5 games you should play during the Steam Next Fest

digitaltrends.com:

Steam’s Next Fest is happening right now, and it’s one of the few opportunities (outside in-person events) where players can try out a ton of upcoming titles. In the usual fashion for Steam’s event, there’s a lot of stuff to play during the Next Fest — so much so that you may miss out on some of the best games available.

If you’re just looking to try some of the best games before the event ends at 10 a.m. PT on February 28, these are some demos you should absolutely try out. Perhaps you’ll even be able to play these on your Steam Deck soon enough.

Movement, speed, and precision are the main focuses of Neon White, a first-person shooter that manages to sneak resource management into its incredibly addictive gameplay loop. Tasked with clearing the demons out of heaven, players have to navigate winding levels using weapons that can be picked up as cards. As these weapons — things like pistols, semi-automatic rifles, and RPGs — are used, they slowly drain and eventually break.

Instead of firing weapons, players can also break cards and use their bonus powers. Breaking a pistol, for instance, grants a double jump. Discarding a semi-auto rifle gives players a massive dash that can break obstacles and kill demons. With both uses, running through a level of Neon White becomes a flurry of shots being fired, cards being discarded, and others taking their place.

Levels are fast-paced, and trying to finish them as quickly as possible, which the game rewards you for, is simply irresistible. There’s some downtime between levels, too, where players can talk to NPCs and redeem awards, but I don’t imagine I’ll want to break from the fast-paced action based on the demo.

I’m not a huge fan of puzzle games. When it comes to them, I can’t