The Graveyard Keeper 2 demo is a free, standalone listing that went live on September 14, 2026, eight days before launch. Unlike most launch-window demos it was promised from day one to be a head start rather than a teaser: Lazy Bear Games confirmed in the demo announcement that the save file carries over into the full game.
What the demo covers
Per the official announcement, the demo lets you reach The Town and try the opening of every pillar: crafting, scavenging, graveyard digging and decorating, plus "your first experience leading an army to protect The Town". It is the game's own opening, not a sliced vertical slice, which is exactly why the save carryover matters.
Where the demo is available
The announcement lists Steam, Xbox, PlayStation and Nintendo Switch 2. That is a slightly shorter list than the full game's platform matrix: the Switch 1 listing and the two other PC stores are not named for the demo. If you play on Switch 1 or buy on GOG or Epic, the demo was not part of your launch window.
Transferring your demo save
For most players the transfer is automatic: buy the full game on the same platform and the save appears. If it does not, the official support page has a dedicated walkthrough:
- Steam players: the official "Transferring demo save files to the full game" article on the tinyBuild support site covers locating the demo save and moving it manually.
The price page covers what the full game costs, the release-date timeline places the demo in launch context, and platforms lists where each version lives.
The demo also earned its own hotfix support: the September 22 launch-day patch fixed pre-order bonus items not appearing in existing saves, which is the other common "where is my stuff" case after transfer.
Is the demo still up?
Yes, as of the September 25 fact-check the demo listing remains live on Steam alongside the full game. Its store reviews were the first public quality signal for the game, and the demo announcement calls the response "very positive". Once you have moved on to the full game, the tips page is the fastest route out of the common early stalls.
FAQ
Is the Graveyard Keeper 2 demo free?
Yes, it is a separate free listing on Steam and the console stores that carried it.
Does demo progress carry over?
Yes. The developer confirmed it in the demo announcement before launch, and the official support page documents the manual fix when it does not happen by itself.
Is the demo on Switch 1?
The demo announcement names Steam, Xbox, PlayStation and Switch 2 only. The full game covers Switch 1 and 2 both; the demo listing did not.