A sheepdog, some surprisingly stubborn sheep, and a journey that turns darker than its idyllic opening suggests. This is a first-hand account of the demo, not a verdict on the full release.
Hubert is a third-person adventure developed and published by Brocap Studio. The full PC game released on Steam on 14 October 2026, but this hands-on feature covers only the free demo, so it should not be mistaken for a full-game review.
There’s something immediately appealing about a game that lets you experience the world through the eyes of a dog. Whether it’s exploring the countryside, chasing after animals or simply getting distracted by something interesting, there’s plenty of potential for an entertaining adventure. Hubert certainly caught my attention with its adorable canine protagonist, and although my time with the demo was incredibly short, it managed to leave me wanting more.
Herding sheep: easier barked than done
The demo begins by introducing us to a farm and its surroundings before giving us control of Hubert, a sheepdog with a personality of his own. At first, things seem relatively peaceful, with our four-legged friend tasked with helping to herd sheep.
Of course, anyone who’s ever tried getting an animal to go somewhere it doesn’t particularly want to go will probably appreciate that this isn’t necessarily as straightforward as it sounds!
Herding involves using Hubert’s bark to startle the sheep into moving. Once they’re fleeing, you have a brief opportunity to reposition yourself and encourage them to head in the right direction. This means thinking about where you’re standing rather than simply chasing after them and hoping for the best.
My first little lamb certainly had its own ideas about where it wanted to go, and there were several occasions when I had to run around it to get it heading towards the rest of the flock.
Thankfully, once I understood how the mechanic worked, it became easier to manage. I enjoyed the fact that herding required a little thought and positioning rather than being an entirely automatic process.
Hubert himself also has a rather entertaining personality. He’s not a silent protagonist, and hearing his reactions to the world around him adds a welcome touch of humour. At one point, his response to discovering more sheep was simply, “More fluff balls?”
It’s a small detail, but one that immediately made me smile. There’s something rather charming about hearing a dog’s thoughts as he goes about his day, particularly when those thoughts are exactly the sort of thing you might imagine a dog saying.
Visually, Hubert also makes a lovely first impression. The countryside is filled with greenery, rolling hills and beautiful scenery, creating a pleasant environment to explore.
There’s more to moving a flock than chasing woolly backs around a field. Positioning matters, and the dogs-eye-view humour helps the small frustrations feel playful.
Follow your nose
However, things don’t remain quite so peaceful.
Another mechanic introduced during the demo involves using Hubert’s sense of smell to track things he cannot necessarily see. Once he detects a scent, a visible white trail appears, allowing you to follow it towards whatever has caught his attention.
I particularly liked this idea, as it makes good use of the fact that you’re controlling a dog. Rather than relying entirely on conventional objective markers, the game introduces a tracking system that feels appropriate for its protagonist.
It’s also a nice change of pace from herding sheep, introducing a more investigative element to the adventure.
Then the atmosphere changes
As the demo progresses, the atmosphere begins to change. The bright countryside gives way to darker, mistier surroundings, and the peaceful opening takes a rather unexpected turn when Hubert encounters a wolf.
Suddenly, our little sheepdog has much bigger problems than uncooperative lambs!
This encounter introduces combat, although I have to admit that I found it a little awkward.
I was able to lock onto my opponent, but I wasn’t entirely sure how best to avoid its attacks. I couldn’t identify a dedicated dodge mechanic during my brief experience, although it’s entirely possible that disengaging from the target and repositioning myself would have been a better approach.
Unfortunately, I didn’t have much opportunity to experiment, as the encounter lasted only around two minutes.
For that reason, I wouldn’t necessarily consider the combat a major criticism at this stage. It’s difficult to judge how well a system works when you’ve barely had time to familiarise yourself with it, and there’s every possibility that a longer session would make things clearer.
What followed, however, was certainly enough to grab my attention.
The following section discusses the demo’s final encounter and cliffhanger.
Hubert was overpowered by the wolf, and just as it appeared that things were about to end rather badly for our canine companion, another wolf suddenly appeared and attacked his opponent.
And then…
The demo ended!
Just like that!
After an unexpected rescue and a rather dramatic cliffhanger, I was left staring at the screen, wondering what on earth was going to happen next.
I have to give the developers credit for that ending, because it certainly achieved one thing: it made me want to play the full game.
Ten minutes was nowhere near enough
My biggest disappointment with Hubert’s demo was simply how quickly it was over.
My playthrough lasted approximately ten minutes, which felt far too short for something that had already introduced several interesting mechanics.
Between herding sheep, following scent trails and experiencing a brief taste of combat, I felt as though I was only just beginning to understand what the game might have to offer before it came to an abrupt end.
I would have loved a little more time to explore, particularly to become more comfortable with the combat controls and see whether there were other activities or abilities waiting to be discovered.
Nevertheless, what I experienced was enjoyable.
The sheep-herding mechanics were entertaining once I understood how to guide the animals, the scent-tracking system was a clever addition, and Hubert’s humorous personality helped make the experience memorable.
I also appreciated the contrast between the peaceful countryside and the darker, more mysterious direction the story eventually took. It suggested that Hubert’s adventure could involve considerably more than simply looking after farm animals.
Of course, with such a limited amount of gameplay available, it’s impossible to know how much variety the full game will offer, whether the combat will become more intuitive, or how the story will develop.
But that’s precisely why I’d like to return.
Hubert’s demo was short but sweet, offering a charming introduction to an adventure that appears to have a few surprises waiting beneath its peaceful exterior.
I went into the game knowing little more than the fact that I’d be controlling a dog. Ten minutes later, I’d herded some stubborn sheep, followed a mysterious scent and found myself in a fight with a wolf.
And just when things were getting particularly interesting, it was over.
I certainly hope the full game gives Hubert plenty more opportunities to explore, investigate and get himself into trouble.
After all, I’ve only just met the little fellow, and I’m not quite ready to say goodbye.
A charming and promising introduction that left me eager to discover more.
Based on the Steam demo. No final review score awarded.
Keymailer / editorial disclosure: We accessed the publicly available Steam demo through the game’s Keymailer campaign materials. This did not influence our independent impressions. Original hands-on impressions based on approximately ten minutes with the playable Steam demo. The full release was not reviewed, and no score has been assigned. Official developer artwork is identified separately from gameplay captures.