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Umamusume Pretty Derby is the latest gacha game that has captured the imagination of many. Here are five reasons for you to play it.
Umamusume Pretty Derby is a game that perfectly blends Japan’s famous idol culture with horse racing. The anime-inspired visual style is a treat for the eyes, while the various in-game mechanics, such as scouting, training, and making builds, hook players into dedicating hours every day.
Furthermore, the free-to-play game was first released on June 25, 2025, and since then, it has taken the gaming and streaming space by storm. So, if you want to know why people are interested in Umamusume Pretty Derby, here are five reasons for you to try it.
5 Reasons To Play Umamusume Pretty Derby in 2025
Umamusume Pretty Derby’s gacha system can be reason enough to try the game. However, that is not all, since the game also immerses players with its many different characters, concerts, and races. Rolling for better cards and upgrading your horse girls so they can become formidable racers provides endless opportunities for progression and entertainment. Additionally, below we have provided five reasons why you should try the game, according to us.
1. The Robust Gacha System
Gacha games have had a bad reputation for being unfair and highly addictive by design. However, Umamusume Pretty Derby sidesteps the industry’s caveats and gives players an experience that is authentic and fair. The game features an in-game shop where you can spend real-life money to unlock and upgrade characters.
However, the developers have also ensured that completely free-to-play players can earn the premium currencies by simply playing the game. Thus, even though Umamusume Pretty Derby offers in-game purchases, it does not enforce them.
2. Elaborate Training Mechanics
On the surface, many might write off Umamusume Pretty Derby because of its anime-focused art style and quirky characters. However, that does not tell the full story. Alongside those traits, the title also features in-depth strategy gameplay. You are not just a spectator in the game; you take an active part by engaging in scouting, training, creating different builds, and unlocking new support cards to ensure your character becomes a great racehorse by the end of their three-year-long career.
3. Ties to Real-World Horse Racing
Umamusume Pretty Derby takes many liberties and uses fictional writing to make its 48 characters fun and engaging. However, at the end of the day, all of them are inspired by and represent real-life racehorses who share the same traits and skill sets. This adds a layer of realism, and while veterans can appreciate the accuracy of the characters’ portrayals, new players can learn quite a lot about horse racing and its historical lore. Because of this, Umamusume Pretty Derby does not feel like another generic gacha game.
4. Perfect Blend of Racing and Idol Concerts
As we briefly mentioned earlier, in the oversaturated gacha genre, Umamusume Pretty Derby carves out its own unique place by seamlessly merging idol concerts with horse racing. It is true that the game is essentially a racing sim, but that experience is further enhanced by the various unique backstories, character traits, concerts, and musical performances of your horse girls.
This aspect of the title successfully captures the magic of its anime counterpart and brings an interesting dynamic where every second of the gameplay feels entertaining and engaging.
5. The Community Around the Game
Many streamers have picked up Umamusume Pretty Derby since its global launch in 2025. That exposure was crucial for the popularity the game holds now, and it helped create a big and active community around the title. As of now, the game has over fifty thousand active players on Steam, and since some popular streamers announced potential tournaments for it, the numbers are projected to grow further. So, if you want to try this game and even engage in PvP activities, you will have a large community to support you.
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