HANDS OVER Demo Walkthrough: Start a 5-Player Run

The HANDS OVER demo is a free download from the game's Steam page, live since 15 October 2026, and it is built for up to five players online. The official HANDS OVER Steam page and ArtDock's Steam announcements explain the rules and the table loop but do not publish a step-by-step demo walkthrough — no ordered list of rounds, solutions or button instructions. So the practical walkthrough is this: install the demo, assemble a group, and learn the table loop described below. That is the supported scope of this page.

Before you start

• A Steam account and the HANDS OVER demo, which ArtDock announced as free on Steam on 15 October 2026.
• A Windows PC that meets the minimum requirements listed on the Steam page: Windows 10/11, an Intel Core i5-4460 or AMD FX-8350, 8 GB RAM, and a GeForce GTX 960 or Radeon R9 280. The Steam page lists Windows only (checked 2026-10-24).
• Up to four other players, since the game is described as a five-player co-op horror title with online co-op and online PvP.
• Patience for a horror party game: the developer's own description warns that losing a hand does not knock you out of the game, so a bad early round is not the end of the run.

Getting the demo

Open the HANDS OVER Steam page (app 4661070) and take the demo from there. ArtDock's 15 October 2026 announcement says the demo is "officially available on Steam," and its 19 October 2026 post confirms the demo was live for Steam Next Fest, which ran 19–26 October 2026. The full game is listed as an Early Access release dated 30 October 2026.

What a demo session involves

According to ArtDock's description on the Steam page, a session works like this:

1. Take a seat at the table. Players are placed in dark, oppressive rooms around cruel devices — the framing is a sadistic show built from warped versions of harmless games.
2. Play an instantly readable mini-game each turn. The page's example is pressing teeth one by one, where one of them is the wrong one. The idea is that the rule needs no explanation; the tension comes from the pressure around it.
3. Use influence cards between turns. Cards let players change the odds, protect themselves, sabotage opponents, or trigger chaotic events — enough to flip a safe move into a disaster.
4. Take the punishment when it lands. A bad move can cost you a hand, knock you out of a round, and shift the table against you. The developer stresses these penalties are meant to be visible and shareable.
5. Outlast the table. Players drop out one by one, and the last one left "gets to smile."

The developer points out that losing a hand does not mean you are out of the game, which is the one mechanical detail worth remembering early: being maimed and being eliminated are not the same thing.

Finding four other players

If your friend group is short of a full table, ArtDock's announcements repeatedly point to the official Discord (discord.com/invite/artdock) as the place to meet other players and fill a squad — the 19 October 2026 Next Fest post says so explicitly for players who "don't have enough friends to fill your squad." The same announcements note developer live streams during 19–26 October 2026, described as a chance to watch the team play and possibly pick up tricks to use against friends.

When something doesn't work

These are conditional suggestions, not verified demo features:

• If the demo does not appear as an option on the store page, check the Announcements section of the same Steam page; ArtDock posts demo news there, and that is where any change in availability would be announced.
• If a lobby will not fill, switch from inviting friends to the Discord route above.
• If the game runs poorly, compare your hardware against the minimum specs quoted from the Steam page and adjust expectations before blaming the demo; the page lists no recommended configuration.

FAQ

Is there a HANDS OVER demo walkthrough with every step?

No official step-by-step walkthrough is published on the Steam page or in ArtDock's announcements. They describe the loop — seats, mini-games, influence cards, punishments, last player standing — which is what this page organizes.

When did the HANDS OVER demo come out, and is it free?

ArtDock announced the free demo for 15 October 2026 and confirmed it live that day, ahead of Steam Next Fest on 19–26 October 2026.

How many players does the demo need?

HANDS OVER is described as a five-player co-op horror game with online co-op and online PvP, so plan for a group of up to five. The developer's Discord is the suggested way to top up a partial squad.

Do I need to buy the game to play the demo?

The demo is a separate free download from the Steam page. The full Early Access release is listed for 30 October 2026.