Racing has always ranked amongst the most popular and iconic sports in the world, as many spectators and eager punters are always quick to voice their love for watching any major event, as well as playing some of the best racing video games.
Whilst horse racing remains a popular commodity for every sports fan to enjoy throughout the season, many fans are always keen to express their enjoyment by playing some of the many horse racing-themed video games that have since been released through the years.
There are many established and critically acclaimed titles that still garner a widespread amount of interest from players to this day, with many frequent horse racing fans always sighting their own preferred choice as to which games provide the best racing experience while also presenting a title that has amassed such praise for other assets such as its gameplay and presentation.
These are some of the all-time best horse racing games that have been released by many renowned developers and have remained major fan favourites in the years following their initial release.
Red Dead Redemption 2:
While Rockstar’s critically praised Wild West title is not necessarily a game that solely focuses on horse racing, it does, however, provide racing fans with some of the smoothest gameplay for the horse segments as well as some of the best graphics out of any other game that has been released.
Red Dead 2 has retained its wider player base and fanfare in the years following its 2018 release as fans of the popular title have still been engaged to return back to the game to playthrough a story mode packed with endless content and compelling writing, as well as the online mode which has since been improved on following its rather disappointing release.
As for the horse riding sections, players can take their beloved stallion across a wider wilderness that is packed with deserted woodland, sprawling towns and hidden areas that house some very interesting interactions with different NPCs and creatures scattered across the map.
Players are also able to cater to their horse by purchasing various foods and medicines as well as being able to customize the look of their horse and name them whilst also growing an increased bond that will allow the horse to perform more tricks while out in the wilderness.
There is also an endless amount of stallions that are present in the Wild West, which can feature ponies to towering speedsters that can help you navigate throughout the world and perform various crimes or acts of kindness with the aim of growing your character’s karma levels.
Gallop Racer:
Released way back in 2006, this beloved racing title has seemingly stood the test of time as one of the greatest horse racing games to have ever been released.
Players are able to experience the roles as both a horse breeder and a punter in attendance during events, meaning that they are able to build their racer from the ground up and then place virtual bets on their performance at any of the upcoming events.
This is an experience that virtually replicates the feel of attending a horse racing event from both sides of the track. You can feel the buzz of winning as the underdog when your horse is well down the Kentucky Derby odds, while many other games seemingly fail to provide players with an experience that matches this retro classic that has kept all racing fans entertained for nearly 20 years.
Melbourne Cup Challenge:
Another beloved title that was released in 2006 features the vastly underrated Melbourne Cup Challenge, which allows players to take up various roles during the racing season.
Much like Gallop Racer, players are able to act as owners and punters, and players are also able to play as jockeys in the hopes of steering home their stallions towards successful winnings at the always anticipated Melbourne Cup.
2006 was certainly a decorated year for horse racing games as two absolute classics were released for players to enjoy. This monumental title still entertained players many years after its initial release, with critics also voicing their pleasant experience of enjoyment whilst playing this game.
Overall, there are plenty of much-heralded titles to enjoy from the horse racing scene that have been translated into video game form and have since been widely praised by a large number of racing fans from around the world, with fans now hoping that developers can release a new set of titles fit for the next generation of gaming consoles that bring all the joys of attending a horse racing event to the virtual world where all players can enjoy.
