FIFA collides with Silent Hill in the most wildly chaotic demo of Steam Next Fest.

      Celery Emblem

      Steam Next Fest is currently in progress, offering a plethora of fantastic game demos available for free trial. We’ve been monitoring the top demos of Steam Next Fest and exploring titles like Skin Deep and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Tactical Takedown throughout the week. If you’ve been keeping up with our updates, you’ve likely compiled a substantial wishlist by now.

      As Steam Next Fest approaches its conclusion in just a few days, it’s time for me to reveal some of the more unusual offerings. If you’re looking to experience something truly bizarre before the event wraps up, allow me to present to you Fear Fa 98.

      Describing this game is both straightforward and perplexing, but here it is: Fear Fa 98 is essentially Silent Hill combined with FIFA 98. That’s a statement that might initially seem logical, prompting you to reflect and then question, “Wait, what?” I’ll repeat it just to confirm you heard it right: Fear Fa 98 merges Silent Hill with FIFA 98.

      This unique title is a labor of love from solo developer Jacob Jazz, representing an unconventional blend of classic arcade sports games and PS1 horror titles. Picture NFL Blitz but filled with demons, and that’s a good approximation. The demo provides an early glimpse of the game’s concept and makes it clear that this is a rough preview, but its sheer absurdity makes it worth trying before Steam Next Fest concludes.

      The gameplay mechanics are relatively simple. It features a fast-paced soccer format where I pass the ball among teammates, dash across the field, and shoot to score. The twist is that my team consists of zombies and supernatural creatures that stagger across a pentagram and fire-laden field. They deliver catchy one-liners like “You’re gonna die!” while an original song proclaiming the game’s title plays during matches. Occasionally, I can collect power-ups scattered around the field that initiate slow-motion effects or boost my character’s speed.

      Additionally, there’s a chance of players’ heads getting severed, which is certainly noteworthy.

      Despite the demo's early stage, I already see the vision behind Fear Fa 98. It has the essence of a forgotten bargain-bin game that a major studio might have launched in the late '90s—likely a commercial failure that transformed into a cult classic because one friend had a copy given to them by an out-of-touch relative. It reminds me of how I extensively played Criticom on PS1 as a child because my godmother randomly gifted it to me. I loved it, mistakenly thinking it was a well-known game. I later discovered it had been critically panned (IGN awarded it a 3/10 in 1996) and has since faded into obscurity, feeling like a secret only I know.

      That’s the vibe I got from trying Fear Fa 98, and I mean that in a positive light. It genuinely encapsulates the spirit of the gaming industry’s Wild West era, before every major release was a gigantic project aimed at achieving multi-million dollar success. It’s a quirky concept that’s authentically rough around the edges and excessively violent, seemingly for no reason at all. This is exactly the sort of game I likely would have owned as a kid, and one I still have a desire to possess now.

      Fear Fa 98‘s demo is available on Steam Next Fest now.

      As Digital Trends' Senior Gaming Editor, Giovanni Colantonio manages all gaming content at Digital Trends. A seasoned expert...

      6 outstanding game demos you must try during Steam Next Fest

      The first Steam Next Fest of 2024 has arrived, enabling game developers to showcase limited-time demos of their upcoming titles for feedback and to generate excitement around previously unannounced games. This Next Fest showcases demos for several higher-profile titles, such as the inaugural public demos for Appeal Studios' Outcast – A New Beginning, Surgent Studios' Tales of Kenzera: ZAU, and Mintrocket's Wakerunners. However, the true highlights of Steam Next Fest lie in the more experimental titles that often go unnoticed.

      With hundreds of demos to explore, identifying the projects worth your time can be challenging. Having tested numerous demos ahead of this year’s event, I’ve pinpointed six games that stand out above the rest. From innovative narrative-driven experiences to thrilling titles centered on engaging gameplay mechanics, these are the demos you should explore during the Steam Next Fest: February 2024 Edition.

      INDIKA

      INDIKA | Gameplay Teaser

      Looking for a cozy game to enjoy this weekend? A fantastic new release is available on PC that’s perfect for the season: Station to Station. This tranquil PC game combines minimalistic puzzle-solving with railroad management simulation. With its charming voxel art and soothing soundtrack, it conceals a surprisingly deep strategic layer. Whether you simply want to unwind or build complex railway networks, Station to Station may be the game you’re seeking this season.

      Created by Galaxy Grove, Station to Station challenges players