The Steam "Next Fest October Edition" took place from October 20 to 27, 2026, ending at 2:00 AM. Japanese media outlet 4Gamer played through approximately 70 participating titles and highlighted six standout recommendations, helping players discover hands-on experiences that store descriptions alone cannot convey.
Mystery Adventure Game: Angel Agency, Executive Department, Soul Relief Division
This is a mystery adventure set in a world where supernatural phenomena (known as "paranormal incidents") have become part of daily life. The protagonist pursues the truth behind various events. The story follows two investigators from the "Angel Organization," a group specialized in investigating paranormal cases, as they tackle inexplicable mysteries.
The game consists of three parts: "Dialogue," "Deduction," and "Rescue." The gameplay loop involves gathering information during the Dialogue phase, using that information for Deduction, and then proceeding to the Rescue phase. In this demo, we experienced the middle portion of the Deduction phase for the first case.
During the Deduction phase, players can reconstruct the events of the day by peering into the "memories of the deceased." This goes beyond simply matching testimonies with evidence, allowing players to experience a unique sense of organizing information and tracing back memories.
The most appealing aspect is its exceptional visual presentation. The unique character art style, perfectly complemented by sound design, greatly enhances the atmosphere. The presentation of information is also excellent, drawing players deeper into the experience with every moment played. I can't wait to play the rest!
Edict: Wheel Cards
A deck-building roguelike where players battle enemies using mechanical cards. Players take on the role of agents dispatched by the "Mechanical Doctrine" with the mission to eliminate hostile forces. Featuring a metallic UI and mechanical animations, the game delivers a震撼 immersive combat experience that stands apart from traditional card games.
The basic system resembles traditional deck-building roguelikes, where players use their hand to attack enemies. However, cards have "durability" and take damage when attacked. Furthermore, cards damaged in battle only recover after the next battle, making it crucial to decide which cards to protect and which to sacrifice. Most importantly,
A notable feature is that card durability is closely tied to "hand order." Since the hand itself serves as a defense mechanism, the amount of damage taken varies depending on how cards are arranged. For example, to block an attack from an enemy on the right, you must place the card that will take the hit on the far right of your hand.
Interestingly, this eliminates the need for dedicated "defensive actions." Since resources normally used for playing cards don't need to be allocated to defense, the system encourages highly aggressive playstyles and deck-building strategies.
Players can strengthen cards by attaching special components, and building various effect chains is equally enjoyable. Thanks to its unique defense system, players must make their own strategic decisions when using cards, making this deck-building roguelike highly personalized. If you enjoy deck-building games, this title is definitely worth trying.
