Herdling

Herdling, developed by Okomotive, is a charming and visually stunning game that offers a relaxing and emotionally engaging experience. Players guide a herd of adorable creatures called Calicorns through beautiful landscapes, fostering a strong attachment to them. The game emphasizes art and atmosphere over complex gameplay, featuring simple mechanics and a soothing soundtrack. While it lacks a strong thematic message compared to the developer's earlier titles like Far: Lone Sails, Herdling still delivers a heartfelt journey with environmental storytelling and a calming vibe.

However, the game is relatively short, typically lasting around 3 to 5 hours, which some players found insufficient for the price. The gameplay does not evolve much beyond the initial stages, leading to some boredom for those seeking deeper mechanics. Minor performance issues and occasional clunky controls were noted, but overall, Herdling is praised for its art style, music, and relaxing nature, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of atmospheric and animal-centric games.

Highlights

Herdling's most praised aspects include its beautiful and unique art style and stunning visuals that create an immersive world. The calming and well-composed soundtrack complements the gameplay perfectly, enhancing the emotional connection to the herd. Players appreciated the wordless environmental storytelling and the charming and engaging creatures that encourage nurturing and care. The game's atmosphere and relaxing pace were frequently highlighted as key strengths, providing a soothing and cathartic experience reminiscent of games like Journey.

Criticisms

Common criticisms focus on the game's short duration, with many players wishing for a longer experience or additional content. The gameplay mechanics are simple and do not evolve significantly beyond the first 30 minutes, which can lead to boredom. Some found the lack of a strong or clear thematic message disappointing compared to Okomotive's previous titles. Minor issues such as clunky controls, occasional performance problems including low framerates, and some immersion-breaking glitches like floating characters were also mentioned. The price point was considered somewhat high given the limited playtime and content.