The 20 Most-Played Steam Next Fest Demos Features Troublemaking Students, Farting Hippos
Valve has revealed the 20 most-played demos from Steam Next Fest, running through October 26, 2026. Out of over 8,000 featured games, Valve shared data with Polygon on which upcoming titles are generating the strongest player interest.
Multiplayer games dominate the rankings, continuing the “friendslop” trend—social, accessible multiplayer experiences that drive significant engagement on Steam. Shopkeeping simulation games also rank among the most-played demos, reflecting diverse player preferences during the festival.
A notable example is Worst Class Ever by Funcore Games, ranking at #20. This asymmetrical multiplayer game features troublemaking students attempting to disrupt a classroom and each other while evading detection by a teacher controlled by another player.
The popular demos reflect current gaming trends toward social and niche simulation experiences. Steam Next Fest serves as a discovery platform for developers and a gauge of player preferences for upcoming releases. The volume of featured demos—over 8,000—underscores the PC gaming ecosystem’s vitality and developer investment in early playtesting and community engagement before official launches.