If your idea of “relaxing” includes accidentally flattening half a village because you turned around in a mech that’s slightly too chunky for the footpath, Animalkind has just become a lot more dangerous for your friendships.
As part of Steam Next Fest, Uncommon Games has rolled out a refreshed Animalkind demo that finally brings online multiplayer into the mix. That means you can now explore, build, and generally get up to wholesome nonsense with up to three friends, all while stomping around the wilderness in ancient mechs as adorable animal heroes.
Four animals, one mech each, zero chill
Animalkind is an open-world town-building game set in a welcoming (and slightly chaotic) wilderness, where you’ll be gathering resources, shaping the land, and building out a village full of charming characters. The big twist is that you’re doing it all through the power of a mech chassis, which turns everyday tasks like hauling materials into something that looks and feels brilliantly over-the-top.
The updated demo leans into that “cosy with a side of chaos” blend, letting co-op players build and forage together, mess about across biomes, and customise both their home and their mechanical mate as they go.
What’s included in the updated demo
From the official demo notes, you’re getting a sizeable slice of the core loop, including a redesigned home island to explore, the ability to build and craft with mech-powered tools, and plenty of room for creativity through furniture, decorations, and customisation options.
And yes, “Zoomies” are a thing, because of course they are.
Animalkind release window
The full Animalkind release is currently lined up for 2026 on PC via Steam, with the demo available now during Steam Next Fest.
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