my in depth herdling review on YT ♡

i want to start this review by letting you know there is an immortality setting for the calicorns that you can turn on in the settings, since i think this will be a big factor for whether some people decide to play the game or not lol, especially since this game really gets you to care for each calicorn and you are basically responsible for guiding them safely. if one of them dies, the pain would feel so real :>

herdling is the newest game from okomotive, the studio behind the far series. instead of piloting a giant machine through empty landscapes, this time we play as a young shepherd traveling with mysterious creatures called calicorns. we begin in a ruined city, find our first companion, and from there set out on a journey through forests, mountains, and forgotten places.

the focus of the game is your relationship with the calicorns. you feed them, comfort them, and guide them along the path, and they actually feel like companions rather than `game mechanics`. each one has their own little quirks and personality, which makes the herd feel so alive and unique. the game is very smart on creating this bond since the first interaction you have with your calicorns is naming them.

herdling moves at a slow and steady pace. there are no puzzles like in FAR games, no dialogue, no big action scenes, just the journey forward. and this simplicity is part of what makes the game so peaceful. the art and atmosphere are gorgeous, and the feeling of protecting your herd gives every step weight.

it’s a very quiet experience and definitely not for everyone. but if you enjoy games like journey, gris, abzu, or the far series, i think you would enjoy this.

I think these days it's getting hard to find a convincing spot in this overly saturated and aging market of one-evening-filling cinematic/artistic games. Herdling's developers "Okomotive" had gained a great foothold with their FAR series already; and while the second FAR game ended with a teaser for a third game, Okomotive instead took the risk to establish a new trademark, gameplay style and even dimension. I was excited and worried at the same time when I saw the first trailer of Herdling - what an amazing prospect, but will they be able to pull this off at the same time?

I'm extremely happy to say that Herdling exceeded all my expectations and has become one of my favorite interactive emotional rollercoaster experiences I've had in my gaming history. And I can say that with confidence, because the game is not perfect, but the wonders it adds to this genre make up for every flaw that my thoughts stay overwhelmingly positive about Herdling. Now I'm worried that every further detail about this game will influence your expectations, so if you like the idea of cuddling and bonding with animals and traversing nature for the sake of walking and nothing else, I'd like to direct you to the purchase button and read no further. (there is a refund option on Steam, just in case)

So the overarching theme of Herdling is obviously being a shepherd and guiding your ever-growing herd around the countryside, keeping them fed and protecting them from occasional hazards, be them predators or environmental obstacles.

On your way you'll find ever so often a new animal (called Calicorns). Each and every one of them will immediately conquer your heart after you've tamed and named them. You can either take a randomly picked predefined name or create your own. Either way, each Calicorn has its own character, and while visually reminding of sheep and buffalos, their behavior seems a lot more like a fusion of rabbits, dogs and guinea pigs. You'll slowly get a sense for their preferences; the ones approach you because they want to be petted, or because they're hungry. Some will even want to play with you. When they're good they'll walk away and lay down or explore. It even seemed to me that within the group the Calicorns develop friendships - but while I cannot be sure about, it's a nice thought. The sense of being part of the herd and a living group is so strong in this game, it kept me really invested in keeping the whole herd together and made me worry to not lose a single one of them.

What I really liked about Herdling is how the game has mastered to let you choose your own pace at all time. There are phases where you have to travel long distances; you'll be able to walk slowly and enjoy the amazing sights of large open meadows or mountainous paths, or you can run with your herd, as you like and as you feel. Other times you'll gather your herd at a resting point; you can take your time, pet and feed the Calicorns, or just do nothing and watch how your herd enjoys the break. Absolutely wonderful. I even found joy in the rather weird mechanic of decorating your Calicorns with colorful harnesses, earrings and other decorations that you find on your way. When you're ready you go sleep and the transition to the next chapter beings.

The gameplay itself is what you expect from this kind of game. The biggest part is how you control the herd, as this is what you'll be doing most of the time. There are quite a few methods to control direction, speed and behavior of your herd, but it's not overwhelming. Basically, you stay behind the herd and point in the direction they should be moving. You eventually get into a flow-state moving with your herd, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Little complaints would be that at higher speeds, you sometimes get ahead of the group, and have to stop or walk back behind the group to re-adjust. Other times you may accidentally run into a wall and get the herd stuck, having to re-adjust yourself as well. Overall, rather minor nitpicks quickly forgotten by the constant joyous moments the game gives. Puzzle elements are extremely light but fit with the overall easy-going gameplay style.

Of course, we should also talk about art and sound design. The game does a great job of transporting the FAR game's watercolor style graphics into the third dimension. Earth color tones get highlighted by subtly placed highlights of red/blue/white markings that serve as some kind of guidance. Many times, your screen is filled with a scene that you could hang to your wall, and I could never be sure of the environment or my herd is the star of that compilation. The sound supports the game wonderfully. The Calicorns have lots of variations of groans, but also stroking the fur supports the cozy feeling. Natural sounds of moving on fields, rocks and dirt are as you like. Music tracks are subtle, strong and well placed. Joel Schoch continues to deliver for Okomotive and I wouldn't have it any other way.

I can only say that this was a magical Journey, that caught me by surprise. Animal games of this kind are rare because they are so hard to get right. This is very strong and I'll be happy to return to it! Thank you Okomotive, please continue to surprise us!

I really want to play it as I love FAR games but having so many performance issues and lag. Not sure if it's my computer but I'd assume that a 3090 should be able to handle it. Maybe wait for an update.