Herdling lets you finally become a low-down, stuck-up, half-witted, scruffy-looking nerf herder

In Star Wars, Han Solo took the "nerf herder" insult quite well from Princess Leia. It doesn't look like you have a Galactic Empire to thwart in Herdling, but hopefully it sheds light on the life and lifestyle of being a shepherd. Or a Calicorn-herd. The big, wooly oxen creatures you're shepherding are called Calicorns. Which is possibly a portmanteau of the word "calico" like the cat and "unicorn" like the unicorn.

Look, I just want to be a hoodie-wearing character who talks softly and carries a big stick, who's got to get this gaggle of fuzzy creatures out of the terrible, gross city and into big, huge, beautiful nature. And the shepherd staff is hopefully just a guidon and not something to actually do battle with. Maybe a little battle. But not with my herd of Calicorns. I want to pet them.

Head out on a grand alpine expedition with a herd of loveable beasts, as you ascend a mountain path, encounter eerie dangers and surprising obstacles, and forge your way to the mystery at the summit. Guide a herd of mysterious creatures on a stirring and beautiful journey into the mountains…and beyond.

In this trailer, which is more or less announcing that there's now a demo of Herdling on Steam. The demo purportedly leads you through the opening moments of the game. Herding animals can be fun for a few minutes in Red Dead Redemption. Hopefully Herdling keeps it fun for the entire length of this indie gem.

Herdling is from Okomotive, makers of FAR: Lone Sails and FAR: Changing Tides. And it's being published by Panic, the folks that published Firewatch, Untitled Goose Game, and also made that fun little handheld device called the Playdate.

Herdling is stampeding onto Steam, Epic Games Store, Xbox Series X|S, and PlayStation 5 this summer.