When I went to Ireland last summer, I knew I had to see a sheepdog demonstration. I’ve always been fascinated by videos I’ve seen online (like the one to the right), and hey, I just love dogs. I drove (somewhat recklessly) through some mountains to get to Kissane Sheep Farm in time for the only showing that would be on while we were in the region. And let me tell you… It was totally worth it.
These dogs — and their handler — were absolutely incredible. The dogs know subtle switches between whistles, nimbly traversing over rocky terrain. The whites of their eyes and the quick switches communicated direction to the sheep; they rarely barked. So, when I saw the upcoming indie game Sheepherds! had a demo, I had to try it.
Good Dogs
I was immediately delighted by the colors and sounds of Sheepherds!, the debut title from Ultimo Disco, a new studio made up of “five industry professionals.” There’s a very inviting, playful aesthetic that is reminiscent of multiplayer classics like Overcooked! and Castle Crashers. The blocky pastels reminded me of Ooblets, and the desperate wrangling of minions called to mind Pikmin.
Most of the design choices work well. I loved seeing the different dogs, and even though I never dress up my actual dog in clothes, it was fun putting a beret on a Dalmatian. I liked watching the sheep kind of blob out from the sky like a bag of cotton balls being shaken loose on the floor.
I wouldn’t say Sheepherds! is easy, but it did feel easier than a game like Overcooked! in that it doesn’t have this overwhelming time stress or negative pressure. When you get an order wrong in Overcooked!, the screen shakes, there’s a loud buzzer beep, and people grumble. In Sheepherds!, getting a sheep with the wrong color into the barn is no big deal except for a few optional bonus challenges.
But, without a doubt, the game is more fun with two players.
Two Dogs Are Better Than One
The game’s opening title screens explain that the game is designed for multiple players via either online play or couch co-op. I’m always on the hunt for good co-op titles, so this made me happy. But for the purposes of writing a preview, I wanted to play by myself.
Unfortunately, Sheepherds! is possible yet extremely difficult to play solo. In Overcooked!, when playing alone, you have an option to have two cooks at one time, switching control between the two. It’s tough, but doable. In Sheepherds!, if you play alone, you’re just one dog trying to organize dozens of sheep all on your lonesome. The critters themselves don’t make it easy.
The sheep (at least in the demo build I played) were slow to respond to my dog’s barking or “aura” influence. When left undirected, the sheep often veered into clover patches I didn’t want them to wander toward. Sometimes the sheep seemed to know how to hone in on the barn once we got close; other times, they pointedly did an about-face just as we were getting near the destination. I wondered if the sheep AI was set to get smarter when I took too long, as if pitying me.
Last week, I was able to get through several levels on my own, but one level called “Frosty flockwork” absolutely destroyed me. I played for about seven minutes before giving up entirely because I just wasn’t having fun. The Sheepherds! demo allows for online games, but there’s no option for public match-making with strangers and it’s unclear if that will exist in the final game. To fully experience Sheepherds!, I knew I had to phone a friend.
So, I called up my long distance bestie and told her I needed some help.
Dogs Are My Best Friend and Also So Is My Best Friend
It was very easy for my friend and I to get started in an online match together in Sheepherds! It was honestly one of the easiest online party-joining situations I’ve ever had (much smoother than Destiny 2, Overcooked!, Star Wars Battlefront II, or Marvel Rivals). We were able to get started playing instantly, delighting over dogs and outfits. During the first few levels, we ran around doing our own thing, catching up on the phone while barking erratically at sheep.
After about 10 minutes, that’s when the game’s multiplayer really started to shine. More challenging levels require a number of sheep dyed a certain color by walking through flower bushes. The sheep are easily distracted, wandering into a purple field when we really needed them to stay orange. We had to carefully coordinate using our dogs’ “aura,” limiting our barking so as not to overly startle the sheep to get them where we needed to go. It was so fun.
The sheep, similar to sheep that I saw at the real-life demo in Ireland, responded best when guided between two dogs. We were able to create sort of guided paths for them by running on opposite ends of a group of sheep, or by creating a sort of baton pass. The more we played, the better we got.
Dogs in Training
I was excited to see a new version of the Sheepherds! demo released on Monday for the October 2025 Steam Next Fest. All of the changes were very welcome, including thoughtfully adjusted levels (such as removing a next-to-impossible time challenge on one and adding a new gated area of pink sheep for another). The best change of all? Removing the strange shouts of human men.
There was one choice in the last version of Sheepherds! that I really couldn’t wrap my head around. Occasionally, the voices of men would interject in the game. Sometimes, it was what I think was a Scottish male’s voice recorded for the game and other times, it sounded like a historical recording of an American astronaut complete with fuzzy grain. They would say things like, “I could do this all day!” or “Landing, incoming!” I didn’t see any humans in the game, so I assumed that this is meant to be the voice of the dog…? Like Doug from Up, perhaps? But the dog also barks, and you never see cutscenes of the dogs talking to you or each other. Not only was it distracting, but it felt actively disconcerting. I’m glad to see that the humans are gone in the newest demo version of Sheepherds!
The game is clearly made with love and care. I noticed that, in the updated demo, the game has a new overworld map similar to Castle Crashers or Overcooked! where players can run around and choose their level. And, even better than both of those games, this overworld had options for interactivity. My friend and I stumbled upon a soccer match area with sheep that cheered us on. There are more dogs and more outfits, all of which are absolutely adorable. I’m sure Ultimo Disco will continue to expand and finesse between now and launch later this year.
A Great Start
The Sheepherds! demo gives a good taste of what I think the final title will be like, estimated for release in Q4 2025. The demo deftly balances cozy with action. It’s not boring but it’s also not stressful. However, impatient players who love precise movements may not enjoy it alone. There’s a lot to look forward to with these good dogs; I can’t wait to try it some day with my mom. Keep going, Ultimo Disco, go, go!
The Sheepherds! demo is available for free on PC via Steam. Previewed via Steam Deck.
Amanda Tien (she/her or they) loves video games where she can pet dogs, punch bad guys, make friends, and have a good cry. She started writing for the site in 2020, and became an editor in 2022. She enjoys writing about mystery games, indies, and strong femme protagonists.
Her work has also been published in Unwinnable Monthly (click here to read her cover feature on Nancy Drew games), Salt Hill Journal, Poets.org, Litro Magazine, Public Books, and more. She was the Co-Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Columbia University's Culinarian Magazine, and served for two years as the Managing Editor of Aster(ix) Literary Journal.
She recently graduated with a MFA (Master of Fine Arts) in Creative Writing from the University of Pittsburgh. Her writing, art, graphic design, and marketing work can be viewed at www.amandatien.com.
She does not post a lot on social, but you can find her on X and on Instagram.
