There are just too many games and too little guarantee that they’ll be good enough to spend your hard-earned money on. But that’s where demos come in!
Have a little bite, try a little treat, and see if these games are worth wishlisting and waiting for.
Outbound
To be released on PC (Windows, macOS); Consoles (Steam Deck, Switch 1/2, PS5, Xbox Series X/S)
This is an open-world exploration where you go out and camp in a utopian near future. You start with a basic camper van that you can slowly upgrade as you progress. Collect materials, craft, place items in the van, or build a home atop it! Yep. A home above the van. Don’t ask me how.
You also have to manage your sleep, hunger, and how much you can carry. And it all really adds up to the immersion. If you’ve got friends who are interested, you can also play this in a 4-person online co-op. More fun!
And while it’s not in the demo, the game does state that you’ll be able to adopt a pet that you can feed and train to help you! My only gripe about this game is that I wish the van would go a little faster, but I’m assuming there’s a vehicle upgrade that will fix that when the full game comes out (fingers crossed!).
Outbound is set to release on April 23, 2026!
Peaceful Fishing Story
Available on PC (Windows, macOS); Consoles (Steam Deck, Switch 1/2)
Are you a Stardew Valley fan? Or do you, like me, wish it were less about farming and more about fishing? Well, if that’s the case, then you’re in luck!
There’s not much else to say about Peaceful Fishing Story that isn’t already in the title. And while some of the art may remind you of Stardew, that might be the only thing the two have in common. Peaceful Fishing Story has none of the drama that Stardew has, as far as the demo goes, anyway. There’s really nothing else to do here but fish. And they make the fishing mini-game extremely fun! It honestly felt so much like an arcade game. There are 120 types of creatures to discover. So get reeling!
You will be able to interact with the villagers and play other mini-games once the full game is released. Soon you can also upgrade your equipment, participate in online rankings, and customize your home! Not sure if there’s going to be any romance, but I think it’s unlikely. One thing that might turn people away, though, is the lack of customization. You can choose between one of four characters, and that’s about it. I thought it’d be a deal-breaker, but I genuinely didn’t even focus on that once I started fishing. It’s just highly addictive!
At the time this article was written, the game had not been released. But as of March 20, 2026, the game has been made available and is priced at around 8-10USD. You can still try out the demo if you’re not sure this game is for you, though!
Wanderburg
To be released on PC (Windows, macOS); Consoles (Steam Deck)
Three words. Castles on wheels. (Howl’s Moving Castle, anyone?) That’s Wanderburg.
It’s a roguelike where you drive your castle around and dominate the area around you. Build and upgrade your castle after every run to make it even stronger, better, and bigger than it was before. Change up your strategy with your starting weapons, captains, and artifacts, and it’s just a variety of ways to win every battle until your last. So go on a hunt, gather coins and sheep, and don’t forget to demolish your enemies!
They have some things in their UI they still need to iron out, but I genuinely find this game so fun. Driving the castle takes a little bit of getting used to, but once you’ve got the hang of it, it’s just a more glorious version of bumper cars. Such a simple game, but it’s so, so good.
This demo was already hours of fun, so I can’t wait for the full game to be released. And if all things go smoothly, this is set to be released in 2026!
