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Oliver Brandt is a Contributing Pop Culture Writer based in Tasmania, Australia. Their focus is reporting on video games, film, and TV. They have extensive knowledge of video game history and communities both in Australia and abroad, animated films and television shows, and international cinema. Oliver joined Newsweek in 2024 and has previously worked at Men’s Journal, Parade, and more. They are a graduate of Curtin University. You can get in touch with Oliver by emailing o.brandt@newsweek.com. You can find them on X and Bluesky @chocobalt. Languages: English.
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Gamers around the globe are suddenly obsessed with horse racing — so much so that stables have reported an influx of visitors wanting to see the athletic animals and are receiving fodder donations from fans half a world away. The reason for the hype? A free-to-play game available on PC, iOS, and Android called Umamusume: Pretty Derby.
Developed by Cygames, the title was originally released in Japan in February 2021 and only got a worldwide launch in late June 2025, becoming a viral hit more than four years after its debut.
Umumamuse is a game about recruiting and training horses and then participating in races with them — only the “horses” are human girls with horse aspects, such as their ears and tails, which are called Umamusume — literally translating to “horse girl.” It features anime-style visuals and allows players to interact and bond with their Umamusume to boost their confidence and abilities. It’s essentially a horse racing management sim with some slice-of-life stories added on top.
A crucial aspect of the game is that each available Umamusume is based on a real racehorse, which inspired their various abilities and personalities — the characters are not entirely fictional. This is why some stables are seeing a sudden increase in interest or fodder donations: Players want to come by and visit or at least feed the animals that their favorite Umamusume are based on. Horses with interesting stories such as Haru Urara or quirky personalities such as Gold Ship have proven themselves to be especially popular.
Aside from the magnetic personalities of the Umamusume, the gameplay itself is a big draw. Its core roguelite gameplay loop of training characters and preparing them for the coming races is a lot of fun due to how easy it is to bond and empathize with them. This, in turn, makes the races – which players are doomed to watch without being able to influence what’s happening – all the more thrilling. It’s incredibly satisfying to watch one’s Umamusume win a big race, knowing what she’s been through and what goals and dreams are driving her forward.
In a category dominated by big franchises that are churned out in annual iterations, Cygames’ Umamusume: Pretty Derby is a massive surprise full of heart. It brings the joy of sports games to an audience that usually looks elsewhere for its entertainment and is getting fresh eyes on the world of horse racing.
