Let’s get one thing straight from the start. Horse racing games are far from other triple-A video game titles. We can spot the improvement over the years, but they still have a long way to go in order to become more realistic.
When compared to other games like Red Dead Redemption 2, horse racing games are quite simple. They don’t have realistic horse racing mechanics, and the graphics are good, but they are far from being indistinguishable from real-life horse races.
But there is a good reason for that. Demand. There aren’t many people that play horse racing video games, at least compared to normal RPG titles.
But this is not the end of the road. There are still some horse racing video game gems that are worth the try. Some of them might not have realistic graphics, but the overall mechanics and features from breeding to training add a bit of realism and allow you to fully experience what is like to become a racehorse owner.
These games allow you to see what is happening behind the curtains of the horse racing industry, learn more about the sport, and experience the same thrills as real-world horse racing events.
But let’s not paint such a grey picture for horse racing games. The graphics are decent enough, at least on modern horse racing games, to experience what is like to become a racehorse owner.
How Horse Racing Games Evolved Throughout the Years
From 2D Classics to 3D Immersive Gameplay
Back in the day, we had plenty of horse racing action. The graphics and gameplay were terrible, but it was still plenty of fun. We have classic horse racing games like G1 Jockey and the beginnings of the Winning Post series.
If we fast forward to today, we have games like the latest one Winning Post 10 which takes the graphics and gameplay to a whole different level. Plus, we have other games like Phar Lap and Rival Stars Horse Racing, which introduce a new element to the world of horse racing games.
The graphics on some games are realistic, while others go for that Fortnite cartoonish 3D character look, which looks good, to be honest.
Cutting-Edge Graphics
But the big question is, how horse racing video game graphics have evolved? Well, we can spot the improvement over the years, and the latest games have brought an update in visuals. However, I have to admit that there is still a long road to go.
The design of the horses and jockeys is okay, but we need more details in the background capturing the true experience on the racetrack. Plus, we need more detailed horses and an introduction to mechanics like horse hair and muscle movement.
We live in an era where Unreal Engine 5 is making huge changes in terms of graphics. On top of that, this technology is becoming more available and cheaper, which is why we are seeing indie games that have out-of-this-world graphics.
In other words, we are hopeful for the future of horse racing games. At least, when we are talking about graphics.
Realistic Movement
The most difficult aspect of creating a horse racing game is recreating that unique horse movement. This has proven to be a challenge even for big developing companies with years of experience in the video game industry.
In most of the horse racing video games at the moment, all horses have the same running style, the only different thing is their speed and acceleration.
This is kind of a bummer since not all horse has the same movement, but we hope that this changes in the future and developers will spend more time creating a unique experience for everyone.
Dynamic Gameplay
With AI now being one of the biggest technological advancements, we already see its use cases in the world of video games. AI can help horse racing games become more realistic by introducing adaptive changes to track conditions, more competitive jockeys, and entirely recreated breeding methods based on machine learning and AI.
We also have the betting side of horse racing, which is quite important. We all want an accurate betting simulation, even when we have our own horse racing in the game and AI is capable of doing that.
In the real world, we have to check TwinSpires.com for the best bets and with horse racing video games we will have access to all information that we can use to place an accurate bet.
Sound and Atmosphere
Graphics are not the only thing that is important when creating a realistic horse racing simulation. We also have sounds and atmosphere. As we mentioned earlier, this is one of the areas where horse racing video games are now terrible.
We need more creative sounds that will bring the liveliness of each horse racing event.
Engaging Narration
Some games even feature live commentary, adding another layer of realism. The commentary keeps players informed and adds excitement, much like watching a live race on TV. This feature is particularly well-executed in “Photo Finish™ LIVE”.
Breeding and Training
Realism isn’t just about what happens on the track. Games like “Rival Stars Horse Racing” allow players to breed and train their horses, incorporating genetics and training regimes that affect performance. This strategic element adds depth and authenticity, appealing to enthusiasts who appreciate the behind-the-scenes aspects of horse racing.
