Game Overview

Umamusume: Pretty Derby - Train Your Horse Girls to Victory is a training simulation in which you guide the horse-inspired characters known as Umamusume toward their target races. Developed and published by Cygames, Inc., the Steam version launched on June 25, 2025.

Its anime presentation is immediately approachable, but much of the game is about planning, resource management, and learning from previous training attempts.

A typical run begins by choosing an Umamusume and then spending a limited training period on workouts, rest, events, and races. Your decisions and the events that occur affect her attributes and available skills, so repeated runs do not produce identical results.

Each completed attempt also contributes to later training, turning experimentation into the core form of long-term progress.

Training and Racing Systems

Raw speed alone is not a complete plan. You must consider the race distance and running strategy, develop several attributes, and choose skills that support the intended role.

Building around a character's aptitudes is generally more reliable than forcing her into conditions that do not suit her.

Training also requires stamina management. Repeated workouts can increase the risk of failure, while resting consumes time that could have been used for improvement or another race.

The game therefore asks you to balance immediate gains against the condition required to reach later objectives.

Races show the consequences of that preparation. This is not an action racer built around constant steering or split-second inputs; aptitude, attributes, and skills are established before the start.

Watching the result, identifying a weakness, and adjusting the next run is the central loop.

Why Repeated Runs Matter

The goal is not necessarily to create a perfect racer on the first attempt. Repeated training lets you apply new knowledge and carry useful inherited elements into future runs.

Even an unsuccessful attempt can reveal whether the problem came from poor energy management, an unbalanced stat plan, race scheduling, or skill selection.

Alongside single-player training, the game includes multiplayer modes where developed Umamusume can compete. Players focused on competition can spend considerable time refining builds, while others can treat character stories and target-race completion as their main goals.

The amount of commitment required depends heavily on which of those endpoints you choose.

PC Requirements

The listed minimum configuration requires Windows 11, a Core i3-4360 or AMD A8-7650K, and a GeForce GTX 750 Ti or Radeon R7 250X. It also calls for 8 GB of RAM, DirectX 11, and 11 GB of available storage.

The notes specify a 1920×1080 resolution and recommend installing the game on an SSD.

These are minimum requirements rather than a guarantee of generous performance headroom. Keep sufficient memory and SSD space available, particularly if other applications remain open while playing.

No recommended specification is included in the supplied data, so players targeting higher resolutions or frame rates should adjust the settings after checking performance on their own hardware.

Reception and Player Expectations

The game has maintained strong player sentiment over time. Its character presentation, race sequences, and the satisfaction of seeing a plan produce a successful run are likely to appeal to fans of training simulations.

Knowledge of the real racehorses behind the cast can add context to stories and rivalries, but it is not required to understand the basic systems.

The structure can still be divisive. Progress expects repeated runs, some events introduce uncertainty, and players chasing highly optimized results must manage more interconnected variables.

Anyone who dislikes replaying a character's development may find the routine repetitive, especially when approaching it primarily as a competitive game.

Who Will Enjoy It

Umamusume: Pretty Derby suits players who like improving a final result through a sequence of small planning decisions. It is especially rewarding if you enjoy analyzing a failed run, revising an attribute or skill plan, and trying again.

Fans of character-driven sports stories and anime-style presentation also have a clear reason to play.

It can also work for people who prefer solo progression but occasionally want to test completed characters against other players. Competition does not have to define the entire experience: finishing character stories or clearing target races can provide more relaxed personal milestones.

Cautions and Who Should Skip It

This is a poor match for anyone seeking a racing game where manual driving skill determines the outcome. Most meaningful decisions happen during training and preparation, so the appeal lies in planning and evaluation rather than direct control.

Players who want a linear campaign with little repetition may also struggle with its run-based structure.

As an actively maintained title, its roster, in-game programs, and language support may change over time. Check the current Steam listing before starting, particularly if specific language support is essential.

You should also verify that your PC meets the Windows 11, 8 GB RAM, 11 GB storage, and DirectX 11 requirements.