Umamusume: Pretty Derby hits global launch on mobile with new exclusive features

• Umamusume: Pretty Derby is finally out in English-speaking territories
• This critically acclaimed sports sim has perhaps the strangest but most compelling concept
• Train and race horse girls as you guide them towards winning the prestigious Twinkle Series

It's fair to say few upcoming releases have cast such a long shadow as Umasumusume: Pretty Derby. Cygames' multimedia sensation has had a manga, anime and even a stage play. But finally, we're getting a full-scale global release of the original mobile hit, Umamusume: Pretty Derby!

This sports life simulator is, of course, where the whole conceit of the franchise originates. In a world where certain ladies are born with the ability (and ears) of racehorses, it's up to you to recruit a world-beating horse girl and put them into action, with the goal of winning the prestigious Twinkle Series.

It's definitely a concept which grabs your attention. But surprisingly, Umamusume doesn't lean on this either. Rather than relying on the novelty factor, Umamusume comes packed with flashy 3D graphics, interactive features and a genuinely enthralling storyline that will have you looking past the fact you're essentially watching a foot race.

And they're off!

How much of a splash has Umamusume: Pretty Derby made? Well, on Steam (not exactly renowned for welcoming mobile ports), it sits at Overwhelmingly Positive, which should tell you all you need to know that even they can't deny the fun.

Better yet, the English-language version comes packed not only with all the features of the original, but exclusive ones too! Watch the races play out in landscape mode, or sift through the foot-tapping (hoof-tapping?) soundtrack in the Jukebox. There's even cross-platform sync for Steam and Google Play!

There are even some pacing changes for the content itself, with Events and Scouts having the same duration but releasing with shorter gaps in between. So if you've ever wondered why Umamusume has fans who unironically say, "I like the horse girl series", maybe it's time to jump in and give Pretty Derby a go?

And if you're looking for something to take the edge off after you've engaged in a thrilling race, there's always our latest list of the top five new mobile games to try this week on offer!