The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu demo creeping into Steam Next Fest

The next edition of Steam Next Fest will feature a fresh Lovecraftian experience, with a demo for The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu.

A Mound of demos

It always feels like Steam’s Next Fest happenings sneak up on us. That’s not to say that we’re not happy to see them coming though, as the events deliver a host of demos for PC games that are yet to see release. And really, who doesn’t like getting an early look at fresh video games? For those who might be hankering for some fresh multiplayer horror, there’s notable addition to this month’s event.

We’re referring to NACON and ACE Team’s upcoming horror shooter The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu. In the demo for that title, interested players will be able to team up with up to four friends for some online co-op. It sounds like it’ll be a chunky first-look too, with “the first few hours of the game” being playable.

And from the press release, it certainly seems as though it’ll be a little bit of everything in the full experience. Players will first board a sea-bound galleon to basically pick their loadout and “contract”. Once that’s done, they’ll head off into a forbidding jungle on a hunt for lost treasure and ancient relics. But if you were expecting a nice trip through the tropics, think again.

The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu was inspired by the short-story of the same name, and yes, that hails from H.P. Lovecraft. So, as you can imagine, there’s more waiting in that dense foliage than just gold.

In The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu, players take on the role of explorers searching for legendary treasures deep within a hostile jungle. This demo supports up to 4 players in online co-op and lets you experience the first few hours of the game. Several types of missions are available, ranging from simple treasure hunts to battles against fearsome creatures.

Before each expedition, players gather aboard the galleon to choose a contract and share weapons and equipment. Once they arrive on the continent, the explorers set out in search of treasures and resources to bring back to the galleon’s captain. Ancient forts, remnants of lost expeditions, await discovery. They allow players to establish a new starting point to venture deeper into the jungle as expeditions progress.

But the jungle hides even more terrifying dangers. As they venture deeper into the jungle, their perception of reality gradually becomes corrupted until their sanity reaches a critical point. Visual and auditory illusions disorient the adventurers, potentially causing accidental sabotage that could jeopardize the mission. Even death offers no respite: fallen comrades may return in a corrupted form and turn against their allies.

NACON press release

Steam Next Fest kicks off on the PC this June 15th, and will run through June 22nd, 2026. Horror fans can grab a copy of the demo during that time and have at it. The tease arrives just before the full game too, which is scheduled to arrive for the platform on July 15th.

And while console fans won’t have a demo to play, their version of The Mound: Omen of Cthulhu will arrive on July 15th as well. Look for that on the PS5 and XBOX Series X|S.