Before the age of streaming and Youtube, the best way to get a feel for the game was playing a demo, often delivered with one’s favorite weekly or monthly video game magazine, on a CD or a DVD.
In the all-digital era these words might hold less meaning, but the demos endured the collapse. After a few sad years in hibernation they have emerged stronger, better, and more celebrated than ever before.
What are they, why are they so useful? Let’s take a quick look!
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The basics
At its most basic, a demo is a free of charge, representative section of a game, supposed to show off its features and quirks to anybody interested. A free sample of the game, essentially.
Sometimes it might be literally the first mission of the game, other times it might be takes from somewhere down the line, edited for spoilers. Sometimes the demo might even lie a little bit, for example by providing abilities or items that normally wouldn’t be available at the given stage, but are fun enough to show off early.
Sometimes a demo might present a custom scenario, but with accurate gameplay and graphics, especially if the demo comes close to the full release date.
Demonstrably valuable
Demos have several substantial benefits and virtually zero drawbacks.
First of all: they tend to be the most direct (short of just buying the game) method of figuring out what the game is. You won’t need to scrutinize a trailer, or sift through what a streamer or reviewer is saying about it. It’s just you and the game, no third parties involved.
It’s important, because even in the best of times, other people’s experience can still provide only so much information. You can’t know if a control scheme will be to your liking until you try it yourself.
Similarly, what you find fun to watch doesn’t necessarily need to be fun to play for you. With a demo, you don’t need to make an investment to figure it out, you can just play it and see for yourself.
Finally, while we’re out of a gruesome era when having the wrong version of Pixel Shader would prevent you from playing some games, framerate problems are something every gamer has experienced. Outside of a well-made benchmark, demo is the best free resource a game can offer potential buyers who want to check if their machine can handle it.
Demos today
Nowadays demos comes in several different forms, ranging from “strictly a demo” to “not technically a demo, but serves the same function”.
Traditional demos are doing quite well now. Steam even occasionally throws a special event, the Next Fest promoting demos for all kind of games, especially from indie developers. Even large developers, like Capcom, are providing a demo now and then, which is a commendable practice. Traditional demos usually aren’t limited to a specific window of time, but it’s not a hard rule.
Another kind of demo-like service are various forms of free weekends, often provided by purchase- or subscription-based multiplayer games, but not exclusively so. Free weekends, or any other access period are pretty simple: between the specific dates you can play the game more or less freely, to check out if you like it enough to motivate a purchase.
Free trials, are somewhere between demos and free weekends. They usually apply to games like MMOs, and offer access with a few limits, like a lower level cap, being restricted to a certain zone, etc. Trial restrictions are easily removed by buying the game or subscription time.
There are also playtests, which tend to require a bit more effort to get into, and might not be fully representative of the final product. They aren’t exactly demos intended to convince you to buy the game, they are more of the studios’ method of gathering feedback on the game while it’s still being developed.
Often, you need to specifically request access, and there might be a waitlist or a limited number of player that can be accepted, but it’s worth a shot if you want to see what the game’s like AND have some input into its future.
Great demos worth your attention
If we pick just Steam as a source of examples, there’s a great deal of diversity of options as far as demos come.
Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess
Kunitsu-Gami is a somewhat odd game, and it’s not the easiest to quickly explain. It’s an action game with tower defense elements, and also functionally a game-long escort mission. The explanation doesn’t do it many favors, but, thankfully, there is a free, convenient demo available.
It contains a few starting missions, with an early access to a few options that become available a bit later in the full games, and lets you figure out whether this odd, but compelling mix appeals to you.
Tactical Breach Wizards
Tactical Breach Wizards is the latest title in Suspicious Developments’ Defenestration Trilogy. It turns an urban fantasy setting, a breaching system from XCOM Chimera Squad, and a precognitive, time-rewinding crowd control from Into the Breach into an engaging mix of tactical challenges. It’s a great blend, and the demo gives a pretty good look at the game’s playstyle as well as its witty writing.
Final Fantasy (various)
The last three games from the famous Final Fantasy series (not counting the FF7 Remake) feature a demo of one form or another.
As a result you can enjoy the trial for the critically-acclaimed MMORPG Final Fantasy XIV, which is several major expansions strong, and has a story which isn’t just a backdrop to your grind.
There’s also the demo for Final Fantasy XV, letting you try out the series’ first, experimental venture into an action-like combat system, and take a glimpse at the setting which finds place for both epic magic and science fiction aesthetics.
Finally, the newcomer on the block, Final Fantasy XVI has a demo as well, made available ahead of the FF16 arrival on PC in 2024. As the FF games decided to fully commit to action gameplay, you can give it a shot and see if you prefer it over the ATB of old.
Tiny Glade
And now, for something completely non-violent! Tiny Glade is a game that could easily, and truthfully be described as “cozy”. There’s no violence involved, all you get to do is use a bunch of intuitive tools to design a dwelling in the forest.
The full version has, of course, much more robust selection of options and a larger plot of land to work with, but the demo sells the vibe very well, and is one of the most popular game demos on Steam at the time of writing!
F.A.Q. about video game demos
What is the purpose of a game demo?
The purpose is to give potential players a chance to check the game out before deciding whether or not to spend money.
Are game demos free?
- Yes, in most cases they are, that’s the idea. Some premium gaming subscription might provide options similar to demos, but they are the exceptions and free demos are the standard.
How long are video game demos?
- It depends on the game in question. Some might have only enough content in to last an hour or two, others might be virtually endless, others still might run on a timer, ignoring whether or not you complete the featured mission.
Are demos available for all games?
- Unfortunately, no. Hopefully this situation will improve, but for now demos appears to still be an exception, rather than the rule.
Inform your choices
That concludes our investigation of video game demos, covering their benefits as well as a few successful and useful examples. There is simply no better way to test games before you buy them.
Hopefully, this form of game promotion will come back and stay for good, especially since in the age of digital distribution you can even patch and update them!
If you like any of the demos and want to check out the full versions, our marketplace is full of exciting digital offers.