I check out a lot of short experiences on Steam, partly because they aren't too much of a commitment, but also since a game distilled down to its very best parts is an idea that appeals to me. Sheepy is the pinnacle of that idea, with an atmospheric platformer that knows exactly how long its mechanics and world would support maximum player interest.

Sheepy comes to us from MrSuicideSheep who as I understand has been making cool electronic music for years and has decided to branch out into game development. This is an incredible, really near-flawless review that puts its strongest elements up at the forefront of the experience.

As the robotic Sheepy in a quietly haunting and ruined world you'll traverse the 2-D environment through simple platforming and exploration. The game has plenty of little secrets tucked away and interesting lore found through audio logs, a game trope that generally doesn't work that well for me but fit perfectly into the overall tapestry of the Sheepy experience. Along the way you'll be granted new abilities like a double jump and a dash which will increase your mobility and provide a sense of evolution as you move toward your goal.

Sheepy has a couple of boss battles- showdowns with a menacing, punished teddy bear ninja warrior. That sounds silly but the game takes them seriously and I was buying into them. The game is pretty forgiving with failure, you'll usually respawn right where you fell off and there isn't really any game over- only the bosses require a bit of repetition on failed attempts.

Sheepy can be enjoyed by anybody and is the perfect free experience on Steam that has me coming back time and time again to re-experience its brief glory.