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Umamusume: Pretty Derby

Umamusume: Pretty Derby Game Cover
94%Game Brain Score
gameplay, story
grinding, monetization
94% User Score Based on 33,887 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchPCTabletAndroidPhonePlaystation 4iPadMobile PlatformiPhoneWindowsPlayStation
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Umamusume: Pretty Derby Game Cover

About

Umamusume: Pretty Derby is a single player and multiplayer arcade role playing game with fantasy and comedy themes. It was developed by Cygames, Inc. and was released on June 24, 2025. It received very positive reviews from players.

Umamusume: Pretty Derby is a single-player sports life simulation game where you train unique racers and pursue greatness. Featuring stunning graphics, an intriguing and wholesome story, excellent visuals, and a marvelous soundtrack, it offers both hilarious moments and lots of grinding. Despite being full of bugs, the gameplay remains captivating and enjoyable.

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Umamusume: Pretty Derby screenshot
Umamusume: Pretty Derby screenshot
Umamusume: Pretty Derby screenshot
Umamusume: Pretty Derby screenshot
Umamusume: Pretty Derby screenshot
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94%
Audience ScoreBased on 33,887 reviews
gameplay571 positive mentions
grinding264 negative mentions
  • The gameplay loop is addictive, combining training and racing mechanics with engaging character development and emotional storytelling.
  • The graphics and music are widely praised for their vibrant art style and catchy tracks, enhancing the overall atmosphere of the game.
  • The game offers a fair amount of free premium currency and allows for enjoyable gameplay without mandatory spending, making it accessible for free-to-play players.
  • The monetization model is criticized for its aggressive gacha mechanics and high prices for microtransactions, leading to a pay-to-win environment.
  • Many players find the gameplay repetitive and grind-heavy, with a heavy reliance on luck that can lead to frustration.
  • The PC port suffers from performance issues, including freezing and poor UI optimization, which detracts from the overall experience.
  • gameplay
    1,765 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of *Umamusume: Pretty Derby* is characterized by an addictive loop that combines training and racing mechanics with gacha elements, allowing players to build and manage their horse girls (umamusume) through various career paths. While the core gameplay is simple and revolves around stat management and RNG, it offers depth through its legacy system and strategic planning, making it engaging for both casual and competitive players. However, many reviews highlight the repetitive nature of the gameplay and the heavy reliance on luck, which can lead to frustration, especially in the context of its gacha mechanics.

    • “The gameplay loop is addicting, allowing you to build your horse girls in a multitude of different ways.”
    • “What I expected to be a cute gacha sports game turned into one of the most emotionally rewarding, mechanically engaging, and genuinely heartfelt experiences I’ve had in a long time.”
    • “The core gameplay loop is deceptively simple, but the training system has enough depth to keep things interesting, especially once you start understanding stats, skills, and race flow.”
    • “The only gameplay seems to be training your horses, which is just upgrading stats.”
    • “The gameplay loop becomes a real chore to go through and unfortunately really did not interest me.”
    • “The gameplay is boring, it's a predatory gacha game, and the port is terrible.”
  • story
    1,002 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story in "Umamusume: Pretty Derby" is widely praised for its depth and emotional resonance, with each character having a unique backstory inspired by real-life racehorses. Players appreciate the blend of heartfelt narratives, engaging character arcs, and the ability to experience these stories through a visual novel format, making the gameplay feel rewarding and immersive. However, some users note that the repetitive nature of the gameplay can detract from the overall experience, and while the story is compelling, it may not be enough to sustain long-term engagement without additional content updates.

    • “The characters, gameplay, story, and music are all so charming and truly keep you falling in love with the game over and over again.”
    • “Each uma has their own unique backstory and goals, adding emotional depth and replay value.”
    • “The story is surprisingly good; I actually enjoyed the story of every uma, though some are definitely better written than others.”
    • “The story has opportunities for sentimentality but fades to copy-paste for most characters, and if you're not already a fan of the character roster, there's not much else to hold onto.”
    • “Gotta say the only downside is how boring the story gets.”
    • “Going in and expecting some deep and emotional story was a mistake.”
  • music
    537 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in "Umamusume: Pretty Derby" is widely praised for its catchy, well-produced tracks that enhance the game's vibrant atmosphere and emotional storytelling. Players appreciate the variety of songs, including character-specific tracks and energetic concert performances, which contribute to the overall charm and addictive nature of the game. Many users find themselves humming the tunes long after playing, highlighting the soundtrack as a standout feature that elevates the gaming experience.

