Herdling Reviews
Herdling boasts an excellent soundtrack and a completely unique shepherding premise, but only delivers upon the more surface-level aspects of its promise.
Though Herdling won’t be everyone’s cup of tea, I love the plot, the atmosphere, and the straightforward ideas. Moreover, the game forces you to care for your herd of Calicorns. Accordingly, losing one beast is surprisingly upsetting, and you’ll take it personally if anything happens. Though this takes no time to complete, it is an excellent indie game. Therefore, I suggest you play it on Game Pass or pick up a copy from the Xbox Store.
Herdling is a unique, meditative adventure that blends herding mechanics, puzzles, and exploration into a memorable alpine odyssey. Its accessibility features, calming pace, and emotional storytelling make it a standout for players seeking something different. While it has technical hiccups and limited replay value, the journey itself is worth experiencing for its atmosphere, charm, and the quiet satisfaction of guiding your herd through a world stitched with silence and snow.
Herdling is a contemplative journey that stands out for its visual storytelling and the growing bond between a simple shepherd and his improvised flock, a game that will stay with you not for its gameplay, but for the emotional experience it builds in this relationship between humans and animals.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Herdling is a stylistically assured game that tells a compelling, wordless story in about three hours, a length that feels just right for its content. While its core herd-commanding mechanics are in need of more polish and it lacks a unique selling point, it remains an enjoyable journey I would gladly experience for the first time again.
Review in German | Read full review
Despite its mechanical simplicity, slow pacing, and limited gameplay evolution, Herdling stands out as an indie that leaves a lasting emotional impact—thanks to Okomotive’s beautiful audiovisual storytelling, its touching journey of guiding creatures to safety, and impresses not through mechanics, but through heart.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
Herdling puts the player on the role of a guide for mysterious beings that are on the border of fantasy and arouses curiosity in knowing up to which point the protagonist is before something real and whether they understand the weight of their role. However, in the end, the developers managed to make it so that the player wishes to reach the end for the sake of the calicorns.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Herdling is a magical game about some really unique creatures, and I loved guiding them.
"Herdling" is fantastic. It's not for everyone, but anyone who embraces the premise and the emotional journey will have an unforgettable experience. The gameplay is very simple and never too challenging. However, it feels great to lead your herd through epic or dangerous moments, and thanks to a relatively short playing time, it never gets boring. A magnificent soundtrack and beautiful visuals perfectly round out the emotional experience.
Review in German | Read full review
Herdling offers interesting mechanics and a fantastic soundtrack on any platform. It also has a fantastic style that should be a strength, but the Switch version in particular looks so washed out that it dulls the appeal of this part of the game. I’m not saying to avoid playing Herdling, but if you have any other options, I’d definitely recommend checking it out on another platform.
I don’t even have anything negative to say about the game, as I loved every minute of it and will happily replay it for the remaining trophies I missed for being a clumsy guide for my calicorns in certain areas. It’s just the perfect kind of indie game that I needed right now and I’m glad that Okomotive has continued to see enough success to keep making games in these terrible times.
Herdling shows that games can have an effect without having complicated systems, deep stories, or intense battles. It’s a quiet, emotional journey that rewards you for being patient, paying attention, and understanding.
Herdling is a unique game that simplifies things to make them more transparent, but it also uncovers layers of emotion. It's not about getting better at the game or grinding for stats; it's about the connections you make, the duties you take on, and the joy you get from helping others stay safe.
Despite frustrations with the slow-moving herd, Herdling is still worth trying if you enjoy visual story-telling and atmospheric games. That said, if you can play anywhere but Switch, do so.
Herdling is more about the journey than it is the destination. A humble game, the premise of herding a fictional animal through tumultuous conditions proves to be an excellent idea.
Rushing down a hill with your herd feels exhilarating, if a bit unwieldy. When art direction, music, and gameplay come together, Herdling is an exercise of mindful stimulation.
Okomotive shapes a journey deliciously designed to generate a connection with your flock, to blur the boundaries between guide and guided, between giving and receiving care.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Herdling is a small experience in scale but enormous in emotion. Its wordless narrative, the connection with the Calicorns, and the minimalist beauty of its landscapes make it a game that's more felt than played. It's not a title for everyone, but those who connect with its concept will remember it as a unique experience.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Herdling delights when its setting and music come together to convey calm and freedom in a unique journey of herding creatures, but these strengths do not sustain the experience. The gameplay is shallow and lacking in variety, with simplistic obstacles and puzzles that hinder rather than add value. The focus is on atmosphere and emotions, yet the lack of significant narrative elements and the weak connection with the Calicorns make it hard to engage. In the end, the game offers beautiful landscapes and memorable moments, but without the depth needed to make the journey truly unforgettable.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review