Previews – SmashPad

[Steam Next Fest] Hands-On: “inKonbini: One Store. Many Stories” is a cozy title that got me all nervous

by Danreb Victorio | Nintendo Switch PC PlayStation 5 Previews Steam Xbox Series X | 0 Comments | 26 Feb 2026

This demo only gives you this one shift, and it doesn’t take long at all. You’re tasked with taking stock out of the back and putting it on the konbini sales floor, making sure everything at the store is in order, and then opening up shop. Simple, right? Oh, if you only knew.

[Steam Next Fest] Hands-On: “Vampire Crawlers” deals a wickedly irresistible hand early on

by David Rodriguez | Android iOS Mobile Nintendo Switch PC PlayStation 5 Previews Steam Xbox Series X | 0 Comments | 26 Feb 2026

Put bluntly, Vampire Crawlers chokeslams boredom through a glass table. The demo is impressive in its simplicity, but requires a hell of a lot more of you than Vampire Survivors did. In that sense, poncle could be on track to deliver a follow-up worthy of its still budding name and elephantine reputation. Can their lightning strike twice?

[Steam Next Fest] Hands-On: Is “Cleaning Up!” really fun?

by Danreb Victorio | Nintendo Switch Nintendo Switch 2 PC PlayStation 4 PlayStation 5 Previews Steam | 0 Comments | 26 Feb 2026

The Steam Next Fest demo of Cleaning Up!, which you can play now, features four levels that provide just enough to get your feet wet. There’s an apartment, a castle, a museum, and a cafe, each providing a new gimmick to differentiate itself enough. Only one of these levels qualifies as challenging, but again, it’s a demo.

[Steam Next Fest] Hands-On: “Akatori” still needs polish

by Chris Selogy | Nintendo Switch PC Previews Videos | 0 Comments | 23 Feb 2026

This feels like a demo for a game that still has a lot of work to go before it’s ready for launch, so I hope the developers get the time this demo needs to fulfill its potential.

[SmashPad Demo Fest] SP Plays – “Titanium Court” Demo

by Chris Selogy | PC Previews Videos | 0 Comments | 23 Feb 2026

Out Steam Next Fest demo let’s plays continue with Titanium Court!

[SmashPad Demo Fest] SP Plays – “Blossom: The Seed of Life”

by Chris Selogy | PC Previews Videos | 0 Comments | 22 Feb 2026

Chris Selogy spent some time on the demo for Blossom: The Seed of Life

[SmashPad Demo Fest] SP Plays -“Replaced”

by Chris Selogy | PC Previews Videos Xbox Series X | 0 Comments | 22 Feb 2026

Let’s spend the next half hour trying out this demo of Replaced.

[Steam Next Fest] Hands-On: “Wax Heads” captures the communal connection music has through a slice-of-life narrative sim

by David Rodriguez | Nintendo Switch PC PlayStation 5 Previews Steam Xbox Series X | 0 Comments | 22 Feb 2026

As someone that prides himself on being able to recommend new, cool music to my pals, Wax Heads just hits all the right buttons so far.

[Steam Next Fest] Hands-On: “Armatus” promises a darkened, kinetic shooter experience for the roguelite landscape

by David Rodriguez | Nintendo Switch 2 PC PlayStation 5 Previews Steam Xbox Series X | 0 Comments | 20 Feb 2026

We’re not particularly starving for roguelites. Now a favorite of indie developers the world over for around a decade, it takes a lot for a new one to stand out among the crowd in gameplay, but also in art style. The ones I usually play tend to be on the brighter, sillier side with levity or at least a sense of humor to balance out the drama a la both Hades games. Armatus dares to be a little different with a dark, apocalyptic take for the setting while retaining a gameplay loop that makes genre fans ravenous.

[Steam Next Fest] Hands-On: “Starship Troopers: Ultimate Bug War!” has what it takes to eliminate the Bug menace

by David Rodriguez | PC Previews Steam | 0 Comments | 13 Feb 2026

Ultimate Bug War! is a clear callback to the FPS games of the late 90s with some flavoring from the PlayStation 2 era in the 2000s and, of course, modern accoutrements and comforts. At its core though, it’s really simple: you have a wide arsenal of Bug-repelling weapons. Use them freely and fiercely to defend humanity as Private Sammy Dietz.

FINAL PREVIEW – “Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection” could potentially break Persona 3-like ground as a spinoff

by Danreb Victorio | Nintendo Switch 2 PC PlayStation 5 Previews Steam Xbox Series X | 0 Comments | 12 Feb 2026

After playing Monster Hunter Stories 3 for over 10 hours, the potential for this turn-based spinoff to reach greater heights is definitely there. Monsties, anyone?

[Steam Next Fest] Hands-On:”Crushed In Time” nails classic adventure tones with a time-stretching premise

by David Rodriguez | PC Previews Steam | 0 Comments | 12 Feb 2026

Have you ever wished you could interact with a cartoonishly charming world with all the elasticity of Mario’s face from the Super Mario 64 start screen? Draw Me A Pixel is where your hands need to reach for then.

Category: Previews

[Steam Next Fest] Hands-On: “inKonbini: One Store. Many Stories” is a cozy title that got me all nervous

[Steam Next Fest] Hands-On: “Vampire Crawlers” deals a wickedly irresistible hand early on

[Steam Next Fest] Hands-On: Is “Cleaning Up!” really fun?

[Steam Next Fest] Hands-On: “Akatori” still needs polish

[SmashPad Demo Fest] SP Plays – “Titanium Court” Demo

[SmashPad Demo Fest] SP Plays – “Blossom: The Seed of Life”

[SmashPad Demo Fest] SP Plays -“Replaced”

[Steam Next Fest] Hands-On: “Wax Heads” captures the communal connection music has through a slice-of-life narrative sim

[Steam Next Fest] Hands-On: “Armatus” promises a darkened, kinetic shooter experience for the roguelite landscape

[Steam Next Fest] Hands-On: “Starship Troopers: Ultimate Bug War!” has what it takes to eliminate the Bug menace

FINAL PREVIEW – “Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection” could potentially break Persona 3-like ground as a spinoff

[Steam Next Fest] Hands-On:”Crushed In Time” nails classic adventure tones with a time-stretching premise

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