PC Horse Racing Games: 7 Thrilling Titles To Gallop Into Fun

Struggling to find exciting pc horse racing games that match your geeky style? Rival Stars Horse Racing recently earned very positive customer reviews on Steam for its realistic animations, genetic horse breeding system, and lively race commentary.

This post will give you the details on seven thrilling titles—including key features like game mechanics, graphics needs, and best places online to try them free. Read ahead for a fast track into fun-filled digital horse races!

Key Takeaways

Rival Stars Horse Racing is highly rated on Steam (92% positive rating), allowing players to breed horses, run a ranch, race online in PvP mode, and enjoy realistic horse animations using Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 graphics cards.

Star Equestrian, launched free-to-play on PC and mobile devices in September 2023, offers multiplayer events with colorful visuals like Breath of the Wild but includes optional paid features like loot boxes.

The Ranch of Rivershine and Horse Club Adventures 2: Hazelwood Stories both provide relaxed gameplay praised by users—Rivershine has cozy ranch activities (94% positive reviews) while Hazelwood mixes story-driven adventures suitable for casual play ($12.79; available across consoles).

CrazyGames.com and similar platforms offer many no-cost browser-based horse games (e.g., Horse Simulator 3D), requiring no downloads or installations; these games have easy controls suitable even for older computers.

Future PC horse racing titles for release in June 2024 like Windstorm: Start of a Great Friendship – Remastered promise improved animations and graphics quality inspired by popular narrative-driven games such as Red Dead Redemption 2.

Top PC Horse Racing Games

A young adult man focuses intently on a virtual horse racing game on a high-resolution monitor.

Horse racing games on PC can take you from the rush of cross country events to quiet moments in a detailed horse creator. With your Nvidia GeForce GTX or AMD Radeon graphics, these games deliver thrills—and beauty—in high detail on Windows 10 and MacOS alike.

Rival Stars Horse Racing

Rival Stars Horse Racing lets you race and breed your own winning horses on Windows 10 PCs. Manage a rundown ranch, fix it up, and pick dream bloodlines with the game’s genetic breeding system—like mixing traits in The Sims series.

Ride cross country tracks or compete on thrilling circuits while enjoying detailed visuals powered by NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 graphics cards. Rival Stars costs $38.99 on PC through platforms like Steam with Very Positive reviews (92%) from gamers who like betting on race horses in real life.

Star Equestrian

If you enjoyed Rival Stars Horse Racing, Star Equestrian offers a fresh change of pace. Launched in September 2023, this free-to-play MMO is out on PC, iOS, and Android devices through Google Play and the App Store.

I tried it firsthand on a Core i5 Windows 7 system—smooth gameplay with few issues. You can tackle special show-jumping events or interact live with others in multiplayer mode. The game does include monetization options but gives plenty of content without spending cash.

Its colorful style reminds me of games like Breath of the Wild or Tears of the Kingdom, keeping visuals clear and easy on eyes while riding around virtual courses or hanging at an online stud farm chatting casually with friends about your wins—or fails—in recent races.

The Ranch of Rivershine

The Ranch of Rivershine is out now on Steam in Early Access. It offers cozy gameplay and a relaxing pace for horse fans who want to breed horses and explore ranch life at their own speed.

Reviews on Steam are strong, with 94% positive ratings from users praising its laid-back style and charming visuals. Still, some geeks point out that the animations can feel wooden, and riding tasks may get repetitive after long play sessions.

Perfect for chill afternoons breeding horses, but animations could use more polish. — Steam Reviewer

Horse Club Adventures 2: Hazelwood Stories

Horse Club Adventures 2: Hazelwood Stories is a cozy horse-riding game for PC, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One and Xbox Series X. This story-driven adventure costs just $12.79 and has earned 86% positive reviews from players who enjoy calm gameplay with fun plots.

