Herdling: Okomotive's accessible expedition

The AbleToPlay team went on an alpine expedition and came across Okomotive, a small Swiss studio behind Herdling, a quiet, atmospheric game that uses environmental storytelling to guide gentle beasts, called Calicorns, back to their home in the mountains.

Environmental storytelling is an art — most games rely on dialogue that relay information to the player about who you are, the world, and their objective. Herdling does the opposite. You play as a young girl named Via who wakes up in a cot beneath an underpass. As Via journeys outside, it’s clear there’s something off: the city abandoned. No people. No voices. Just Calicorns wandering the empty streets, nudging overturned cars, lingering by faded billboards, and pacing aimlessly in fenced-off parks. It begs the question: what happened here?

In games like this, the world itself becomes the narrator, encouraging you to be an active participant in storytelling. Via, with help from a spirit guide and staff, shepherds Calicorns scattered across the city, forming bonds with them as they assist in clearing obstacles — like pushing a train car out of the way. And when Via sleeps at night, her dreams offer glimpses into a Calicorn’s past, revealing more about the world through fragments and feelings rather exposition. As Don, the co-founder of Okomotive and art director on Herdling explains, “During the process we were inspired by many things, like the Kukeri fur costumes from Bulgaria, the Nepalese mountains, and games like The Last Guardian and Journey.”

Environmental storytelling layers meaning into every space. Who lived here before? What remains? What hints about the future linger at the edges? When it’s done well, it’s not only visually captivating, it’s cognitively supportive. Discoveries teach mechanics! There’s no dialogue, no inventory, no quests logs — just pure gameplay that encourages curiosity as each new chapter reveals more Calicorns, their quiet stories waiting to be uncovered.

Along with cognitive considerations, accessibility played a crucial role in Herdling’s design. Okomotive’s technical director, Isabelle Roesch, shared that mobility access was central to bringing players into the world and keeping them connected to their herd. Herdling offers the following options:

• Controller and keyboard remapping - customize your inputs for managing your herd, using abilities, and exploring the game’s picturesque environments.
• Automated walk - no need to hold down a button to move!
• Toggle on/off available for walking and sprinting - a thoughtful option for players who experience fatigue from long button presses.
• Toggle on/off button-holds for petting Calicorns - in our opinion, the most important feature in the entire game!
• Enable/disable controller haptics - reduce tactile feedback when you want a calmer session.
• Enable/disable screen shakes - ideal for players who experience visual fatigue, eye strain, or motion sensitivity.

Herdling also features a smart camera, which Isabelle explains, “The camera is implemented in a way that the players do not have to control [it] all the time. This makes the game way easier in regards to controls. You can control the camera manually, but you really don’t have to.” This design consideration is helpful for players who play one-handed or prefer simplified controls! All you need to do is focus on guiding Via and keeping your herd close, especially during the open-world sections of the game.

Isabelle also shared that the team included a difficulty setting called “Calicorn Immortality”, which prevents players from losing any Calicorns. While Herdling has no true enemies, Calicorns can still be harmed by birds, road spikes, and traps, and yes, they can die if you’re not attentive! Fortunately, you can heal your Calicorns with blue flowers, and the game’s auto-save and manual save options ensure mistakes don’t feel punishing.

The Okomotive team absolutely nailed the transition from the city to the mountains. Gathering Charges to race across the grassy plains is endlessly enchanting. And watching the Calicorns band together, a riot of leaves swirling in a brilliant storm of color behind them, made each step away from the city and closer to the wilderness feel like the world itself was coming back to life.

All-in-all, Herdling is a compact experience that invites you to slow down be curious. When we asked Don what they hope players to take away from the journey, they said: “To find joy in traveling with the herd — not just because they are useful, but also because you experience beautiful and fun moments together with them. And then to look back at the entire adventure and see how far you’ve come.”

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