My Love For Incredibly Sad Games Has Me Very Excited For Herdling

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There’s something about melancholic stories that draws me in across various types of media. Shows like The Leftovers and Six Feet Under are among my favorites, as is the book Station Eleven. My playlist often includes somber songs such as Circa Survive’s Spirit of the Stairwell. Games with a similar preference include Rime, Spiritfarer, and Before Your Eyes, which I consider all-time favorites. This has been my inclination for as long as I can recall, and although I can’t pinpoint why, I recognize it clearly. As a result, I’m eagerly anticipating Herdling.

Okomotive’s Swiss studio is known for creating the beloved indie games Far: Lone Sails and its sequel, Far: Changing Tides, which follow characters journeying through a mystical world on homemade watercraft. Their upcoming game, Herdling, shares similarities; it seems to be presented without spoken dialogue, and some of the muted, earthy tones from Far are present in Herdling as well. Additionally, like the Far games, you’re dropped into a world with minimal background, but instead of being dreary, Herdling appears to be deeply emotional, and I’m prepared for the potential heartache it may bring.

In Herdling, you manage a group of mammoth-like creatures as they journey towards what appears to be their native environment. The reason for their displacement and separation in landscapes that seem more urban than wild is an intriguing mystery initially. However, similar to thatgamecompany’s Journey, the solution to this puzzle will likely unfold gradually throughout the game, with a complete understanding only coming at its conclusion.

Playing the demo promptly familiarized me with the controls. The creatures, named calicorns, will obey your instructions, but mastering the art of guiding them effectively requires careful learning. From their rear, I could subtly maneuver them towards my desired destination, whether it was a tight passageway, an expansive field devoid of UI indicators, or to assist their stranded comrade – a task I accomplished by solving environmental conundrums with the help of the calicorns.

Although the game lacked spoken instructions or on-screen directions, I successfully navigated my journey, whether short-term or long-term, as the path forward was consistently apparent due to the clever level design that subtly guided me towards the correct route. As I continued to explore, I managed to gather more calicorns, starting with one at the beginning and eventually amassing a group of six. It appears the herd can grow significantly larger than that as well.

Among the initial captivating moments I experienced with the game, some stand out as particularly memorable. However, these enjoyable highlights don’t explain why I anticipate the game will evoke profound emotional responses from me. To understand that aspect, you need to focus on the calicorns themselves. What sets them apart is their remarkable creation. Their eyes seem filled with sadness to me. It’s intriguing to learn from game designer Fabio Baumgartner that they aim to portray these creatures with a blend of various emotions. He mentioned, “We strive to give each animal a unique personality.” So, the larger calicorn is depicted as being older and sad, while the smaller ones appear more childlike and happy. There are others that resemble grandparents, seemingly weary of life, thus they aim to provide them with distinct personalities.

To be honest, when I inquired about their sorrowful eyes, I might have been attributing my own emotions to them. I certainly recognized behaviors that mirrored Baumgartner’s descriptions. The smaller calicorns I’d saved had a lively and agile manner, much like puppies, though even the young ones were quite large compared to me. However, I couldn’t help but perceive sadness in each of them because I was deeply concerned about their wellbeing.

In summary, my demonstration concluded with me and the herd moving towards a train crossing. Instead of playing what seems to be a puzzle intended to safely guide them across, I anticipated it might serve as an introductory life-or-death challenge in the game. Given its simplicity, I assumed it would teach a new mechanism that I should pay attention to. However, the mere notion of this scenario triggered a fresh wave of existential anxiety about the calicorns. In other words, as I rounded them up like a shepherd in a magical realm, offering them a journey towards safety, I suddenly realized the weight of responsibility on my shoulders – what if I make a mistake?

Considering my actions might lead to some unfortunate incidents such as them falling from a steep cliff, being snatched by a large, menacing bird-like creature, or even getting hit by a speeding train. While good intentions are praiseworthy, they don’t automatically ensure a smooth journey. I came to understand that by accepting these creatures and their families into my care, we were agreeing to face hardships together.

In simpler terms, this idea resonates deeply within me, as if comparing being a parent to navigating the world itself. Just as parents can positively impact their children’s lives, so too do our kids enrich ours. However, we must acknowledge that we expose them to challenges like climate change, gun violence, and growing wealth disparities. Is the burden of hardship we inadvertently create by having children outweighed by the good we must produce? Or is our goal not just to break even, but to have a net positive impact? This weighty responsibility extends beyond my real-life family to my fictional world, Herdling, which I can’t help but view as a reflection of this predicament.

Indeed, I inquired Okomotive if it’s feasible to complete the game without losing any calicorns. The game director and co-founder, Don Schmocker, shared with me that “If you’ve played the game before and are quite experienced, it can indeed be done,” emphasizing that “It’s really up to the player. You have control over your herd’s fate in general.” This sense of responsibility, he added, is crucial. Admittedly, this was my concern.

I’m unwilling to part with these calicorns, as their elders appear weary from life, while the young ones are full of curiosity and innocence. Despite their different personalities, they’ve chosen to follow my lead, trusting me to assist them, much like adopting a pet from a shelter and providing it a loving home. To me, each one deserves the comfort and security they seem so eager to find, and it falls upon me to make sure they find it. However, if–and I fear it’s more a matter of when–I fall short, it will leave an unbearable pain in my heart.

Herdling arrives this summer on PC, Xbox, and PS5.

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2025-03-03 19:39