Okay, let’s first address the elephant in the room. Horse racing games are now in a very bad state. Sad to hear, but that’s the reality.

There have been some good games in the past that truly pushed the limits of technology, but the biggest problem with horse racing games is that they don’t advance. If we look at some of the biggest titles like Phar Lap, Winning Post 10, or Rival Stars Horse Racing, I think we can all agree that they are far off from today’s video game standards.

I mean, we have games like Red Dead Redemption 2, which was released back in 2019, and still outperforms even newer horse racing games in terms of horse visuals, secrets that players are still discovering, mechanics, and overall gameplay.

To be honest, it is quite hard to figure out why this is happening. The horse racing industry is huge, so there must be a big demand for such games, right?

So, if there is big enough demand and we have games like Rival Stars Horse Racing with more than 10 million downloads on Android only, why are developers investing more money in game design and development so we can have a proper equestrian adventure?

Maybe this will change in the future. Maybe horse racing game developers will finally put enough effort into making us a decent horse racing game that will last for years. So, what can we really expect from the future?

Let’s find out.

Mechanics and Graphics

First, we have to dive into the biggest selling point of any game. How it looks and how it feels. Horse racing games have been underperforming at the moment, at least compared to other triple-A titles.

I’m not saying that they are bad, but they can be better, a lot better.

We are talking about more realistic horse movement and design, which is the most important thing in a horse racing game, right? Games like RDR2 went above and beyond when creating horse mechanics, they’ve made the horse coat hairs move, the tail and mane grow, and even their testicles shrink and expand based on the temperature (okay, that one might not be necessary).

But you get the point. At the moment, all horse racing games have decent graphics, right until you get too close to the horse where you can see all the imperfections.

When it comes to horse mechanics and movement, it is fair to say that these games have done a decent job, but that doesn’t mean that there isn’t room for improvement. Nailing a perfect horse movement is hard and requires a lot of work, but we are patient.

So, in the future, we can expect a lot of improvements in terms of graphics and realism in horse racing games.

Move Past Traditional Racing

Another problem that horse racing games have is the lack of playing options. These games are now quite straightforward. You pick a horse, race it, and hopefully win.

But developers are trying something new. Some are pushing into new niches where racing isn’t the main focus of the game. It is more about management and strategy elements, just like the real world of horse racing.

For example, one horse racing section that has been left out of horse racing games is betting. Not many horse racing games are included, and it is such a big part of the sport. So, I think in future games you’ll be able to browse 2024 Breeders’ Cup odds, analyze them, and create a betting strategy just like in real life.

What this means is that we are going to see new genres in horse racing games that will try to capture the heart of the horse racing industry. Yes, racing a horse is fun, but there are a lot more things you need to worry about.

Jockeys and Riders—Who Needs Them?

Another trend that is growing in the horse racing video game industry is personalization. At the moment, even the best games allow you to personalize your jockey and horse only by changing color or outfit design, while on the other hand, we have scary character creation elements in other games.

But in the future, we will see games that allow you to create your own character, even put in a picture of yourself and become a jockey.

VR and AR: Getting Closer to Reality

Ever imagined feeling like you’re in the middle of a racetrack, watching horses thunder past, dirt flying in the air?

Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) are ready to make that happen. Future horse racing games might fully integrate VR headsets, letting you experience races as if you were standing right there on the sidelines or even on the back of your horse! This kind of immersion could change the way we interact with racing games altogether.

The Rise of Multiplayer and Social Features

Horse racing games will become more connected than ever. Imagine jumping into a race with players from around the world, forming teams, breeding horses, and competing in global tournaments. Multiplayer modes are already a big hit in current titles like Star Stable, and future releases are likely to double down on these community-driven experiences​.

Players will be able to share their horse-breeding success, team up for competitions, and exchange tips in a shared universe where everyone’s trying to climb to the top of the leaderboard.

Management Games

Racing is fun, sure, but some people like to get behind the scenes. That’s why management-heavy titles like Jousting Manager and Horse Racing Manager are catching on. These games focus on breeding horses, managing stables, and making smart decisions to maximize your success on the racetrack​.

So, if you’re the kind of player who loves spreadsheets (yes, we exist!), this trend is a welcome addition.