Who made it?
Little known indie outfit Game Freak. Apparently, they make some monster games too.
What is the premise?
By combining horse racing with ‘speed’ solitaire, you breed and breed horses that take part in the races. On the bottom screen you clear the cards as fast as possible, work your way through the pack and collect bonuses while your horse actually races on the top screen. When it comes to the final track, you time the various power-ups you’ve collected during the previous stages and do your best to reach the finish line first. You know, like in a race.
Winning races increases your horse’s stats and chances in future encounters, until it is eventually put out to pasture before the next generation takes over.
Why should I play it?
It’s incredibly addictive and full of personality. You can name your horses whatever you want (within the character limit of course — Obi-Ham Boloney was one of this writer’s personal favorites) and despite looking adorable, it’s an immensely challenging game.
However, despite how hard it can be, you’ll keep coming back for more. Obviously, the developer is known for Pokémon, but this game is a great example of what the studio is capable of when allowed to play outside of that (pocket) monster franchise.
Let’s keep our fingers crossed that the new version, exclusive to Apple Arcade, makes it to the Switch one day. Until then, this is an essential purchase.
How much is that?
$6.99 / £6.29 / $6.99.
We’ll be back soon with another 3DS or Wii U eShop recommendation as part this series ‘Countdown’. Let us know below if you already have this in your collection and share your thoughts. Also, feel free to nominate other games — we may feature them in the coming days.
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