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My Terraria love pushed me to try this co-op survival game, and its fabulous Steam Next Fest demo is also an RPG in disguise

Tinkerlands, a new indie survival game, blends elements of Terraria and Core Keeper, offering a captivating sandbox experience with base-building, exploration, RPG elements, and co-op gameplay, making it a must-try demo during Steam Next Fest.

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Steam Next Fest has been an absolute delight this year, bringing plenty of demos along to explore - and Tinkerlands' own might just be the best slice of a survival game that I've tried yet.

At first glance, Tinkerlands reminded me of a couple of different games. Firstly, I thought of Terraria - a sandbox survival gem I hold close to my heart. Its vast world, varying biomes, and unforgiving bosses are much like Re-Logic's own. Core Keeper, a more recent indie title giving Minecraft meets Stardew Valley vibes, also came to mind given its similar base-building mechanics and overall aesthetic.

Once I hopped into the demo myself, I quickly discovered that Tinkerlands does resemble both of these games in some ways, but it's also so much more. It's a fun package of procedurally generated goodness, potential co-op chaos, and exploration galore. After playing for a short while, I can also safely say that I'm particularly obsessed with the base-building part of Endless Coffee's debut title.

You don't just build your own home. In Tinkerlands, you're tasked with building an entire little thriving town and establishing a diverse community open to new residents who can join and eventually assist you as you adventure. It's sort of like how the NPCs in Terraria work, but a bit more fleshed out - they're not just simple shopkeepers. The pixel art style makes decor feel all the more cozy, too - I just wish I could've rotated furniture.

Outside the base-building, there's a massive world to wander, with unique drops to find and enemies to take on. This is where the more RPG-y side of the game comes into play, and it fits seamlessly in between the crafting and survival-aligned features. There are plenty of formidable bosses to challenge while journeying, too, in proper Terraria fashion. I'm talking giant frogs, creepy-crawly spiders, and royal slimes.

How you handle them is up to you, but I'm personally partial to magic in games like these so I tend to stick with longer-range weapons like staffs. No matter what you choose, though, I'd wager you'll enjoy yourself. I'd recommend giving the demo a go during Valve's seasonal Steam Next Fest, with or without some pals in co-op. Hopefully, Tinkerlands evolves even more and I see the two things I'm most hopeful for one day: mounts and pets.

Check out these other upcoming indie games for even more to look forward to.