My Riding Stables: Life with Horses
- March 27, 2014
- Sproing
- 5h median play time
Get on SteamIn "My Riding Stables: Life with Horses," players renovate and manage a stable, breed horses with over 100 possible combinations, and train foals for sale to customers. They can also participate in cross-country races and provide horse massages. The game features detailed graphics and novelettes for dialogue.
Reviews
- The game offers a nostalgic experience for those who played it as kids, providing a relaxing and enjoyable atmosphere.
- It features a variety of horse care activities, including grooming, training, and breeding, which can be engaging for horse lovers.
- The graphics and animations are decent for an older game, and the gameplay allows for a good amount of freedom in managing a stable.
- The game can become tedious and repetitive, with many tasks feeling like chores rather than enjoyable activities.
- Controls are often described as clunky and unintuitive, making gameplay frustrating at times.
- There is a lack of variety in horse breeds and activities, which can lead to a feeling of emptiness and limited replayability.
- graphics29 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally viewed as dated, with many reviewers noting that while they were impressive for their time, they do not hold up against modern standards. Despite this, some players appreciate the attention to detail and the realistic animations, particularly regarding the horses. Overall, while the graphics may not be stunning, they are considered acceptable and do not detract significantly from the gameplay experience.
“This is a game of my childhood; I used to play it on the Wii as a little boy, and of course back then the graphics were amazing and the gameplay was phenomenal!”
“I have not got that far into the game, but from what I have seen it is very realistic in terms of graphics and gameplay, which is all you could ever wish for in a game with horses.”
“The graphics are not as realistic as most modern games, however, what it does have is beautiful.”
“The graphics aren't amazing, but it is an older game and as long as it is enjoyable I don't mind the graphics as long as they aren't so bad that it's not playable anymore.”
“The controls are slow and unintuitive, the graphics look bad even for the year it was made, there is no story, it's incredibly repetitive and the grind is exhausting.”
“The game tries to go for a realistic art style but falls short in nearly everything except the horses.”
- gameplay20 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a top-down perspective with point-and-click mechanics, offering a mix of engaging activities such as horse care, training, and mini-games that provide variety. While the mechanics are generally smooth and realistic, particularly in jumping and breeding, some players find the gameplay can become repetitive and may not satisfy more competitive or experienced horse enthusiasts. Overall, it is well-suited for younger audiences and those seeking a casual experience, but may lack depth for seasoned players.
“This is a game of my childhood; I used to play it on the Wii as a little boy, and of course back then the graphics were amazing and the gameplay was phenomenal!”
“Every aspect feels as though it was thought through; reading books to improve your skills actually includes information (I've ridden most of my life and loved horses all of it, and there was still stuff I learned!), the controls for the lunging, massaging, and breeding minigames are easy enough to pick up and provide gameplay variety, and you need to balance your own training and work plans with the needs of any guests you have staying.”
“Jumping mechanic: this game has a very realistic jumping mechanic in that you do not tell the horse when to jump, you only ensure that they approach the jump at the proper speed with which to clear it.”
“Don't love the actual gameplay so far.”
“Gameplay does get repetitive very quickly; horses get dirty doing nothing and require endless bathing and brushing, and there is not enough in the riding side for the more competitive types looking to improve their skill in a game.”
“Good for younger children and teaching the aspects of finances or time management as well as basic horse care, but definitely would not recommend for the older horse-savvy person unless you're looking for very casual gameplay or just need an extra horse game because you've exhausted every other one on the market.”
- story16 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The game's story is generally perceived as minimal and lacking depth, with many players noting that it revolves around simple objectives rather than a cohesive narrative. While some appreciate the free-form nature of the gameplay, which allows for activities like renovating stables and participating in competitions, others find the experience repetitive and the storyline underwhelming. Overall, it appeals more to those seeking a casual horse simulation experience rather than a rich storytelling adventure.
“The horse care is good, along with the main story of upgrading your place into a 5-star ranch.”
“Voice acting: the opening cutscene of the story mode was beautifully done.”
“I'm not a huge fan of playing games with bad quality, but this game really impressed me. It has a great storyline and you can do a lot of things, such as taking part in cross-country competitions and, as the main objective, you have to rebuild an old stable.”
“The controls are slow and unintuitive, the graphics look bad even for the year it was made, there is no story, it's incredibly repetitive and the grind is exhausting.”
“There is not a storyline for the game, just objectives that have to be reached in order to reach the next star rating.”
“I did accidentally skip the intro as I was trying to increase the volume, so I'm not sure how much story I missed there, but inside the game there didn't seem to be much.”
- grinding9 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game is criticized for its excessive grinding, with players finding the repetitive tasks, such as cleaning horses' hooves, to be tedious and overbearing. While some may appreciate the focus on chores, many feel that the grind detracts from the overall enjoyment, likening it to pointless level grinding in other games.
“However, this game is very, very grindy.”
“Long story short, the game is way too grindy and the tasks are overbearingly boring.”
“If you're really into doing tedious chores - and as a horse owner, I can assure you they are far more tedious in this game than they are in real life - then this game is for you.”
- music5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- -20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The music in the game features relaxing background tracks and realistic sound effects, which some players appreciate. However, many find the soundtrack to be uninspired and repetitive, leading some to prefer turning it off in favor of their own music. Overall, while the audio quality is good, the composition lacks excitement and variety.
“The relaxing music in the background creates a soothing atmosphere, and the sound quality is very realistic and impressive.”
“The music is decent; while it may not be extraordinary, it certainly doesn't annoy your ears.”
“The background music is calming and enhances the overall experience of the game.”
“The soundtrack is uninspired and highly repetitive but at least not catchy enough to drive me crazy.”
“Decent music, nothing to write home about, nothing that annoys your ears.”
“I turned the music off and played my own for background.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the replayability of the game lacking, as the repetitive tasks, such as cleaning multiple horses, lead to boredom after just a few hours of gameplay. The overall experience tends to feel monotonous, diminishing the incentive to replay.
“Trying to clean six or more horses per game day (including their frustrating hooves) can really diminish the replayability.”
“The replay value of this game was already pretty low and becomes boring, repeating actions around the four to five hour mark.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its catchy design and solid construction, with users noting that it runs smoothly without performance issues.
“Quite catchy, well made, runs smoothly.”
