If there were an award for coziest game at GDC, Herdling would win it, no question. Developed by the Swiss team at Okomotive (FAR: Lone Sails and FAR: Changing Tides) and published by Panic (Untitled Goose Game), Herdling is a gentle herding adventure that trades high-stakes drama for warmth, trust, and companionship. It’s beautiful, it’s peaceful, and it might be one of the most quietly moving games you’ll play in 2025.
You play as Via, a girl living in a city who encounters a mysterious, towering creature—something you could imagine being friends with Totoro. She sets off on a journey to bring the creature home. Along the way, she begins caring for a growing group of small, horned companions known as Calicorns, each lovable and uniquely animated.
Get BWT in your inbox!
Get BWT in your inbox!
Even within the span of a 20-minute demo, Herdling made an impression. Light environmental puzzles structure your path, but the focus is on flow. The game teaches you the basics quickly, then sends you off into alpine forests and sunlit valleys, trusting you to explore at your own pace. There’s no dialogue or combat—just visual storytelling, tactile controls, and stunning sound design.
Fans of FAR: Lone Sails or FAR: Changing Tides will feel immediately at home here. Okomotive has specialized in quiet, emotional journeys through desolate yet beautiful spaces. However, where those games focus on solitude and survival, Herdling focuses on companionship. You’re not piloting a ship through a dried-up sea—you’re caring for a group of living, breathing creatures through a world that feels touched by hope.
The gameplay unfolds through traversal, environmental puzzles, and low-pressure herding mechanics. You’ll nudge your Calicorns forward, sometimes clearing paths for them, other times solving light terrain-based challenges that help you all continue onward. Sometimes, your companions may get stuck or wander off slightly, requiring gentle redirection. It’s a clever way to fold character into gameplay. The herd doesn’t just follow you blindly; they behave with subtle intention. That simple push-pull dynamic creates a satisfying, low-stress rhythm that encourages curiosity and care.
Herdling allows you to customize your name and also the names of your Calicorns.
The name lists are filled with personality. As I scrolled through them, I spotted “Fabio.” Sure enough, lead game designer Fabio admitted the whole dev team slipped their names into the randomizer. It’s a little thing, but it says everything about the spirit behind this game.
The journey is mostly linear, but there are small discoveries to make, especially when finding certain Calicorns. “Each one tells a little story,” Fabio said. “You might have to look around or observe your surroundings more carefully.” As with the FAR games, the narrative unfolds through the world itself. You won’t get all the answers up front, but the more time you spend with the game, the more meaning it reveals.
Built by just 12 developers, Herdling is a testament to how much love and atmosphere a small team can pack into a focused experience. From fog-wreathed forests to snowy plateaus, every frame of the game feels handcrafted. And the Calicorns? Adorable. Genuinely expressive. You’ll want to name them all.
If you’re looking for a slow-burn, no-stress game to sink into—something cozy, calming, and quietly powerful—Herdling should be on your radar when it launches in 2025 on Steam, Xbox, and PlayStation.
Sometimes, you don’t need chaos to feel something. Sometimes, you need a quiet mountain trail, a herd of small companions, and a giant creature who might be your best friend.
Herdling is coming in the summer of 2025 to Steam, Xbox, and PlayStation.
