Youth Academy is Heading to Steam Next Fest!

We at Oba Games are absolutely thrilled to announce that Youth Academy will be participating in the upcoming Steam Next Fest, running from February 23rd to March 2nd, 2026!

As an indie studio, finally getting our game into your hands is the most exciting (and slightly nerve-wracking!) part of the journey. We've poured our hearts into creating a unique blend of football management and card-based auto-battling, and we cannot wait for you to step into the boots of an academy manager.

What to Expect in the Demo

During Next Fest, you can download our free demo and experience the core gameplay loop for yourself:

• Recruit New Prospects: Scout and discover the next generation of footballing talent to bring into your ranks.

• Manage Your Academy: Take total control of your young squad. Define their training regimes, set up your tactics, and prepare them for match day.

• Card-Based Auto-Battles: Watch your tactical decisions come to life! Match days play out in a unique, strategic auto-battler format.

• Utilize Action Cards: As your players perform, they earn Action Cards that directly modify their in-match outcomes and swing the momentum in your favor.

• Secure the Contract: Successfully develop your stars, appeal to professional clubs, and graduate your players to the big leagues to earn reputation points.

We Need Your Feedback!

Since we are aiming for a Q2 2026 full release, your feedback right now is incredibly important to us. Play the demo, test out different tactical setups, and let us know what you think in the Steam Community Discussions! We want to know what feels great and what we can tweak to make the final release even better.

If you enjoy your time with the demo, please consider clicking that Wishlist button. It helps us out immensely and ensures you'll be notified the moment we launch.

— The Oba Games Team