Umamusume: Pretty Derby

About Umamusume: Pretty Derby

Umamusume: Pretty Derby is a strange mashup where horse girls race on tracks while you manage their lives like a high school student. Cygames released this title in February 2021 for PC, Android, and iOS platforms under DMM GAMES. You play as a trainer who guides legendary horses reborn as young women. The game blends role-playing elements with sports simulation and visual novel storytelling. You scout specific trainees, build relationships, and push them toward the Triple Tiara. It feels like managing a horse racing team but adds deep narrative layers where characters have backstories tied to real-life racehorses. The premise is quirky yet surprisingly grounded in actual racing mechanics.

Gameplay

Your day consists of assigning training points to stats like speed or stamina while balancing mood and fatigue. A typical session involves walking through menus to pick activities, then watching short 3D races where you place bets on outcomes based on your preparation. Between races, you engage in dialogue scenes that unlock new abilities or stories. You can race against other players in multiplayer modes or focus on the single-player campaign. Controls feel responsive during track events but slow down significantly when navigating menus to manage schedules. The game demands constant attention to detail because one bad training week can ruin your chances of winning a major event.

What Players Think

PlayPile users rate this title 74.5 out of 100 based on 24 IGDB ratings. The community mood leans toward "satisfied" with an average playtime hovering around 85 hours for completionists. Many players report high engagement due to the gacha elements, though some criticize the repetitive training loops. Review snippets highlight the 3D graphics as a major plus while others note the steep learning curve for new trainers. Achievement data shows only 12% of players have unlocked every trophy, suggesting the endgame remains inaccessible to most. The price point at $9.99 on Green Man Gaming often draws in bargain hunters who stay for the long-term simulation aspects.

PlayPile's Take

This game suits people who enjoy managing complex stats and don't mind grinding through daily training routines. It is not for those seeking a casual pick-up-and-play experience or anyone frustrated by gacha mechanics. The current price of $9.99 makes it a reasonable entry point if you can tolerate the repetitive nature of stat management. You will need hundreds of hours to see all content because completion rates remain low even among dedicated fans. Finish the first major race event before deciding if the rest of the loop holds your interest.

Storyline

Umamusume. They are born to run. They inherit otherworldly names, and are inspirited by dreams most dramatic and wonderful. Now, they run ever forward. That, is their destiny. No one knows how the races that lie in their futures will end. Even so, they continue to run, aiming only toward the goal in front of them.