Horse Tales: Emerald Valley Ranch

For the equestrian game genre, this one is a great surprise! While it's clearly designed for younger gamers, it's also a great game for adults who want to switch off and unwind in an open-world game filled with beautiful horses. Not to mention managing a run-down stud farm, discovering gorgeous landscapes, and building relationships with your neighbours, all while taking care of your horses.

There are plenty of horse riding games out there, but if you were to play just one, this is it. Whether you're an avid equestrian or you're just in the mood for a cute, soothing game, you'll love losing yourself in this enchanting equestrian world dotted with quests, verdant landscapes, and friendly characters.

The magic begins as soon as you create your character, choosing their gender and customising their appearance. You'll then find yourself on an island belonging to your aunt, home to the ruins of a once prestigious stud farm. Your mission? To return the family estate to its former splendour in a captivating game world. This is a world that contains several different biomes, with each location having its own unique characteristics, from mysterious caves to peaceful beaches. You'll be exploring these vast open spaces and meeting NPCs who will ask you to complete side quests.

Graphically, we loved Horse Tales: Emerald Valley Ranch with its soothing cel-shaded artistic direction that's reminiscent of Zelda (in a nice tribute, your character discovers part of the island by climbing a hill, followed by a travelling shot with the game's title).

We liked the estate management and rebuilding part of the game. Restoring the family stud farm to its former glory lies at the heart of the story, and you'll need to explore the island's vast plains to gather the materials you need for your various building projects. With proper management, you can buy more horses and upgrade their performance during competitions.

Our favourite part? The breeding system that brings an additional layer of strategy, with the parents playing a key role in determining the skills of their offspring.

You'll also need to pay close attention to your horses in order to progress through the story. You'll need to feed, pet, brush, and wash your horses in order to build bonds with them. Each horse has its own favourite foods and places to pet, and the game even includes things you can do to help the horses get over their fears, strengthening the bond between the player and their trusty steeds. This individual approach produces unique horses that are far more than just another workhorse.

Our tip to help you on your way? Remember that the game contains an extra challenge where you need to find plans to unlock new buildings. You can obtain them from NPC quests or through exploration.

Horse Tales: Emerald Valley Ranch is the perfect adventure for horse-lovers of any age, and the pleasant, soothing game world lets you enjoy the adventure at your own pace. With its varied gameplay, the game will be a hit with anyone who loves horses, as well as fans of adventure and management games. The perfect game for when you just want to explore a huge open world on horseback, just like in Zelda: Breath of the Wild.