In some parts of the world horses are just a part of everyday life, be that in the UK and Ireland, where betting punters and sports fans in general are passionate about horse racing, or it’s in the US, where cowboy culture is still as prevalent as it has ever been. Additionally, there are those huge events like the national hunts races that take place at courses like Aintree and Cheltenham, and bucking bronco competitions in Texas, which bring equine culture to a wider audience. These are just some of the ways that games developers from around the world are inspired to include these long-nosed beasts in their titles, whether they are mobile button bashers or fully fledged PC games. Here we detail some of the best horsey games that exist on the online ether, so that horse lovers and sports bettors everywhere can get their fill of horsey gaming action.
Horse racing games are few and far between, but there are some that exist that manage to capture the excitement of being a pro jockey, trainer, or owner
Phar Lap Horse Racing Challenge
Phar Lap is widely recognised as one of the best racehorses to have ever been saddled up and is most certainly the best thoroughbred racer ever to emerge from New Zealand. It is a measure of the horse’s fame that he had this incredible racing game named after him.
This game, which is available on mobile, PlayStation, Xbox, and the Nintendo Switch, is all about the vagaries of flats racing, putting the reins of top racehorses in the hands of players.
Gamers will soon find that there is more to horseracing than meets the eye, with a jockey needing to fully understand what motivates their steed, so that they know when to use the whip, when to whisper in their ear, and when to ramp up the horsepower to the max, as the winner’s post comes into view.
This is an excellent game for players who want to learn about far flung courses which exist in places like Japan, Australia, and the US. There is also a stellar multiplayer mode, meaning that up to eight players can saddle up and go head-to-head out on the flats.
Rival Stars Horse Racing
A game that often gets confused for Phar Lap Horse Racing Challenge; the similarities exist because both games are the brainchild of Kiwi gaming firm PikPok. However, Rival Stars Horse Racing is as much about the business behind the sport as it is about the racing itself.
Players inherit a ranch, which they can take in whichever direction they please, but ultimately it is victories out on the track that will bring home the bacon to secure the future of your ranch.
This added layer of storytelling means this racing game is a cut above many of its rivals. It is available to play on Mac, PC, mobile, and PlayStation, and plays equally well on all platforms.
For any player who wants to know exactly what the teams behind the world’s greatest racehorses go through on a daily basis, this is both an informative and truly immersive title.
Console players will have to play games from different genres in order to track down the very best horse-inspired games, many of which inhabit huge open world settings
Horse Haven: World Adventures
Of course, there is a whole lot more to equestrianism than jumps and flats racing, with most private owners of horses choosing to ride them in a far more leisurely manner.
Stables are where most of a horse and owner’s time is spent, and Horse Haven: World Adventures recognises this, providing a platform upon which horse enthusiasts or wannabe pony owners can build and repair their very own stable complex.
The game is solely available on mobile and draws inspiration from games such as the Sims and Farmville. Once players have constructed one ranch, they are then encouraged to open more, or even go global and open equestrian facilities anywhere from Europe to Asia.
Other nice touches that pop up during gameplay are minigames such as steeplechases, as well as the opportunity to rear mythical horse breeds.
Howrse
Taking things a step further than Horse Haven: World Adventures, Howrse abandons cartoon style graphics and concentrates on delivering a horse breeding and rearing SIM that is as close to the real thing as possible.
It will not take long for players to realise that true time and effort needs to go into to succeeding at this game, but for those who are willing to knuckle down and get to know the ropes, it can be a truly rewarding experience.
Red Dead Redemption 2
Most people would imagine that the best horse-riding experiences to be had in an online game would come from those titles which specialise in nothing but riding. Unfortunately, that is not always the case with equestrians needing to expand their gaming horizons if they are to find exactly what they crave.
Such is the case with Red Dead Redemption 2, which pits man and horse against an unforgiving landscape full of threats and dangers. One of the most pleasing things about this game is the ability to travel by horseback between missions and areas of the vast gaming map. After a while, players will be forgiven for thinking they are getting genuine saddle sores.
Ghost Of Tsushima
In a similar vein to Red Dead Redemption 2, this open world game is not solely about horse riding, and yet the landscapes and vistas that rider and steed can discover are almost unparalleled anywhere in gaming.
Rather than the Wild West world that is afforded players of Red Dead Redemption 2, Ghost of Tsushima players are treated to a time and place where samurai warriors ruled Ancient Japan.
Particularly satisfying things to do in this game include riding your horse through long, flowing grasses. Another nice touch is that all horses in the game are practically invincible, so equestrians need not worry about any undue cruelty to animals taking place during gameplay.