Valve’s Steam Next Fest, which took place in February, has officially come to an end. During this week-long event, players had the opportunity to try out various game demos and discover new titles. Now, Valve has revealed the 50 most played games during the festival. These rankings are based on the number of unique players who spent time playing the demos, excluding any early demo plays from the previous month. It is interesting to note that the most popular game of the event was Dungeonborne, a title that was only announced at the end of January. Let’s take a closer look at the top 50 games and the impact of the Next Fest on their development.
Dungeonborne, developed by Mithril Interactive, captured the attention of players with its blend of PvPvE dungeon crawling and fantasy skelly monsters. Despite being announced just two weeks prior to the event, Dungeonborne managed to amass over 19,000 concurrent players during its Next Fest playtest. This influx of players propelled the game from the top 500 most wishlisted games on Steam to the top 50. In a Steam blog post, the developers expressed their gratitude for the support and valuable feedback received during the playtest. They emphasized their commitment to addressing the challenges identified, such as balancing classes, reducing gear disparity, enhancing anti-cheat measures, and refining gameplay details. It is clear that Dungeonborne’s success during Next Fest has reaffirmed the developers’ vision and will guide their future development plans and release strategy.
Apart from Dungeonborne, several other games stood out in the top 50 list. One of them was Stormgate, a spiritual successor to Starcraft, which secured the second spot. Its engaging gameplay and strategic depth resonated with players. Pacific Drive, a first-person car roguelike, claimed the third position, offering a unique blend of driving mechanics and roguelike elements. Homeworld 3, a space epic that experienced a slight delay, managed to captivate players and secure the fourth spot, while the indie autobattler Backpack Battles rounded out the top five.
Other noteworthy entries in the top ten include poker roguelike Balatro, which combined the excitement of poker with the unpredictability of roguelike mechanics. Paradox’s Millenia, a civilization-building game that rivalled Civilization, also made its mark on the list. Additionally, Deviator, a game reminiscent of the critically acclaimed Hollow Knight, garnered attention for its atmospheric world and challenging gameplay.
The top 50 games in the Steam Next Fest charts reflect the excellent taste of the event’s participants. The diverse range of titles showcased the variety and quality of indie games available. However, it is worth noting that some deserving games may have been overlooked, such as Until Then, which failed to garner enough attention despite its undeniable beauty and appeal. The demo for Until Then is still available, giving players the opportunity to rectify this oversight and experience its immersive gameplay firsthand. It is worth mentioning that most of the Next Fest demos are still accessible, allowing interested players to explore the chart-topping games and discover what all the fuss is about.
The conclusion of Steam Next Fest marks the end of an exciting week for gamers. Dungeonborne’s rise to the top of the charts highlights the success of this Next Fest playtest and the potential for indie games to capture the hearts of players. The top 50 games showcased a wide range of genres, offering something for everyone’s taste. As players eagerly await the release of these promising titles, developers like Mithril Interactive will diligently analyze feedback and data to further improve their games. The Next Fest has provided invaluable insights that will shape the future of these games and guide their release strategies. Until the next festival, gamers can continue exploring the available demos and supporting the developers behind their favorite games.
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