Destructoid Changelog: Steam Next Fest is here

Hello, everyone, and welcome to the latest issue of the Destructoid newsletter. This week, we’re diving into the best Steam Next Fest demos you should keep an eye on, as well as talking about March’s releases. Let’s get to it!

Steam Next Fest is gone, but here’s what to keep an eye on

Demos may feel like a relic of a bygone era for gaming, but there’s no denying the excitement of booting something up with little to no expectations and having a great time regardless.

That’s what makes Steam Next Fest an absolute treat, with Valve’s storefront offering a smorgasbord of titles you can have your fill of in bite-sized chunks.

With more than 80 demos, however, it can be tough to know where to start, but we’ve got you covered.

Dark Deity 2 is a tactical RPG that dares to ask, “What if Fire Emblem wasn’t made my Nintendo?” It’s a gorgeously designed game that expands on its fantastic first installment with more flexible unit options — and the chance to go into battle alongside an orangutan.

Speaking of hotly-anticipated sequels, Monster Train 2 is very similar to the first roguelite deckbuilder that’s eaten up hours of our time, but factors in new equipment options and a change in resource management.

OK, it’s another sequel, but if you ever played Monaco back on Xbox Live Arcade, you’ll know the fun the co-op heist game’s sequel, Monaco 2, offers. It’s a stealth game (and there aren’t many of those these days), but instead of shadowy corridors, you’ll be playing as a colorful cast of characters with their own unique abilities and traits.

Love cats? Fancy tackling space pirates? Then Skin Deep is for you. The game sees players looking after a ship full of feline friends, and it’s up to you to keep them safe from pirates who really want an army of pretty kitties all to themselves. It’s bonkers in the best way, and a great example of the creativity you’ll find on Steam.

Finally, what good is a gaming event if there aren’t any turtles? Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, in fact — the heroes in a half-shell feel like they’re found in a couple of games a year, but Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedown drops them into a turn-based combat setup that’s less X-Com and more Fights In Tight Spaces or Tactical Breach Wizards.

March’s releases

The start of a new month means fresh games to look forward to, and after the chaos of February, which included Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2, Civilization 7, and Monster Hunter Wilds, you might be expecting a quiet month.

That’s not the case, but you won’t see us complaining. March’s lineup features co-op platforming adventures, managing a museum, and a big ol’ dose of wrasslin’. Oh, and possibly the most important Assassin’s Creed in Ubisoft’s history.

Two Point Museum - March 4

If you’ve spent any time in Two Point Campus or Hospital, the zany stylings of Two Point Museum will feel instantly familiar.

Whether you’re apprehending would-be thieves, sending your staff to space to collect rare exhibits, or sending ghosts to therapy, It’s one of the best management sims around, and plays just as well on console or PC.

Split Fiction - March 6

It Takes Two was a fantastic, award-winning adventure back in 2021, but it’d be fair to say Split Fiction allows Josef Fares and his team to really flex their creative muscles.

Zoey and Mio are budding writers trapped in a simulation of each of their worlds, with both fantasy and sci-fi colliding to offer fresh mechanics at a breakneck pace.

Buy it once, and you can send a co-op partner a full copy of the game with the ‘Friend Pass’, too - neat!

WWE 2K25 - March 7

Fresh off the Elimination Chamber event last week, wrestling fans can jump into WWE 2K25 via early access at the end of this week.

With a roster of over 300 (three hundred!) superstars, a whole new showcase mode focused on The Bloodline, and MyGM’s new four-player shakeup, expect WWE 2K25 to keep you engaged for hundreds of hours.

And hey, maybe you can take the fight to now-heel John Cena as Cody Rhodes.

Assassin’s Creed Shadows - March 20

Sure, it’s been delayed a few times, and there will be some that turn their noses up at its choice of protagonists, but Assassin’s Creed Shadows might be one of the most anticipated games of the year regardless.

Offering a stunning recreation of Feudal Japan, and with the ambitious plan to offer two playable characters with unique playstyles, it’s the first RPG-like game in the series since 2020’s Valhalla.

That’s all for today, but we’ll be back in the coming days. Thanks for subscribing!

Destructoid team