Umamusume: Pretty Derby Is Way Better Than It Has Any Right to Be
July 5, 2025
Horse girls. Aggressive fan-service. Over-the-top music performances. On the surface, it's hard to think of a game as unapproachable as Umamusume: Pretty Derby. This isn't a game that a lot of people would normally want to associate themselves with. And yet, the gacha game has managed to become a massive hit since its global release, far surpassing the reach of its niche.
How has that happened? Well, because at its core, Umamusume: Pretty Derby offers a fundamentally great gaming experience. The publicity from streamers has been great, too, but that doesn't happen without the game actually being fun to play. The gameplay loop provides something to legitimately obsess over.
Umamusume: Pretty Derby Is More Than Just A Mobile Game
Umamusume: Pretty Derby is anything but shallow. It might genuinely be one of the most complete gacha games out there. Pretty Derby may have been designed for mobile devices, but it's apparent that a lot of thought went into making this a premier experience. Umamusume: Pretty Derby is jam-packed with all kinds of fun content and is genuinely addictive in the best way possible.
Most gacha games use their gacha mechanic as a crutch for player retention, but Umamusume: Pretty Derby earns player engagement through actual substance. The gameplay, in particular, stands out, blending roguelite and simulation elements perfectly together. The game delivers the same core satisfaction that you'd expect from both genres in any other title. So whether you're super into horse girls or not, playing through the Career mode is genuinely a great time.
What Umamusume: Pretty Derby's Gameplay Looks Like
I understand that it might be hard to believe, but Umamusume: Pretty Derby is as good as most roguelites could ever hope to be. It's just so easy to get invested in a character's career. The amount of control you have over an Umamusume's (that's what the horse girls are called) development naturally leaves you highly attached to them. Every major race starts to feel important. And, indeed, they are, because a poor showing in the late stages of a career will be a career ender.
Umamusume: Pretty Derby is more than just a training sim, though. Sure, it's important to train between the 5 main stats, but there's a lot more strategy involved than what you would think. Umamusume: Pretty Derby's skills add a lot of depth to the game. The support cards, as well. There is a lot to calculate when it comes to the results of a race, including pure randomness. It's really fun to immerse yourself in all that, which makes for a very effective gameplay loop. There's plenty of reason to keep coming back for more.
Because it's worth mentioning, the horse races themselves are also pretty entertaining. Maybe it's a pride thing, seeing the fruits of your labor. Maybe it's the commentators that make every action feel so important. I honestly couldn't tell you, but the races definitely add to the enjoyment. It's hard not to feel super invested, whether happiness or heartbreak awaits.
