a bunch of demos (37 this time) and would love to share my favourites with you.
The focus will be on 5 games that really stood out to me but please also check out the other games I mention at the end. They are all worth your time.
Most of the demos are still available at this point (except for two titles in the honourable mentions), so download them now before they might get taken down. Most importantly wishlist the games, so you won’t miss the release.

Virtue and a Sledgehammer

Sometimes you start a game and it immediately hits you (in the face, with a sledgehammer). There is something very artistic in how the game portrays strong emotions and the violence that comes with it. It sounds so basic on paper. You return to your hometown. A place that is riddled with lots of confusion and a complex past. There is a lot going on here, but none of that feels like home to you. One thing is clear: You don’t belong here and you will let everybody now.
Scenes of walls crumbling after your strike get interrupted by memories of your sister. Both the present and the past paint a picture. A picture that is yet unclear to you, but so damn intriguing.
Who will stand still when your sledgehammer hits what should be human but isn’t? Find out in this cinematic and narrative driven game by the trustful studio Deconstructeam, who brought us fantastic games like The Cosmic Wheel Sisterhood and Many Nights a Whisper.
This will be something special. Trust me.

Endacopia

Point and Click Adventures are the perfect genre to combine a player driven exploration with eery vibes. You guide the lost soul named Mellow, whose escape from a broken home, shapes into a messy and distorted journey. You click and collect multiple items (trash. it’s mainly trash that somehow proves useful though) while navigating a gorgeous world that is reminiscent of early CD-ROM edutainment games (back then were PC games still got physical discs).
While solving puzzles you encounter odd individuals that are more or less willing to help you. Often times your exploration will lead to one of the many mini-games. In these you switch into the first person view, offering a dynamic change of pace.
Play the demo for a dash of nostalgia and a piece of something fresh among a thousand of games.

A hallway with colourful picture frames, walls and lights.

A small boy standing in the bathroom. A red ghost (?) is looking out of the toilet.

A fight in first person against a sign with a clock

Silver Pines

You are a private investigator on a job to track down a missing artist. You start off in a desolate and run down area called Silver Pines. Everything is coloured in shades of grey, painting the picture of an abandoned place. The only sign of people living there are the luminous store lights.
Inspired by Survival Horror classics like Resident Evil or Silent Hill, you explore strange places, manage limited yet important resources, solve puzzles and fight off horrific creatures.
The atmosphere is just as dark as the look, every step needs to be planned and this game needs to be put onto your wishlist.

7 Days To Think About It

You finished school and without any ambition you feel lost. Stuck in your own home, you got the time to overthink everything. Is it okay to pursue your dream project or should you settle on a stable job? And the more important question: Should you meet your friends tonight or not?
Time isn’t linear, so you got 7 days to think about that. In the meantime you will traverse through your home, in order to observe changes. Can you rely on your memory? What will be the result after your deep pondering?

Burn-9

A tactical espionage game inspired by Metal Gear but you are not the spy. In fact, you play the Operator who guides the spy after a tragic event to ensure her survival. You only see the rough blueprint of the area. With the help of your agent you analyse your surroundings and plan the best route. Your tactical skills are important to hack through gates and avoid enemy contact.
Don’t forget though that you are only a cog in the machine. You need to report to the people higher in command and they don’t care about your situation.
How will you manage the mess between following orders and saving your people?