There’s something undeniably satisfying about a good puzzle game, especially when it swaps explosions and high scores for a calmer pace. That’s exactly what Herd Dispatch aims to deliver, launching today on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Windows PC through the Xbox Store.
Available as three separate versions for £4.19 each, Afil Games’ latest release asks a deceptively simple question – can you guide every sheep safely home?
With colourful pixel art, cosy countryside settings and increasingly intricate path-switching puzzles, this is another bite-sized puzzler looking to test your powers of observation.
At a Glance
- Game: Herd Dispatch
- Developer: Afil Games
- Publisher: Afil Games
- Platforms: Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows PC (three Xbox Store versions)
- Price: £4.19 (each version)
- Genre: Puzzle
Every Sheep Counts
Sheep of different colours wander across the map, and it’s your job to switch pathways at exactly the right moment so each one reaches the correct pen.
Of course, things don’t stay that straightforward for long. New obstacles and more complicated layouts gradually increase the challenge across 30 handcrafted levels, forcing you to think ahead as multiple sheep begin moving through the same network of routes.
It’s a game built around timing as much as planning. Flick a switch too early or too late and your carefully organised flock can quickly end up heading in entirely the wrong direction.
Another Curious Addition From Afil Games
We’ve already spent time with Herd Dispatch in review, awarding it 2.5/5. While we appreciated the idea behind the game, we felt the execution didn’t quite live up to its potential.
As we concluded: “You can see where Afil Games are coming from. They’ve got a surplus of hex-based maps from their path-making puzzle games, and they want more ways of using them… But while the tower-defence worked, this one didn’t. It’s too simple to maintain the attention, too unclear to be anything but bothersome.“
Even so, players who enjoy relaxed, low-cost puzzle games may still find something to like, particularly if they’re looking for another quick Achievement hunt or a casual brain teaser.
Herd Dispatch is available now on Xbox Series X|S (optimised), Xbox One, and Windows PC, with each version priced at £4.19.
