▶ A Closer Look at 5 K-Indie Games Selected by indiegame.com for Steam Next Fest 2026
From Metroidvania to Kimbap Simulator… Each genre, scale, and worldview is unique.
▶ From February 24 to March 3, 2026… A week-long challenge to conquer the global stage.
The February 2026 edition of ‘Steam Next Fest’ hosted by Valve will be held for a week from 3:00 AM on February 24th to 3:00 AM on March 3rd (Korean time).
This year’s event, where upcoming titles will be released with free demos, developers will be livestreaming and providing real-time feedback, will once again feature a diverse lineup of Korean indie games. While their genres, scales, and development methods vary, they all share a clear goal: to establish their presence in the global market.
What is Steam Next Fest ?
Steam Next Fest is a large-scale event hosted by Valve three times a year (February, June, and October) to showcase new games. Anyone with a Steam account can play demos of participating titles for free, and developers can share their insights into the game’s development process and design intent through live streams.
For indie developers in particular, it’s considered a key marketing platform, enabling them to gauge global user response before official launch, secure wishlists, and build a solid community foundation. For teams seeking to enter the global market without a large advertising budget, it effectively serves as the fairest gateway to success.
Steam Next Fest page: https://store.steampowered.com/sale/nextfest
Notable K-Indie Game Entries Selected by indiegame.com
1. Solateria
▶ Development: Studio Dudal / Publishing: Shinsegae I&C
▶ Genre: 2D Action Metroidvania
▶ Release date: March 12, 2026
▶ Features: Stylish action focused on parrying and non-linear exploration. Hand-drawn art style.
▶ Steam Page: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2947280/Solateria/
Developed by Studio Dudal and published by Shinsegae I&C , ‘Solateria’ is not a simple side-scrolling action game, but a Metroidvania where parrying-centered design dominates the rhythm of battles .
Unlike the typical evasion- and attack-focused structure, parrying—reading the enemy’s attack timing and counterattacking—is the core mechanic. The “Pyron Action,” triggered upon a successful parry, expands the attack’s range and effectiveness, along with slow-motion effects. The perceived difficulty of the battle varies significantly depending on skill level.
The map layout is a complex mix of vertical and horizontal exploration. It follows the traditional Metroidvania grammar, with new areas opening up as abilities are acquired, but the high proportion of secret areas and environmental puzzles ensures a dense exploration experience.
The visuals, hand-drawn in style, capture the emotional atmosphere of a collapsed world. This title is considered a prime example of indie artistry combined with publisher support, and with console ports planned, global expansion is anticipated.
Recommended for: Users who prefer sophisticated combat-based Metroidvania games such as Hollow Knight and Blasphemers.
2. DeckLand
▶ Developer: Jellysnow / Publisher: CFK
▶ Genre: Deck-building roguelite
▶ Release: Scheduled for March 23, 2026 (Early Access)
▶ Features: A strategic deck builder that combines an Oriental/Korean worldview with a card synthesis system.
▶ Steam Page: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3322870/DeckLand_Demo/
Deckland, developed by Korean indie game company Jellysnow and published by CFK, is a strategic deck-building rogue-lite that adds a creative system called ‘synthesis’ to the card collection and strengthening structure.
The core of the game is the “card synthesis system,” which fuses two cards to create entirely new effects. This isn’t simply a numerical boost; it’s more of a tactical reinvention . Combining attack and movement cards creates a rushing, area-of-effect attack, or combining defense and status cards to create a counter-attacking strategy.
The worldview is based on Eastern and Korean symbols. It features content that deviates from genre clichés, including constellation adventures, stages inside monster stomachs, and mythical bosses.
The visuals combine thin line art with dynamic lighting effects to enhance the readability of the card effects. Early Access will see expansion of the card pool and balance adjustments.
Recommended for: Strategy-oriented players looking for a variation on the Slay the Spire deckbuilder.
3. Connected Clue
▶ Developer: Alpheratz Games (single-person development) / Publisher: CFK
▶ Genre: Adventure Mystery
▶ Release date: Scheduled for March 9, 2026
▶ Features: Quarter-view mystery adventure with a 19th-century detective novel feel. Connect the clues by running around.
▶ Steam Page: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2611210/Connected_Clue_Demo/
‘Connected Clue’ , currently being developed by domestic one-man developer Alpheratz Games, is a quarter-view adventure game that breaks away from text-centered mystery games and focuses on spatial exploration and clue connection.
Experience the thrill of detective work through the suspects’ alibis and lies, and solve various tricks placed on the map, all within a quarter-view perspective reminiscent of 19th-century detective novels. Last year, the game was exhibited at domestic and international festivals like “Beaver Rocks” and received positive responses. This year’s Next Fest marks the final marketing push ahead of its official launch on March 9th.
