Miss Command & Conquer? This Steam Nextfest Demo Scratches that Itch

Command & Conquer, particularly the Red Alert series, is permanently etched into the history of the greatest RTS games. Some might have forgotten about the series already, and others may need a reminder of how good C&C was back in the day.

Several games came close to replicating the classic game, but only one game so far has looked so good that it might be better than C&C Red Alert. That game is Tempest Rising, now available as a demo on Steam Next Fest until March 3, 2025.

Tempest Rising is C&C But With Breathtaking Visuals

The Tempest Rising game is heavily inspired by the C&C Red Alert franchise, taking several key features that define the genre, such as base-building, combat, resource gathering, and other gameplay-related mechanics.

For fans of the C&C Red Alert franchise, playing just five minutes into a skirmish or the campaign will make you feel like you are playing a modern Red Alert. The queuing of buildings, the way resources are gathered through refineries, and how minerals respawn all feel so nostalgic you might even pick up the C&C Remastered Collection while waiting for Tempest Rising to release.

However, the greatest takeaway about Tempest Rising is its incredibly detailed cutscenes. It gives the campaign that much-needed immersion that other RTS games lack.

Tempest Rising Features 22 Campaign Missions, but It Can Push for an RTS Esports

Tempest Rising features two full campaigns from two different factions, but what’s most interesting is that the game can be perfect for competitive tournaments.

After playing the closed alpha and the demo in Steam Next Fest, balancing changes were rife, and the game has come a long way. They even got rid of a few major systems that were more of a nuisance in the overall spectrum of the game.

Since there are currently two factions (3rd faction won’t be available at launch just yet), it is easier to balance the competitive landscape and, at the same time, cater to different RTS playstyles.

There is room for improvement, but Tempest Rising aims to bring the RTS fans back and create new ones. You can try the Tempest Rising demo until March 3, 2025, with matchmaking and a few campaign missions available.