What are the pros of Umamusume: Pretty Derby?

Charming and well-designed characters with expressive personalities and high-quality art.. Addictive gameplay loop that blends roguelike stat-building with strategic training choices.. High production values featuring great music and refreshing mechanics.. Accessible and simple to pick up while offering depth for those who enjoy optimization..

What are the cons of Umamusume: Pretty Derby?

Heavy reliance on RNG and aggressive gacha monetization that can feel predatory.. Significant pay-to-win elements that create roadblocks for non-paying players in competitive modes.. Extremely grind-heavy progression system required to stay relevant in the meta.. Controversy surrounding the developer's reported use of generative AI in their production pipeline..

Umamusume: Pretty Derby

Umamusume: Pretty Derby, winner of Best Mobile Game at The Game Awards 2025, is ready to race! Scout featured trainees and supporters as you navigate the immersive sports life simulation through the game's in-depth training system and top-of-the-line 3D graphics!

94%

Very Positive

DeveloperCygames, Inc.

PublisherCygames, Inc.

Release DateJun 24, 2025

Free to Play

Peak Players87.5K

Controllerfull

PlatformsWindows

Free To Play

Simulation

Sports

AI Review Summary

Umamusume: Pretty Derby is a highly polished training simulator that combines charming character designs with an addictive roguelike-style progression loop. While the production quality and expressive 'horse girl' personalities are widely praised, the experience is deeply rooted in gacha mechanics that can feel punishing for free-to-play users.

Pros

Charming and well-designed characters with expressive personalities and high-quality art.95%
Addictive gameplay loop that blends roguelike stat-building with strategic training choices.90%
High production values featuring great music and refreshing mechanics.85%
Accessible and simple to pick up while offering depth for those who enjoy optimization.70%

Cons

Heavy reliance on RNG and aggressive gacha monetization that can feel predatory.90%
Significant pay-to-win elements that create roadblocks for non-paying players in competitive modes.85%
Extremely grind-heavy progression system required to stay relevant in the meta.75%
Controversy surrounding the developer's reported use of generative AI in their production pipeline.60%

Notable Mentions

Many users are long-time mobile players transitioning to the Steam version for a better desktop experience.
The core gameplay is frequently compared to a more complex, gambling-infused version of Duck Life.

Confidence: 74%

Based on the 199 most relevant reviewsGenerated on Aug 4, 2026

Game Vitals

Live snapshot

Player Activity

Current peak

10.2K

Peak · last 90 days

29.0K

All-time peak

87.5K

Price

Current price

Free to Play

Lowest tracked

Free to Playsince Nov 24, 2025

Review Sentiment

Launch week

—

Last 30 days

91%

All-time positive

94%

Review Statistics

Total Reviews60.0K

Positive: 56.2K (94%)Negative: 3.8K (6%)

Reviews from Steam Deck

Dev Response Rate

108h

Avg Playtime at Review

77%

Credible Reviews