PSXEFinding a horse racing game in the PlayStation store is like looking for a needle in a haystack. Yes, there are only maybe a handful of horse racing games, but some of them are pretty good at capturing the true horse racing spirit (horse racing enthusiasts know what I’m talking about).
For the people who don’t know what we’re talking about – you have to understand that horse racing has never really been only a sport, it is a lifestyle. Let’s not forget that, there are so many elements to horse racing that make the sport even more exciting. From breeding to training, and racing your horse is an entire experience.
Unfortunately, we cannot get the true horse racing experience in real life without spending at least $50,000. But we can always turn to games, right?
Let’s dive into some of the best horse racing games for PS5 and find out if are they good enough.
Where Are All The Horse Racing Games on PS5?
Let’s first address the elephant (or horse) in the room. The horse racing genre feels like an empty desert. The market is dominated by other sports like football, basketball, or first-person shooters, which is quite shocking if you ask me.
Why? Well, if you look at the market situation, there are around 1.45 billion horse racing fans in the world, which is quite a lot and compared to other mainstream sports like basketball with around 3 billion fans, horse racing isn’t falling too much behind.
So, why the heck is nobody making a horse racing game anymore? Well, there are several factors, and I think that the biggest one is the demographics of the sport. Yes, horse racing might have a lot of fans, but most of them are older, and not really interested in playing video games.
Therefore, no demand = no incentive for game developers.
But there is light at the end of the tunnel. There are some horse racing games that you can play on PlayStation 5 that are good enough. Yes, they might not be up to the RDR2 standards, but still worth the try.
Phar Lap: Horse Racing Challenge
This is without a doubt one of the most popular horse racing games for PS5 (which isn’t really shocking since there aren’t many options).
So, what makes Phar Lap: Horse Racing Challenge the best horse racing game for the console?
Well, multiple factors, but let’s start with the gameplay as the most important one. First of all, this game was developed by PikPok, a company that has years of experience in creating horse racing video games.
Therefore, the gameplay is smooth, allows players to experience what it is really like to become a racehorse owner, and dives into details like breeding and training horses.
The only thing that this game lacks is a good in-game betting simulation system, but of course, you can always stick to real life when it comes to betting and place bets on some of the biggest events like the Breeders’ Cup using the link below: https://www.twinspires.com/breeders-cup/
The graphics aren’t amazing, at least compared to today’s standards, but I think it is safe to say this is a game that has the best graphics compared to others in the same niche.
Since Phar Lap was originally developed for the PS4, the new PS5 console doesn’t have a problem running it and thanks to its backward compatibility, it offers a much faster and smoother experience.
First up is the trusty “Phar Lap: Horse Racing Challenge,” which has been galloping strong since its release. While this game isn’t exactly brand new, it’s one of the few available on the PS5 that lets you live out your horse racing fantasies.
My Little Riding Champion
Okay, this game might be a slight detour from pure racing, but there is a good reason for that. The horse racing options are limited on PS5.
My Little Riding Champion doesn’t have that adrenaline-pumping competitive aspect. Instead, it focuses on casual riding, and taking care of horses.
The gameplay has an equestrian vibe, which is a good thing, and shows you what is like to be around these incredible creatures. It is a relaxing game, where the graphics might not ‘wow’ you, but you’ll still have fun playing it.
My Riding Stables 2
We have the same story here, with the latest My Riding Stables 2 game, which is an open-world adventure game that you can take with your horse.
Yes, there are some competitions you can participate in, but most of them aren’t about full-on thoroughbred racing.
The gameplay is relaxing and the best thing about this game is the open-world aspect and the number of features and customizing options you have. The graphics are not that impressive, but the open world is quite big and lets you explore a lot of things.
That’s It?
The big question is, are there any other games? Unfortunately, the selection of horse racing games on PS5 is quite limited. Developers focus on games that have a broader appeal, and we as horse racing fans need to stick with the same old games.
There are some other horse-related games, but not necessarily focused on racing. You have games like My Riding Stables, Horse Club Adventures, Mindscape, and others. All of these games have a laid-back vibe and they are more focused on taking care of a horse.
Horse racing, despite its real-world popularity, hasn’t gotten that same level of love in the gaming world. But the upside is, that when games do get made, they often have an obsessive level of attention to detail because they’re made for passionate fans.