Accessed Archive: Nextfest Summer 2026

Apparently, the end of the world is brought about by a little guy in a cloak doing increasingly complicated pokemon strength puzzles. Turns out, I actually really like increasingly complicated pokemon strength puzzles. I was drawn to this game by its art style and colours with, frankly, no idea what the actual gameplay was. The result is simple but welcome- Dittori takes an age-old formula and adds new pieces to it frequently enough to keep it interesting. The demo was short but did make me want to play all the content available- I'll be curious to seeif it can keep up with its own pace in the full release.

Score: 6.5/10    Tags: 2D, Puzzler, Block Pusher

In a paranormal take on Hypnospace Outlaw, you investigate and classify potential hauntings based on submitted evidence from a Windows 95 style CRT monitor. The game has a good sense of its own atmosphere, but makes a few choices that undercut itself. First of all, it's a puzzler that drops you right into its puzzles with no real effort to show you what you should be looking for, leading to some early frustration. This might be fine if it gave you the space to explore, but the game puts some heavy artifical pressure on through daily time limits and 'rent' to be able to continue doing our job, which actively discourages you from actually checking out what the cases have to offer. If they're willing to change up those key aspects of the gameplay loop, this could end up being something really engaging.

Score: 5/10    Tags: Paranormal, Horror, Detective

What an absolute delight! Phonopolis is a completely uniquely crafted whimsical cardboard dystopia with unbelievably tactile puzzles. On paper (heh), I suppose its a point and click, but that feels like a disservice to how creative it actually is. In practice, Phonopolis really feels like you're playing with a cardboard diorama, or perhaps one of those weirdly ethereal eye spy books you had as a kid. The world is just absolutely lovely, and working your way through the puzzles gives you a pure sense of joy. This is already out now and an instant pickup for me.

Score: 8.5/10    Tags: Puzzle, Stylized, 'Point-and-Click'

Suri is... a rhythm game without a sense of rhythm. I've been really into the rhythm/action platformer genre in the past with things like Crypt of the Necrodancer, but despite this demo giving me MORE than a clear enough idea of what the game is about, extending past its entire first act, I found myself fighting with it the whole way through. The character, unfortunately seems to move on a different clock than everything else in the world, resulting in unsatisfying movement combos and frustrating recoveries. There are bones of something good here, but for it to really be what they want, some fundamental changes need to happen that I don't see happening.

Score: 4/10    Tags: Rhythm, Platformer

Hooooly shit. This is the most fired up I've been after a demo in a LONG time, maybe since Cobalt Core. Nocturne is a rhythm RPG with SOUL. It's rhythm-based combat ramps up steadily in both challenge and grip, and a beautiful package of stunning pixel art, a heartfelt story, memorable characters, and a brilliant premise make up a strong heartbeat of its first act. So far, every aspect of the game has acted in service of its identity, and I cannot wait for its release this September.

Score: 9/10    Tags: Rhythm, RPG, Narrative

I started this without knowing it was a horror game, and. Uh. It is! But a really compelling one at that. It genuinely put a knot in my stomach at the end of the demo, so it absolutely deserves points for doing what it wants to do. The mechanics of puzzle-solving here are actually really interesting- without spoiling too much, the haunted gallery you're inside of and the art that accompanies you within affect each other deeply. In the short time it gave me, I already saw several signs that this relationship will be used to great effect. If you are a fan of atmospheric horror, give this game a try for sure.

Score: 7.5/10    Tags: Atmopheric, Puzzler, Horror

This game is perfectly servicable, but as a 2D action platformer, I'm struggling to think of a reason to pick it up in a field full of spectacular games. It certainly has some charm and polish, but it started to wear off for me already by the end of my time with the demo. The gameplay is thin and I don't find the quirky veneer it's presented under compelling enough to stick through it. It wears its inspiration transparently from the early Kirby games, and while it doesn't do anything wrong, it's just kind of... inoffensively ok.

Score: 5/10    Tags: 2D, Action, Platformer

A slew of 2D action platformers have become a staple of every Nextfest. As a fan of the genre, I always like to look out for them, but end up judging them quite harshly simply due to the variety already available. Torii falls firmly into that category, and while I think I am not quite the target audience, I do think there are people that will really connect to this game. It boasts a beautiful hand-drawn art style and a simple but challenging combat system, and although the protagonist was too no-nonsense for my tastes, the world here certainly has potential. If you are someone who enjoys uphill battles and doesn't mind learning to fight at a different tempo, this may be worth a look. I certainly got the impression that the game has much more depth than I reached in my limited time.

Score: 6/10    Tags: 2D, Action, Platformer

It's Trivia Murder Party! But Three! This is a strange one to rate- TMP2 has long been one of my Jackbox staples, and this is, largely, more of the same with a fresh coat of paint, new questions, and some new ways to die. There does seem to a shift in the philosophy of the game away from 'outlast your friends' in its transition to a bulkier, standalone experience- with the new thread system, you never really become a ghost, simply losing score on death instead. It seems to be leaning more towards a 'set length' game structure- there is certainly some clunk to iron out, but this could certainly earn its place as Jackbox's first solo endeavour in years.

Score: 6.5/10    Tags: Party Game, Multiplayer

So glad I found this! Rivage is very similar to Tacoma, one of my favourite short puzzle games of recent memory. You wake on a beautifully designed space station with the rest of the crew missing, and work your way through a mysterious timeloop to figure out how to use the ships limited power and resources to find the fates of your shipmates and your research mission. Information is your most valuable resource, and carries over between loops. The game gives you some great tools to reflect back on what you've learned and avoid backtracking. There were a couple puzzles in the demo for which information wasn't super clearly communicated, but I'm very excited to see how the whole story plays out. Will be picking this up in August for sure.

