Games of Forge and publisher Herd DAO have revealed Herd, a free-to-play tactical card battler planned for release in 2027 on PC. A demo is already available, giving players an early look at its mix of deckbuilding, musical systems, and competitive turn-based duels.
Herd is set in a magical world where battles play out like performances. Each match revolves around the Mélodus, small divine creatures that can be drawn toward one player or the other.
The goal is not to simply reduce an opponent’s health bar. Players need to win over enough Mélodus by building the right rhythm, managing their cards, and reacting to what the rival is doing on the Soundboard.
Players place and combine cards across different musical categories, including Drums, Chords, Bass, Melody, and Voices. Each one has a role in the flow of battle. Some cards build momentum. Others disrupt the opponent, change the current rhythm, or help convert Mélodus to your side.
Herd ties its mechanics directly to sound and stage control. Matches are built around tempo, layering, and the pressure created by each turn.
In practical terms, that means players will need to think about how their cards interact over several turns, how much space they give the opponent, and when to push for a conversion swing.
Herd will include both solo content and online PvP. The single-player side should help players learn the rules, test decks, and get familiar with the world. The PvP mode is where the system will likely show its real depth, especially if the different musical categories create strong archetypes and counterplay.
The developers are planning to use Early Access to expand and refine the game before the full release. That phase is expected to include tactical card battles, character-based decks, the Soundboard system, Mélodus conversion, progression, and the first version of its musical gameplay.
Over time, Games of Forge plans to add more characters, cards, decks, solo content, cosmetics, onboarding improvements, and better post-match feedback.
Herd is expected to remain free during Early Access and after launch, with optional purchases focused on cosmetics, expression, and optional content unlocks. The developers state that PvP is not planned around pay-to-win advantages.
The demo is available now on Steam, while the full release is currently planned for 2027.