    • “Voice acting is sublime, stories are fantastic along with unique RNG events, music is beautiful, catchy and very well orchestrated, races make you live for the thrill and the concerts along with those good endings are gonna make you weep from sheer joy among other emotions you'll feel!”
    • “The music is uplifting and catchy, really drawing you into the atmosphere of the game and making you feel like you are there with the girls themselves.”
    • “The soundtrack slaps harder than it has any right to.”
    • “The music gave me a headache.”
    • “The initial tutorial with unskippable songs and no access to volume controls is ass still though.”
    • “I spent 5 minutes just trying to get to settings to turn down the music and couldn't get there even with skipping everything I could as fast as I could.”
  • humor
    504 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is widely appreciated, with players finding the concept of anthropomorphic horse girls both amusing and endearing. Many reviews highlight the witty dialogue, funny character interactions, and the absurdity of the premise, which often leads to unexpected emotional moments. While some users criticize the fanbase for being overly enthusiastic, the overall sentiment is that the game's humor, combined with its engaging gameplay, creates a uniquely entertaining experience.

    • “The dialogue is witty, the scenarios are often unexpectedly hilarious, and the interactions between the horse girls and their trainers (and each other) are full of comedic timing.”
    • “What starts as 'haha horse girls, funny anime' quickly becomes a full-blown emotional rollercoaster where you’re screaming at your screen like it’s the Kentucky Derby and your rent money is on Tokai Teio.”
    • “The stories are fun and the idols are cute, funny and full of personalities.”
    • “Overrated and corny, with an unfunny fanbase that acts like this game is the second coming of Christ.”
    • “This entire series feels like the black plague; it shocks me how often I hear or see something in public that reminds me of one of the characters, leading me to think, 'wait a minute...' If someone makes an unfunny joke, I can’t help but imagine the mood down icon in my head.”
    • “This is not funny anymore; I don't want this nonsense anymore.”
  • emotional
    455 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The emotional aspect of "Uma Musume: Pretty Derby" is overwhelmingly praised, with players expressing deep emotional investment in the characters, who are anthropomorphized racehorses with rich backstories. Many reviews highlight the game's ability to evoke a wide range of feelings, from joy and pride during victories to heartbreak in moments of loss, making it a surprisingly poignant experience. The heartfelt storytelling, combined with the charming character designs and engaging gameplay, creates a unique emotional rollercoaster that resonates with players, often leading them to form strong attachments to their horse girls.

    • “What I expected to be a cute gacha sports game turned into one of the most emotionally rewarding, mechanically engaging, and genuinely heartfelt experiences I’ve had in a long time.”
    • “Each character has motivations, rivals, insecurities, and emotional arcs that genuinely hit—especially when you realize many of them mirror the real history of the actual racehorses.”
    • “This game isn’t just about racing horses—it’s about living your best, most fulfilling life alongside a group of utterly charming, humanized horse-girls who will capture your heart and leave you emotionally wrecked in the most beautiful way possible.”
    • “It made me cry and I've been thinking about it for hours.”
    • “The emotional impact was overwhelming and left me feeling drained.”
    • “I felt no connection to the characters, which made the emotional moments fall flat.”
  • grinding
    270 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The grinding aspect of Umamusume: Pretty Derby is a significant point of contention among players, with many describing it as excessively tedious and time-consuming. While some enjoy the grind as part of the game's charm and strategy, others find it frustrating, especially due to the heavy reliance on RNG and the gacha system, which can lead to burnout. Overall, players recommend the game for those who appreciate grinding and character development, but caution that it may not be enjoyable for those who dislike repetitive gameplay or luck-based mechanics.

