Steam held one of their semi-annual Next Fest events on February 5-12, 2024, featuring dozens of up and coming games. Over the course of the week, gamers sampled games of many genres.

Over the weekend, I sampled as many games as I could. For the most part, the ones I tried out where fantastic. Most ended up finding their way onto my Wishlist.

1. Oddsparks: An Automation Adventure

Developer: Massive Miniteam
Publisher: HandyGames
Release Date: April 24, 2024

Most of my Sunday afternoon was taken by this game’s substantial preview. This game brings the best of an automation sim with creatures that remind me of Pikmin.

Something crashes into your yard and after consulting one of the elderly villagers, you realize that you can understand ancient symbols that no one else can. These lead you to the discovery of Sparks – tiny creatures that, while handy, tend to need guidance as to their tasks.

I will warn you, this game is addicting. When I started, I played for hours straight, completely losing track of time. Setting up the automation systems is a puzzle that you can endlessly tweak.

In the demo, we could only get to stage 3 of some of the quest lines, but when the full games out, I’m planning to sink hours into solving the mystery of the Sparks.

This comes out in a couple of months and it’s on my Steam Wishlist so I can jump on it for release day. I’m excited to explore the multi-player mode with friends in the future.

2. Cyber Manhunt: New World

Developer: Aluba Studio
Publisher: Spiral Up Games
Release Date: TBD

I did something I shouldn’t have done. I played the demo for the second game before trying the first. I hadn’t heard of this franchise until Next Fest.

After spending some time on the demo for Cyber Manhunt: New World, I then poured hours into the first game. All I have left to finish are the DLCs.

The premise of this game is that you are playing as an advanced AI that works with Titan Corporation. Using the internet, you are helping solve cases and investigate both employees and civilians.

It looks like the sequel will be picking up where the original left off. The story is intriguing, interwoven between the chapters, and there’s enough to keep you digging for ages.

A beautiful mix of narrative and puzzle solving, this demo has become one of my most anticipated games of the year.

3. LumineNight

Developer/Publisher: Spickasoft
Release Date: TBD

It’s 1950 and a body is found on a beach. You follow Detective Foster as he begins his investigation.

The LumineNight demo only shows you a piece. What it doesn’t show you is that you also work with his daughter to help solve the case a decade later. The two are going to give us the pieces we need to solve this case.

I love a lot about this. I love the artwork, the puzzles, the way the narrative drives itself forward. From what little we got to see, we find a case delicately woven, they are going to make us work for the answers here.

Mysteries are some of my favorite stories and when a friend recommended this demo to me, I jumped on it. I can’t wait to find out what happens next.

4. Kamaeru

Developer: Humble Reeds
Publisher: Armor Games Studios
Release Date: Mid 2024

Kamaeru is the coziest of games.

It’s a wholesome game where you are helping create a frog refuge by placing furniture, feeding and taming the frogs, and restoring biodiversity to the local wetlands.

From soothing art and music to simple goals, this game was soothing and perfect for me to unwind to. There’s enough of a puzzle with sorting out biodiversity while giving you enough to just be.

5. Tokyo Psychodemic

Developer/Publisher: Gravity Game Arise
Release Date: TBD

This one does come with a caveat. Tokyo Psychodemic is a visual novel and the demo’s opening was a little odd. I can’t quite figure out how a lot of what was said, in fact a lot of what is in the trailer, has to do with what’s in game itself.

Once you get past the opening, you get a fascinating blend of reality and art to solve the case of a murdered pharmaceutical executive. I won’t spoil what the current prevailing theory is.

I loved the mystery and the game play of this once I got past the opening. The case is fascinating, how you investigate it is a blast, and I really want to know what happened to the victim.

6. Duck Detective: The Secret Salami

Developer/Publisher: Happy Broccoli Games
Release Date: TBD

Duck Detective: The Secret Salami is a delightful blend of adorable animation with a hard noir mystery. The contrast between the two is something that caused me to immediately fall in love.

Join a down on his luck Duck Detective as he heads off to investigate a conspiracy. With his skills of deduction and a cast of characters to investigate, this promises to hold an enchanting story.

Plus there are puns. That’s always a bonus.

I had a blast playing these games and have added them to my Steam wishlist. I can’t wait for them to release so I can dig in further. If you’re looking for some games to play, I highly recommend these.

Did you try a demo you fell in love with? What games did you add to your 2024 wishlist? Please share your thoughts with us on our Boss Rush Facebook Group or our Boss Rush Discord.

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Featured Image: Massive Miniteam

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