Valve has released the list of the 50 most-played demos from the recent Steam Next Fest, offering a glimpse into player preferences. The data indicates a strong leaning towards casual cooperative experiences, often termed 'friendslop,' and a continued popularity for incremental games. Notably, games that heavily advertised the use of generative AI in their development were scarce among the top performers, with only four such titles appearing in the most-played list.
Among the 50 most popular demos, seven were incremental games, including titles like '10 Million Pixels' and 'Unharvest'. Fifteen demos fell into the category of lighthearted or comedic co-op games, such as 'Dude, Trust Me,' 'Oar'Some Adventures,' and 'Banana Airways'. Survival games also featured prominently, with three entries including 'Frostrail,' 'Never Be Alone,' and 'Arctic Drive.' Additionally, three games described as 'cozy,' including 'Loftia,' and one MMO, 'ArchAge Chronicles,' made the cut. A single game fitting the description of 'haystack slop' also appeared on the list.
The dominance of smaller, independent titles is further highlighted by the fact that only one game in the top 50, 'Tropico 7,' was published by a major publisher, Ubisoft.
One of the few games to openly declare AI use in its development, 'Teach My Little Sister How To Drive,' reportedly incurs costs exceeding $1,000 per day solely for its demo's LLM-powered NPC functionality. This suggests a significant financial barrier or user apprehension regarding AI-integrated gaming experiences.
The overall list, topped by the 1-6 player asymmetric party game 'Worst Class Ever,' reflects a notable shift in player tastes compared to previous years. Five years ago, popular demos from Steam Next Fest included titles like 'Norco,' 'Death Trash,' 'Sable,' 'Unpacking,' and 'The Inheritance of Crimson Manor,' which garnered significant attention and sustained player interest.
The current trend suggests an increased influence from platforms like Roblox and user-generated content, potentially shaping the preferences of a younger audience accustomed to accessible and casually-oriented online multiplayer games. This marks a distinct departure from the gaming landscape of just a few years prior.