Steam Next Fest, running through June 16, offers players an opportunity to explore a wide range of upcoming games through playable demos and preview content. Among the titles featured during this summer edition are The Bornless, Sparkball, and Riftstorm. Each game presents a distinct gameplay experience, ranging from horror-themed extraction to team-based arena competition and co-operative roguelite shooting.
Steam Next Fest Must Try Games
- The Bornless
- Sparkball
- Riftstorm
Steam Next Fest Must Try Games
The Bornless
The Bornless is a first-person extraction shooter that places players on Farmouth Island, an isolated setting characterized by heavy fog and a strong focus on survival. Players face off against both human teams and supernatural threats as they progress through matches structured in three phases. The initial phase centers on looting and exploration around a remote cabin. The second phase focuses on controlling ritual sites, while the final phase presents a high-stakes escape or confrontation, often involving a summoned demon that can shift the outcome of the match.
One of the game’s defining features is its persistent progression. Items and resources that players extract carry over into future sessions, enabling ongoing upgrades to weapons, spells, and the player’s hideout. The hideout itself can evolve over time from a simple cabin into a more secure base of operations. Additional elements such as faction systems, seasonal competitions, and regular content updates add further depth to the experience. The Bornless is available for hands-on play during Steam Next Fest, offering early access to its evolving gameplay systems.
Steam Next Fest Must Try Games
Sparkball
Sparkball, formerly known as Sparkadia, is a top-down, team-based arena game where two teams of four players compete to score goals and outmaneuver opponents. Unlike traditional multiplayer online battle arenas, Sparkball removes lanes and AI-controlled units, instead focusing entirely on fast-paced human-versus-human matches. Each player selects from a roster of heroes, each with distinct abilities and tactical roles, and gameplay emphasizes positioning, timing, and team coordination.
The game also integrates optional web3 components, including a native digital token known as $SPARK and planned support for cosmetic items and character ownership through blockchain technology. These features are designed to offer additional engagement and customization options while remaining separate from core gameplay. Sparkball aims to attract competitive players interested in a streamlined, skill-based experience that avoids the complexity of traditional MOBA structures. The demo version available during Steam Next Fest allows players to test the game and provide feedback ahead of broader release plans.
Steam Next Fest Must Try Games
Riftstorm
Riftstorm combines elements of action role-playing games and roguelite shooters within a cooperative structure. Set in a universe known as the Occultical, players take on the role of Mythic Protocol Weavers—specialized agents responsible for containing otherworldly threats. Gameplay unfolds through mission-based objectives that require coordination among teams of up to three players. Each mission presents combat encounters, skill-based challenges, and the opportunity to collect upgrades during the session.
Players can choose from a range of unique characters, each with distinct abilities and customizable loadouts that allow for different tactical approaches. Weapon selection and skill choices can be tailored to individual play styles, offering flexibility within the mission structure. Riftstorm focuses on replayable content, combining real-time combat with progression systems that evolve with each run. The current demo available on Steam during Next Fest gives players an early look at its cooperative features and dynamic mission design.
Steam Next Fest Must Try Games
Steam Next Fest Runs Through June 16
Steam Next Fest continues through June 16 and includes access to new demos and game updates across a variety of genres. For players interested in emerging titles that blend traditional and modern gameplay approaches—including persistent extraction shooters, competitive arena games, and co-op roguelite shooters—The Bornless, Sparkball, and Riftstorm provide representative examples of what to expect from the next wave of indie and early-access development.
