I hope you have your calendar cleared, because it’s Steam Next Fest 2026 time! Pegged as “A Celebration of Upcoming Games,” the week-long event is a massive indie showcase where developers provide hands-on time with their upcoming releases.
For the 2026 digital festival, players face the daunting task of deciding which of the 3,000-plus games they should dedicate their time to. Horror fans have it a little easier, with a marginally less-impossible 400-plus available for the duration of the seven-day event.
Unfortunately, that means you’re likely to miss out on some truly wonderful passion projects. To help navigate the extensive offering of demos, I’ve curated a list of favorites you may want to push to the top of your list.
If you only have a few hours to put toward gaming this week, these are the titles to consider spending them on.
The Hell
Developer: Metropolice
Release Date: April 1, 2026
Ever want to take control of Hell? Well, this devilish city builder is your chance. As “Hell’s Governor,” it’s up to you to rebuild the underworld and satiate the powerful Namazu to prevent havoc and chaos from dismantling your hellscape.
The HELL : Kanto Earthquake 1923
View on Steam1923: Process the Great Kantō Earthquake death. Lead all the miserable souls, battle quake-storms, and make life-or-death choices in collapsing Kanto's Hell. A historical strategy game inspired by true events where you play as Hell Governor. Oh…there is NAMAZU the Catfish Titan wreaking havoc too.
Beyond the Eyes
Developer: Sapphirus Production
Release Date: March 6, 2026
What can I say? I’m a sucker for werewolves, and I appreciate the unique concept of playing as a blind character that has to use sound to navigate a mansion and evade the hefty footsteps of a lycanthrope.
A 2d game with a view from above, where you are in the shoes of a blind protagonist and have to find a way to escape from a mansion by collecting various items scattered around it at random while being chased by a monster.
The Skin Stapler
Developer: Tainted Pact
Release Date: TBA
It’s gritty, grimy, and has a delightfully eerie soundtrack that pairs perfectly with the crude PSX-style visuals. I absolutely love the retro style, as it fits the ‘80s grindhouse inspiration and enhances the overall look and feel of the world and the uncomfortable narrative being built.
The Skin Stapler
View on SteamThe Skin Stapler is a retro-styled PSX grindhouse horror adventure set in the rotting, crime-soaked sprawl of Carrion City. Players follow jaded detective Dick Slater and his eager rookie partner Robbie Knox as they hunt a mysterious serial killer known only as The Skin Stapler.
Vultures – Scavengers of Death
Developer: Team Vultures
Release Date: Coming Soon
Resident Evil: Survival Unit may have given us a taste of a turn-based entry in the series, but Vultures delivers an entire experience that feels more closely rooted in the classic survival horror franchise. Manage supplies and carefully plan every move to survive this unforgiving, infected world.
VULTURES is a tactical turn-based survival horror, inspired by 90's survival horror classics. As an operative, scavenge the infested metropolis for materials and information that could cure the infection plaguing the world.
The Midnighters
Developer: OTTO Games
Release Date: March 2026
The concept isn’t breaking new ground as a 1- to 4-player co-op horror experience. However, I like the aesthetic, and any game with hallucinations that can mess with the group dynamic is worth at least checking out.
The Midnighters
View on SteamThe Midnighters is a survival horror game for 1-4 players where you hunt for cursed treasures. Find and seize the treasures claimed by terrifying creatures. But as you do, heed the devil's whispers and never trust your eyes.
Invocation: Ghost Photography
Developer: Echochvmber
Release Date: Coming Soon
Old school visuals? Check. Paranormal gadgetry? Check. Spooky ghosts with hollow eyes? Check. It seems to be a PSX single-player version of Phasmophobia, so count me in.
Invocation: Ghost Photography
View on SteamPlay as a paranormal investigator and explore dark, atmospheric locations where lost spirits still lurk in the shadows.
Not My Hand
Developer: BettleGame
Release Date: April 2026
Just how observant are you? You’ll need to be at the top of your game to piece together the events of a ritualistic killing and rewrite the ending. Watch the footage over and over, pinpoint changes from one viewing to the next, and try to alter fate in this psychological puzzler.
A psychological horror puzzle about an strange VHS tape that captured a disturbingly realistic ritual. Each viewing changes what happens on screen. Notice these changes, figure out what they mean and see if you can rewrite the ending.
Haunted Lands
Developer: Alevgor
Release Date: March 10, 2026
A Ranger, a werewolf, a sorceress, and a sexy salamander walk into a bar… It’s either the setup to an awful joke or the lineup to this bright, fast-paced retro platformer. The onscreen chaos may be a bit much for some, but I love the idea of six unique heroes, each with their own playstyle. And, again, I’m a sucker for werewolves.
Slay grim cultists, infernal minions, and nightmarish creatures in this dark and bloody retro-inspired action platformer. Uncover secrets, acquire powerful artifacts, and face challenging bosses in the Haunted Lands.
End of Line
Developer: Troxan Studios
Release Date: March 12, 2026
Stuck on a train, all you can do is survive carriages full of monstrosities and puzzles. The only way off is to face your fears and outsmart the horrors that await.
Stay alive in this first-person horror-puzzle game. Trapped inside a claustrophobic train, each carriage tests you differently.
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