Score: 8/10    Tags: Puzzle, Timeloop, Space!

I always have fun with asymmetrical co-op puzzles. This one is local only, but we played it through steam remote play and it was perfectly smooth! The gameplay is pretty straightforward- a girl and a robot (mostly) have different sets of abilities and largely walk back and forth opening the way for them to move on as the robot rediscovers his purpose in a world that suddenly ended in the 1990s. Inexplicably, player 2 is a little bug for the first. like. 5 minutes of the game. Despite having a custom moveset and everything, this bug then vanishes entirely. I miss you, bug.

Score: 7/10    Tags: Asymmetrical Co-op, Atmospheric, 2D Platformer

It feels a little unfair reviewing this- rather than a real demo, this is a proof of concept build from over a year ago that is intended to show the vision for a game a LONG way from release. And believe me- this *feels* like its a long way away from release. Hawthorn is an ongoing crowdfunded project from former Naughty Dog and Bethesda devs, where you play as a selection of animals such as owls, otters, and rats that each have their own sets of abilities and limitations as you build up a village. In its current state, the game feels... very generic. I quit in under half an hour, as the gameplay loop of 'be told something to build > go find resources as loose items on the ground to build it' got stale VERY quickly. This proof-of-concept clearly exists primarily to have something to show their backers, but it brings into question whether something *should* be shown in an uninspiring state like this. I hope, given good feedback, the game finds it's soul along the way that it is currently lacking.

Score: 3/10    Tags: RPG, Life Sim

Ohhhhh boy, this scratches an itch DEEP in my brain. You run a little repair shop in mid-2000s Tokyo, disassembling, cleaning, and repairing electronics that have been through a fucking sandstorm, apparently. Do not question how your customers get that much dirt on the inside of a PSP. Erm- sorry, PMP. The process of taking these things apart is UNBELIEVABLY satisfying, with an online marketplace adding a nice level of puzzle to figure out what used machines you should invest in to get your needed parts for cheap. There's a strangely compelling if thin story layered on top of this where your landlord's son is a yakuza member? High hopes for the inevitable gay love triangle featuring your harworking mailman and the yakuza son.

Score: 9.5/10    Tags: Job Sim

Frog stray is a simple but well executed puzzle platformer with a respectable amount of challenge. It feels quite arcade-y, and I say that in a good way- I oculd totally imagine paying per life to play this on a standing cabinet. Frog stray does nothing groundbreaking, but if you like precision platformers, it's a welcome addition to the genre.

Score: 7/10    Tags: Precision Platformer, Puzzle

This is just an unabashedly cool game. As a time-loop based metroidvania, I had high expectations for this one going in, and I'm pleased to say they were met. You slowly unravel your place in the story of a research facility and its catastrophic end, running on a ticking clock to learn how to use each loop more efficiently than the last. Of any game I've played, this has by far the most intriguing combination of traditional metroidvania and more knowledge based 'metroidbrainia' mechanics, which gives it an extremely unique sense of identity. There are a few other great choices this game makes- for one, you can heal any damage you take at the cost of time in your loop, giving a great set of stakes to your routing. This demo stuck the landing brilliantly and left me absolutely fired up for more. Well-done.

Score: 9/10    Tags: 2D Platformer, Timeloop, Metroidbrainia

I've always had a good time with perception-based physics puzzlers- the likes of Superliminal, Viewfinder, etc. Object Impermanence is a new addition to their ranks with an intriguing conceit- objects only exist while they are being actively observed. The central challenge, therefore, becomes finding the right paths and angles to keep your keys in view while you move around or figure out when it is beneficial for something to stop existing. While fun, the principle has one major drawback. The execution of puzzles largely relies around awkwardly walking around backwards and clumsily swapping out puzzle pieces, which makes solving rooms less fluid than it perhaps could be. Great score on the Little Guy Factor, though.

Score: 6.5/10    Tags: Physics Puzzler

The Button Effect is a very cerebral puzzler where the main mechanic uses directional buttons that activate other buttons in their 'line of sight', with some interesting inversion and blocking mechanics. Unfortunately, the way the game is put together allows few opportunities to feel satisfied with yourself, and, unless you're REALLY into the kinds of puzzles that hide their own solutions from you, by and large leaves you somewhat frustrated. Worth a look for diehard puzzle fans, skippable for everyone else.

Score: 5/10    Tags: Puzzler, Narrated

In the very brief look this demo gave us, Cat Mail Co. appears to be a surprisingly involved job sim that is definitely best suited for playing in a group. You stamp, sort, and ship packages to other mail ports while ensuring your own customers get theirs safely. Also everybody is a cat. The simple gameplay loop ahs a lot of charm, and there were some signs that additional (welcome) complexity will be introduced later in the game. If it's priced cheaply, this seems like good fun for a group game.

Quotes from my costars: "It brings an un-rendered tear to my eye" - Cecil | "This game was like being presented by the best omelet of your life, only for the chef to pull the dish away after the first bite, the first bit was mostly just egg. i want the full omelet." - Rin

Score: 7/10    Tags: Co-op, Job Sim

This game invests heavily in its ample character and charm, hoping that it will keep you distracted from a fairly simple game loop of photojournalism. And honestly? It kind of works. If anything, they needed to lean into it further- the end of the demo indicates the story becomes more 'real' fairly soon into the game as actual mysteries start unfolding around you. I'm undecided as to whether or not that is a good thing- the game definitely needs some more interest to keep you in past a coupe novelty sessions, but it's whimsical, goofy tone is the best thing it has going for it. For a game about journalism, your ability to actually do your own journalism is fairly limited, so you end up not actually being able to engage much with the world they've built.

Score: 5.5/10    Tags: Detective, Gnomes