The fact that it was developed by a single person is also significant. Planning, story, coding, music, and translation were all done independently, ensuring a consistent worldview and tone. The game’s strength lies in its “focused narrative design,” rather than large-scale production.
Target audience: Users who prefer immersive detective games like ‘Return of the Obra Din’ and ‘Sherlock Holmes’.
4. Pharma Noctis
▶ Development: Yudiko Studio
▶ Genre: Psychological horror / First-person exploration
▶ Release: TBD (Next Fest demo revealed)
▶ Features: A jump-scare-free, atmospheric psychological horror set in a post-Soviet late-night pharmacy.
▶ Steam Page: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3886590/Pharma_Noctis/
“Parma Noctis,” currently in development by Korean indie developer Judico Studio, is set in a late-night pharmacy in Eastern Europe, plunged into chaos following the collapse of the former Soviet Union. The game follows a pharmacist working the night shift who gradually begins to sense a strange, inexplicable energizing presence. Rather than relying on jump scares, the game’s core design focuses on building fear through a gradual buildup of atmosphere and anxiety.
The protagonist performs the duties of a real pharmacist, including verifying prescriptions, dispensing medications, and managing inventory. They must identify counterfeit prescriptions, determine inappropriate drug combinations, and make decisions about whether to conceal inventory records.
As subtle cracks creep into this everyday work routine, the sense of dread intensifies. The game is dominated by the tidied shelves beneath cold fluorescent lights, the empty Eastern European streets visible through the window, and the sense of being watched from the darkness.
The game’s unique aesthetic is achieved by incorporating dark, minimalist colors into simplified, realistic graphics, and its dynamic narration system allows the narrative to change based on the player’s choices. While a relatively small project, it holds significant potential given the global demand for immersive indie horror.
Target audience: Users who prefer ‘PT’ style psychological horror and low-budget indie horror.
5. Kimbap Heaven Simulator
▶ Developer: Joyful Jo Inc.
▶ Genre: Cooking/Management Simulation
▶ Launch: Scheduled for Q2 2026
▶ Features: A 4-player online cooperative cooking and management simulation set in the popular Korean restaurant ‘Kimbab Heaven’
▶ Steam Page: https://store.steampowered.com/app/4206910/Kimbap_Heaven_Simulator/
Kimbap Heaven Simulator, developed by Korean indie studio Joyful Jo Inc., is a four-player cooperative cooking and management game that highlights Korean popular restaurant culture.
The game centers around the realistic preparation and cooking of various ingredients. As you progress, new ingredients and menus are added, and the environment can be expanded through kitchen equipment upgrades. Supporting both single-player and online co-op for up to four players, the game also includes practical kimbap recipes and cooking tips that can be applied to real-life cooking, adding to the fun of learning.
The game aims to provide both domestic and international users with a familiar yet exotic experience, with visuals that recreate the sensibility of Korean streets. Coupled with the rising popularity of K-food, the game can be considered an example of incorporating Korean sentiment into the game system.
Target audience: Fans of cooperative cooking games like ‘Overcooked’ + overseas users interested in K-culture.
The Growth and Significance of the Korean Indie Scene
Looking at the lineup of Korean indie games participating in this year’s Steam Next Fest, one can truly feel the maturity of the Korean indie scene.
The genre spectrum has expanded to include Metroidvania ( Solateria ), deck-building roguelite ( Deckland ), mystery adventure ( Connected Clue ), psychological horror ( Parma Noctis ), and culinary management ( Kimbap Heaven Simulator ), and the production scale has also diversified, from one-person developers to collaboration teams with large publishers.
Particularly noteworthy are the attempts to reinterpret Korean materials and sentiments within a global grammar. The Eastern mythological world of “Deckland” and the Korean restaurant culture of “Kimbab Heaven Simulator” align with the growing global interest in K-content . Conversely, genre experiments with Eastern European settings, such as “Parma Noctis,” from Korean developers are also noteworthy.
Steam Next Fest is more than just a demo event. Wishlist numbers, early user reviews, and streaming exposure are all indicators of a game’s success. It remains to be seen whether this event will serve as a global debut stage for each title.
Korean indie games are no longer stuck in the “domestic market testing phase.” Steam Next Fest has become a space where Korean developers can compete directly on the global stage while simultaneously showcasing their unique style.
As games with small but distinct personalities make their way onto global users’ playlists, the scope of the Korean indie scene expands as well.
I sincerely hope that the week leading up to Steam Next Fest in late February 2026 will not be just a simple experience period, but a time when Korean indie games once again knock on the door of the world.
