Gamescom 2026 gave me the opportunity to try out a huge variety of different games, but some of them simply stick with you because of their unusual ideas. One of those is definitely Hubert, which I had the chance to play during a scheduled appointment at the show.
In Hubert, you play as the titular sheepdog – fluffy, slightly overconfident, and with a nose that constantly gets him into trouble. Together with a young girl named Lily, Hubert tries to keep a flock of sheep under control while exploring the surrounding wilderness, where something much darker is slowly beginning to reveal itself. And you experience all of this literally from a dog's perspective.
At first glance, Hubert looks like a fairly simple and charming adventure, but it is the protagonist himself who gives the game its personality.
A Dog That Actually Acts Like a Dog
What I liked most about the demo was Hubert himself.
He isn't a typical protagonist who just happens to have four legs. Hubert actually behaves like a dog – he's curious, a little goofy, pretty confident, and always ready to sniff around places where he probably shouldn't.
A lot of the game's humor comes from exactly that. Hubert often says or does things that genuinely feel like the reaction of an actual dog, rather than an attempt by the developers to simply make the protagonist cute.
It's one of those situations where the game basically tells you: “Yeah, he's a dog. Of course he's going to do that.”
And I think that approach works really well.
Hubert has enough personality to make him feel like more than just the character through which you explore the world. His relationship with Lily adds some warmth to the story, while his reactions to the environment bring a dose of humor that gives the whole experience a more relaxed tone.
Herding Sheep Isn't Quite as Simple as It Sounds
The main task you'll be dealing with is, naturally, herding sheep. On paper, it sounds very simple. You just need to keep the flock together. The problem is that the sheep apparently didn't get the same assignment.
All it takes is for one of them to decide to wander off, and suddenly you're trying to get the entire group back under control. That chaos is exactly what makes this mechanic fun. It's not an especially complex system, but there's enough unpredictability to make situations turn out funnier than you might expect.
And because everything is experienced from the perspective of a dog, the whole thing makes even more sense.
Hubert isn't trying to turn sheep herding into some serious simulation of a shepherd's life. Instead, it uses the idea as the foundation for an adventure where you explore the world, help Lily, and gradually discover what's actually happening in the surrounding area.
There's Something Darker Behind the Charming Story
Although Hubert initially looks like a cheerful and relaxing game about a dog and his everyday life, the story clearly has a more serious side as well.
The northern wilderness initially looks peaceful and pleasant, but there's a feeling that something is hiding beneath the surface. As Hubert explores the area, it becomes clear that this isn't going to be just a story about herding sheep.
That contrast is what I found particularly interesting. On one side, you have a fluffy dog who acts like he's the most important character in the entire world, while on the other, there's a story that clearly wants to offer more than just comedy.
Based on the demo, I don't want to reveal too much, but there's definitely enough room for the story to develop into a more interesting adventure once the full game arrives.
An Indie Game With Its Own Personality
Visually, Hubert has a very pleasant and warm style. It isn't trying to be technically spectacular or impress you with a massive open world. Instead, the focus is on atmosphere, characters, and a small world that feels inviting enough to make you want to explore it. And that's probably the best way to describe what I saw at Gamescom – Hubert has its own personality.
It isn't trying to be the next big AAA hit, nor is it throwing a huge number of systems at you simply because it can. The idea is much simpler: create an adventure from the perspective of a dog, add sheep herding, exploration, humor, and a story that gradually takes on a more serious tone. For me, that was enough to make me want to see what the full version will be like.
Who Is Behind the Game?
Hubert is being developed and published by Brocap Studio s.r.o., an independent studio from Brno. The game is scheduled to release on October 12, 2026, while the demo is already available on Steam. The full version is planned for PC and PlayStation 5, so the game won't be limited to the Steam audience.
Hubert Is Definitely Worth Keeping an Eye On
Hubert didn't win me over with some huge spectacle. Quite the opposite.
It caught my attention because it's unusual, charming, and knows exactly what it wants to be.
What I liked most was Hubert himself – an interesting dog with plenty of personality, a good sense of humor, and reactions that often feel like something a real dog would actually do. The sheep herding is chaotic enough to be entertaining, while the atmosphere and mystery in the background leave plenty of room for the story to develop into something much more interesting.
After what I saw at Gamescom, Hubert is definitely a project I'll be following until release. If the developers manage to maintain this level of charm and humor throughout the game, while delivering on the more serious side of the story, it could turn out to be one of those pleasant indie surprises of the year.
Not every game you remember from Gamescom is the one that impresses you with graphics, a massive world, or a huge budget.
Sometimes it's simply a dog running around, trying to gather sheep, sniffing everything it can find, and acting like it's the main character in the entire story.
And honestly – maybe it is.