    • “It can be a bit grindy sometimes, but it adds to the overall experience.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding, as it requires a significant time investment.”
    • “Grinding can feel repetitive, but it also offers a sense of achievement when you finally progress.”
    • “The grind is super long, tedious, and boring.”
    • “Grinding parents becomes misery, grinding aces becomes misery, missing good career mode clicks due to RNG is misery, and eventually you're playing slots for what amounts to a 0.001% chance at a great run to be able to compete with whales or time whales and it just becomes miserable beyond recognition.”
    • “Despite this game being amazing at start, once you've done all there is to do other than PvP event uma grinding, you probably got bored with the game and quit by this point.”
  • graphics
    215 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of "Umamusume: Pretty Derby" receive widespread praise for their vibrant anime art style, stunning character designs, and smooth animations, contributing to an engaging visual experience. While some users note that the visuals may feel somewhat limited compared to traditional PC games, the overall aesthetic is considered charming and well-executed, enhancing the game's appeal. Despite minor performance issues on certain configurations, the graphics are generally regarded as a highlight, making the game visually captivating for fans of the genre.

    • “The visuals are stunning, the character designs are great and have great nods to the real horses, and... holy crap the music.”
    • “The graphics are pretty nice and the music is pretty good overall.”
    • “The visuals are vibrant and polished, featuring expressive character designs and smooth animations that add charm and energy to every race and event.”
    • “Instead of evolving or challenging the player, the game coasts on flashy visuals and character fanservice while offering little mechanical depth.”
    • “Ultimately, Umamusume: Pretty Derby is a game that sells itself on aesthetics and novelty but has very little substance beneath the glossy coat.”
    • “The game also severely lacks game setting options that you'd come to expect with a PC release: you're only given the option to set the graphics to 'standard' or 'basic' and there's no resolution scaling options whatsoever, so the text and backgrounds can get quite pixelated at higher resolutions.”
  • optimization
    133 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The optimization of "Umamusume: Pretty Derby" has received mixed feedback from players. While the mobile version runs smoothly and is praised for its vibrant visuals and engaging gameplay, the PC port suffers from performance issues such as screen tearing, stuttering, and poor UI optimization, which detracts from the overall experience. Players note that while the game offers deep character and strategy elements, the technical shortcomings on PC can hinder enjoyment, especially for those seeking a seamless performance.

    • “It's definitely a grind-heavy game and the gacha won't be for everyone, but if you enjoy character-focused progression and long-term optimization, there's a lot to like here.”
    • “You’ll need to research builds, character rankings, current meta, and training optimization.”
    • “If stat grinding, managing, and optimization is something you enjoy, as well as racing, then you will probably enjoy this game.”
    • “Umamusume has a whole lot of potential, but in my opinion, it will not appeal due to its unoptimized UI, bad gacha rates (in comparison to newer/more competitive gachas), and a tedious game loop.”
    • “One of the complaints I have with the PC version is its rather poor optimization in comparison.”
    • “The game doesn’t give you exact stats on how the different attributes and skills affect performance, and all the in-game/guide info is vague in their wording.”
  • monetization
    130 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization in this game is a contentious topic, with many players criticizing its aggressive gacha mechanics and high prices for microtransactions, which can feel predatory and lead to a pay-to-win environment. However, some users appreciate that the game offers a fair amount of free premium currency and allows for enjoyable gameplay without mandatory spending, making it accessible for free-to-play players. Overall, while the core game is praised for its charm and mechanics, the monetization model is seen as a significant drawback that detracts from the overall experience.

    • “It's a really good game if you get to like the gameplay; otherwise, I wouldn't stick with it because the monetization is a significant downside, but that's common for gacha games, especially if they are from Japan.”
    • “Unlike many gacha games that rely heavily on monetization, Umamusume provides generous in-game resources, allowing free-to-play users to enjoy the game without feeling left behind.”
    • “The monetization isn't all that predatory, and the free stuff you get at the beginning lasts for a good while.”
    • “That compelling core, that engine for creating racing drama, just gets buried by a monetization structure that encourages min-maxing above all else.”
    • “The monetization is quite steep, and just feels okay in this honeymoon phase as there are events, stories, and in-game achievements that grant currencies, but once you get all of this intro currency, you will basically only earn currency from limited time events.”
    • “Monetization is the worst I ever saw in any game ever.”
  • character development
    91 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game is highly praised for its depth and emotional resonance, with players appreciating the unique story arcs and personalities of each character, many of which are inspired by real-life racehorses. The character designs are noted for their charm and detail, contributing significantly to the overall experience, while the gameplay allows for meaningful progression and customization of characters. However, some critiques mention a lack of variety in designs and repetitive elements, suggesting that while the character development is engaging, it can sometimes feel constrained by the game's mechanics.

