This year on Steam is closing out without massive game releases. We had a packed second half of the year with the release of GOTY contenders like Hades 2 and Hollow Knight: Silksong, which make December look disappointing. Except it's not.
I have picked six Steam games that are among the most followed on the platform, all releasing next month. I have played the demos of all the games I'm recommending here, except for one of them, which has none. In this case, I'm still convinced it has great potential for reasons I'll explain in its own section.
Even if you don't want to commit to buying any, at least you have a bunch of demos to play. Here are our top game picks releasing in December 2025 on Steam.
Skate Story
Skate Story is a weird exploration game where you're a glass demon who does skateboard tricks on your way to moons to destroy and eat them, all while disrespecting floating eye-gods who claim skateboarding is a sin. This description is either enough to make you want to play the demo right now or skip this entire section and pretend this game will never exist. I'm the former, as a huge fan of the offbeat stuff Devolver Digital publishes, and Skate Story is my favorite on this list.
It has a Jet Set Radio background story with a dark spiritual vibe. The game also has cool ambient music with synths to make it an unexpectedly chill experience for a game that requires so much precision to play. Skate Story releases on Dec. 8.
Unbeatable
Unbeatable is a rhythm game "where music is illegal and you do crimes," as the game's description puts it perfectly. It has a deep and sensitive story mode if you're into rich narratives, but it also has an arcade option if all you want to do is press a lot of buttons at the right time over and over.
I had fun doing both and thought that the story in the demo was a great introduction to how the interface of the rhythm sections works. It's a lot closer to Hextech Mayhem than to Guitar Hero or Spin Rhythm XD, but it still feels like a great game if you're a fan of the last two. The demo already has a bunch of songs to play at different difficulties and a nice introduction to the story, so it's worth checking out before the game goes live in full on Dec. 9.
Subliminal
Subliminal is a classic horror game that happens inside the mind of Caleb, the protagonist you control. It reminds me a lot of Kojima's P.T., where you start locked inside a regular-looking but messy house with lots of corridors where you're sure a jumpscare is waiting for you.
A narrator, much like that of The Stanley Parable, talks to you through the entire experience, which adds more mystery to the game—who's that person, and why do they want to distract you from the dark corners of Caleb's mind? From the demo, part of Subliminal is learning more about—and pissing off—this narrator (or voice in your head) and discovering why it keeps guiding you from all the supernatural things happening in the world around you while pretending everything is fine.
There are jump scares that trigger when you perform certain actions, but a lot of the suspense is in the smaller things like objects moving on their own, noises starting somewhere close, or blood dripping from places you wouldn't expect.
Cloudheim
Cloudheim is a blend of many kinds of games. It's an RPG with base-building, crafting, open-world exploration, combo-based combat, and multiplayer. While its visuals resemble The Legend of Zelda Switch games, it has nothing to do with them.
In Cloudheim's demo, I spent most of my time exploring different types of lands while clearing monsters using huge combos that gave me more resources to build my base. This seems to be the general gameplay loop, where you explore an open world for resources and return to your base to develop it further, become stronger, and explore even tougher areas. It has fast-paced combat that is fun if you enjoy mashing buttons, but that can feel boring if you're into more strategic battles.
Still, if you're looking for something to play with friends and enjoy base building in a fantasy world, Cloudheim can be an interesting choice on Dec. 4, when it comes out in early access on Steam.
Octopath Traveler 0
Octopath Traveler 0 is a turn-based JRPG in 2.5D. If you've played other Octopath Traveler games, at least trying the demo of this one is a no-brainer, as it has a generous demo you can play for three hours, which should be more than enough time to decide whether you want to buy it when it comes out on Dec. 4.
If you enjoy customizing characters and creating their backstory, Octopath Traveler 0 can scratch that itch. You can even choose your character's favorite dish and give it a custom name. Otherwise, the demo makes it feel like it's a classic Japanese RPG, much like many others. Whether you'll like it will probably boil down to Octopath Traveler 0's story and specific battle mechanics, such as Boosted actions and team building. It's a great pick if you're already into the genre, but play the demo first if you want to test this style of game for the first time. I enjoyed it, even with little familiarity with the series.
Terminator 2D: NO FATE
I always think video games based on movie franchises will suck, but Terminator 2D: NO FATE got me thinking otherwise. The game has no demo yet, but its retro looks paired with what seems to be a modern gameplay feel got me excited to test it on Dec. 12.
The game is an arcade action shooter that feels a lot like Contra 3: The Alien Wars for the Super Nintendo, but with a Terminator skin. If you grew up as a fan of these side-scrolling games, it could be a good choice if other games on this list don't grab your attention.
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