I downloaded Herdling during Steam Next Fest because, frankly, it looked gorgeous. Which means when the camera pans down to reveal my character sleeping rough in an underpass it's a bit of a reality check. Herdling has plenty of beauty within it, but it's also one where that's contrasted with some of the grimier flavors of the modern day. It all makes Herdling, in its opening hours, really feel like a journey.
And Journey is the game that Herdling immediately jumps to mind when I play through this introduction. I'm well aware developer Okomotive is a master at games about moving forward – they also developed Far: Lone Sails, after all. But this shift into explorable 3D environments, away from side-on, reminds me of the atmospheric PS3 must-play. You can see what you think for yourself with the demo as well – and can find out more about this season's demos in our Steam Next Fest guide.