    • “The character designs are incredibly detailed, each girl perfectly capturing the essence of her real-life counterpart, while also exuding charm and personality in her own right.”
    • “There are hours (and hours!) of story content, with each playable trainee having their own unique story arc, character development, and build-style, but you can shape your racers to excel at things outside of their 'expected' strong areas, if you put enough time and effort into it.”
    • “The stories are great with excellent character development and watching your trainees overcome their obstacles.”
    • “They completely erased meaningful relationships and character development, turning deep, symbolic moments into incoherent fight scenes with no emotional weight.”
    • “This game is a miserable experience from top to bottom with the only redeeming quality being its character designs, which of course, are walled from you behind the worst gacha experience next to FGO.”
    • “Character design and writing is all same-ish and uninspired.”
  • replayability
    57 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game boasts high replayability, driven by its rogue-lite mechanics, diverse characters, and multiple storylines, allowing players to experiment with different builds and strategies. While the reliance on RNG can be frustrating, it adds variability that enhances the replay experience. Overall, players find the engaging gameplay loop and character progression rewarding, making it a compelling choice for those who enjoy replayable content.

    • “The replayability is amazing.”
    • “What makes this game good is the replayability and the writing.”
    • “The roguelike elements, where past trained umamusume can act as 'legacies' to empower new trainees, provide endless replayability and a satisfying sense of progression.”
    • “While the progression system offers depth and replayability, the game leans heavily on gacha mechanics and can feel grindy over time, making patience and resource management essential.”
    • “This is where most of the grind comes in, as far as I can tell, and while the likelihood of building up good 'parents' early on is incredibly slim, it gives the game a lot of replay value, and rewards game knowledge and time investment.”
    • “The gameplay is repetitive but replayable.”
  • atmosphere
    10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive quality, effectively drawing players into a living experience rather than just gameplay. Reviewers highlight the excellent execution of story, character design, and music, which collectively create a captivating environment that enhances emotional engagement and enjoyment, even during challenging moments. Overall, the atmosphere is described as uplifting and rich, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.

    • “ The atmosphere pulls you in before you even realize it — suddenly, you’re not 'playing' anymore, you’re living in it.”
    • “Despite the warm atmosphere and seemingly simple mechanics, umamusume offers a surprising amount of depth.”
    • “The atmosphere pulls you in before you even realize it — suddenly, you’re not 'playing' anymore, you’re living in it.”
    • “Despite the warm atmosphere and seemingly simple mechanics, Umamusume offers a surprising amount of depth.”
    • “The music is uplifting and catchy, really drawing you into the atmosphere of the game and making you feel like you are there with the girls themselves.”
  • stability
    9 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while some users report no significant bugs or glitches, others experience frustrating issues such as freezing during gameplay, particularly on mobile devices. The RNG system has been noted as problematic, with unexpected failures despite low failure rates, and some players encounter persistent freezing that requires a game restart. On PC, the port generally performs well, but occasional freezing issues still detract from the experience.

    • “The port runs great on PC and almost feels like a standard PC game.”
    • “The game maintains a steady frame rate, providing a smooth experience throughout.”
    • “I haven't encountered any crashes or bugs, which makes for a very stable gameplay experience.”
    • “The RNG system is so buggy; even with 0% failure rates on training, it will still fail somehow.”
    • “When you repair your data, it just freezes at 20% without any way of fixing it except reinstalling the game.”
    • “There are times when the game just freezes for a concerning amount of time, and I figured restarting the game is faster than just waiting.”
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48h Median play time
100h Average play time
17-150h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 85 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Umamusume: Pretty Derby is a arcade role playing game with fantasy and comedy themes.

Umamusume: Pretty Derby is available on Nintendo Switch, PC, Phone, PlayStation 4 and others.

On average players spend around 100 hours playing Umamusume: Pretty Derby.

Umamusume: Pretty Derby was released on June 24, 2025.

Umamusume: Pretty Derby was developed by Cygames, Inc..

Umamusume: Pretty Derby has received very positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its grinding.

Umamusume: Pretty Derby is a single player game with multiplayer and local co-op support.

Similar games include Arknights, Touhou LostWord, CounterSide, Love Live! All Stars, Destiny Child and others.