Umamusume: Pretty Derby, an anime-themed horse racing management game, has emerged as an unexpected standout among 2025's releases. A personal account highlights its depth in strategy and tense racing mechanics despite initial embarrassment. The game earned recognition at The Game Awards this year.
Umamusume: Pretty Derby blends horse racing simulation with anime aesthetics, featuring characters as singing and dancing horse girls. Players manage training over limited days, developing skills, fostering relationships with supporting characters, and gaining fans through race performances. The gameplay demands precise planning, including consulting guides and tracking calendar events to optimize training.
Core mechanics involve selecting support cards tailored to each horse's needs. For instance, Mihono "Cyborg" Bourbon, the 1992 horse of the year, benefits from speed, stamina, and wit cards for early stat bonuses. Speed remains essential, but medium-distance specialists like Bourbon require at least 800 stamina to sustain performance. Front-runners prioritize wit to minimize errors and conserve energy, balancing training with necessary rest periods.
Seasonal events add layers, such as the July and August beach trip where skill training reaches maximum efficiency. Players must enter this phase with full energy, as poor planning can derail a career run. Beyond management, races deliver high tension through varied camera angles: pulled-back views for positioning and cinematic close-ups during overtakes. As races near the finish, the UI fades, fixing the camera on the line while the orchestra intensifies, heightening drama.
As a gacha title, it includes monetization via limited-time banners for premium cards and horses, posing risks for susceptible players. Nonetheless, its strategic depth and engaging races contributed to a trophy win at The Game Awards 2025. This personal reflection underscores how the game transformed initial skepticism into deep investment for at least one player.
