Among the Herd
Real Time Horror Strategy
This is one of ten video game ideas I came up with as an exercise with a buddy. The challenge was to come up with small horror games that we might want to develop later. I thought this 3rd person Pikmin style game was a great combo of cute and scary.
– Corey Johnson
AI+photoshop
Among the Herd is a real-time strategy horror game where you must guide your flock to safety while uncovering and surviving the hidden threats lurking among them.
You are a lone shepherd, the only one between your flock and danger. Pay attention; not every sheep is what it seems—some are waiting for the perfect moment to strike. Every step tests your instincts, forcing you to make quick decisions to protect your flock before it's too late.
As the Lone Shepherd, you guide your wandering flock to safety, balancing their hungry bellies against the lurking shadows all around.
Your sheep need time to rest and feed, but every pause comes with risk. Wolves in sheep's clothing are waiting to blend in and eat your herd. Some imposters are subtle, with barely noticeable quirks, while others are grotesquely blatant, with too many legs, unnatural movements, or an eerie stillness. The world around you is beautiful and serene, but don't let your guard down; that peaceful meadow may hide a predator, and the wrong step could mean disaster.
Came across this image on Pinterest and it inspired the whole idea. lone shepherd out in the open.
Exploration, identification, Combat: Master the mechanics, items, and instincts to rise to the challenge.
Guide your flock using various skills and tools, steering them toward safe pastures while warding off dangers. Armed with your staff and wits, you must balance the risk of fighting threats against the urgency of keeping the herd moving. Use a sheep as a fluffy shield, leverage the environment to your defense, and build simple structures to escape. Every decision shapes your path in this relentless battle of trust, deception, and survival.
AI
AI+photoshop___Sheep whistle, harder you swing around the faster your sheep return.__Trusty Staff, many uses, but the best use is bonking monsters.
Beneath the beauty of the open plains, an unsettling presence lingers—watching, waiting.
Not all sheep in your flock are what they seem; hidden among them, predators lurk in disguise, mimicking their prey until the perfect moment to strike. Beyond the herd, more dangers lie in wait, concealed within the swaying fields and dense bushes, ready to snatch away any sheep that stray too far. As anomalies go unchecked, a creeping dread spreads through your flock, triggering a dynamic fear system where rising tension leads to chaos. At critical points, panic sets in, sending your sheep scattering in blind terror. As fear takes hold, the world shifts; once-familiar landscapes twist into something sinister, sounds distort into eerie whispers, and the once-calm fields become a nightmare of looming threats, where danger could be anywhere, waiting for its moment to strike.
AI+photoshop
AI+photoshop___Sheep has six legs!________________Lasher, can grab multiple sheep.___Gnasher, eats sheep whole on the spot__Goblin, takes sheep back to the horde._Alien, floats sheep away.
AI___Fear increasing slowly changes the environment and increases encounters with monsters
AI+photoshop__Shadow Lurker, afraid of the light____Rock Lobster, slow but very tough__________Boulder Crab, very slow but never stops it’s chase_____Grass Kid, easy to spot and often shy.
Be careful; the serene landscape can lull you into a relaxed state; danger lurks around every bend.
The vast landscape is both a sanctuary and a battleground, filled with natural and unnatural dangers that keep you constantly on edge. Shifting weather and treacherous terrain demand adaptability. Rain and wind muffle your calls, making it harder to rally your flock, while thick fog obscures unseen threats lurking in the distance. Thunderstorms pose a greater danger as lightning strikes the ground unpredictably, scattering sheep and revealing brief flashes of horrors in the darkness. Each Level offers different ways to solve and reach the end goal.
Rain
Less vision
Sheep call reduced
Shadow creatures more active.
Wind
Sheep call reduced
Movement slower when moving against wind
Movement faster moving with wind (sheep can fall of cliffs)
Snow
Movement slowed
Sheep take longer to graze
Boulder creatures are more active
Thunder Storm
lightning strikes scatter sheep
Sheep have increased fear
Fires block pathways
Your ultimate goal is to guide as many sheep as possible to the endpoint safely, but every loss lowers your score.
In Among the Herd, your performance matters: strategic herding, successful defenses against lurking horrors, and smart path optimization give you a higher score. Losing sheep, delivering them in a fear state, or not defeating enemies will lower your overall score. Only those who master the balance of caution and bravery will achieve the highest scores and prove themselves as true guardians of the flock.
Every step you take is a test of insight, and every decision is a gamble between safety and peril.
Can you outwit the hidden threats lurking within your flock, or will hesitation and fear cost you everything? In the end, only one question remains—will you be the shepherd who prevails, or will the wolves claim their feast?
AI+photoshop___Goblin stealing_____________________________________wolf fur at the sheep’s cheeks is a giveaway_______Werewolf revealed, one of the most dangerous monsters you can face.
