Featured Image Credit: Nathan Sioui
Topics: Indie Games, Steam, PC, Free Games
PC gamers can now download a new free demo for Nested, an upcoming puzzle game with a colourful aesthetic.
If you’re after something with a bit of whimsy, a bit of colour, and a whole lot of personality, Nested’s demo might be something worth a go.
Created as part of the GMTK (Game Maker’s Tool Kit) 2024 Game Jam, Nested was selected as one of 20 winners from that year, allowing its creator Nathan Sioui to turn it into a fully fledged game.
That's what Sioui has done anyway, with this
Advert
The GMTK 2024 Game Jam was themed around “Built to Scale”, with each participating developer free to choose how to interpret that philosophy.
In the case of Nested, this meant creating puzzles which are solved by stacking a correct combination of nesting dolls and matching the right sizes on each stack node.
The blurb on Nested reads: “If you enjoy cozy, relaxing indie games and love a good challenge with clever puzzles to solve, then Nested is for you!
“Throughout the game, you’ll progress through multiple levels filled with puzzles. Each puzzle is solved by stacking the correct combination of nesting dolls and matching the right sizes and colors on each stack nodes.
“Nesting dolls can also interact with objects based on their size and color. For example, a pink door will let a pink nesting doll pass through, but not a yellow one.
“In some levels, you’ll encounter Buttons with various effects. Some let you Invert your stack's colors, others make you Grow or Shrink, and some even spawn new nesting dolls. The possibilities are almost endless! Certain buttons also open doors — or even open up other nesting dolls.
“If a nesting doll is open and larger than you, you can enter it. If it’s closed or smaller, you may be able to push it — unless it’s already occupied by another smaller doll.
“You’ll also discover other mechanics, like Swap Nodes that let you switch the currently playable doll, or Bombs that let you destroy other nesting dolls.”
If that sounds like something you’d be interested in, you can check out the demo for Nested now by downloading it from Steam.
As for the full game, expect it to drop sometime in August 2026, as per what the store page states for the release date. However, a concrete date has not been set in stone yet, and things may inevitably change.
Read Next: Moomintroll: Winter's Warmth Is A Frontrunner For 2026’s Most Beautiful Game