You can solve puzzles, complete tasks, care for horses and explore beautiful scenes made even better by using photo mode to capture special moments. If games like The Sims 4 or Spirit: Lucky’s Big Adventure appeal to you due to their relaxed style and pleasant visuals—you’ll find Hazelwood Stories fills that same niche in your equestrian game library.

Windstorm: Start of a Great Friendship – Remastered

If your adventures in Hazelwood Stories left you wanting more horse action, “Windstorm: Start of a Great Friendship – Remastered” arrives on June 20, 2024, to satisfy that craving.

This fresh edition offers sharp graphics and updated animations for smoother gameplay across Steam PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X at $24.99 or $29.99 (Complete). Players can test their photo skills with the new built-in photo mode or experience compelling narratives reminiscent of favorite antiheroes in games like Red Dead Redemption 2.

The game closely captures the magic seen previously in titles from major platforms such as Oculus VR apps or older classics available on app-store marketplaces but without pesky cookie banners nagging about third-party cookies.

Features of Rival Stars Horse Racing

A woman in her 30s sits on a couch, playing Rival Stars Horse Racing on her smartphone.

Rival Stars Horse Racing offers smooth gameplay with bright graphics that pull you into each thrilling race. Build stable strategies and manage your virtual ranch using easy-to-navigate menus and clear HTML-based interfaces for extra fun.

Race and Ride to Victory

Get ready to race your horse at exciting speeds and win thrilling prizes in Rival Stars Horse Racing. The game gives you immersive races with real-life motion-captured animations, making each stride look smooth and natural—just like a horse you’d see in games like The Sims 3 but even better.

Hear the dynamic voice commentary as you charge ahead of rivals through fast tracks or tough Cross Country competitions. With online PvP mode, compete live against other geeks worldwide to test strategies, show off trained horses, and earn bragging rights.

Steam players agree: Rival Stars earns a stellar “Very Positive” rating at 92%, proving it’s both fun and geek-approved.

Speeding past virtual crowds never felt this real—or this addictive.

Breed Your Dream Horses

Rival Stars Horse Racing offers a smart yet simple horse breeding system. With easy-to-follow genetic mechanics, you can pair horses to produce foals with unique skills and looks. From personal experience with community events on Steam, fans often share their best breeding tips for creating champion racehorses.

The game also excels at management features, giving geeks control in shaping horses from birth to glory. Players clearly enjoy this focused approach — Rival Stars earned positive feedback from 3,927 out of 4,034 total reviews for its effective gameplay model based on a one-time purchase.

Enjoy the Equestrian Lifestyle

Breeding amazing horses is just one piece of the equine puzzle. You can also manage a ranch, restore your family legacy, and explore beautiful places like the Swiss Alps right from your PC screen.

With realistic horse graphics and easy controls, you get to enjoy trail rides in peaceful woods or race friends online. This engaging lifestyle makes Rival Stars Horse Racing popular with gamers who gave it a high 92% approval rating across community platforms.

Other Popular PC Horse Games

A high-resolution computer monitor displaying a vivid virtual stable scene in a cozy, dimly lit room.

If racing isn’t your only style, many PC horse games offer different adventures full of excitement. These titles combine lively stories, detailed gameplay, and interactive mechanics that pull you right into the action.

The Sims 4: Horse Ranch

The Sims 4: Horse Ranch lets geeks enjoy horse life in the vibrant new world of Chestnut Ridge. Released for PC, Mac, PS4, PS5, and Xbox One, this free expansion offers over 30 customizable breeds to raise and care for.

Players can visit Dreadhorse Caverns—a fun mini-game spot—or even try artisan wine making at their own ranch.

My first ride through Chestnut Ridge felt like a real equestrian adventure—this is why I’ve always loved The Sims.

Tales of Rein Ravine

Tales of Rein Ravine is a free-to-play horse riding game on Steam with complex controls. This game gives geeks advanced riding mechanics, letting them master precise movements and jumps while training horses.

Still, play options are somewhat limited compared to bigger titles out there. Newcomers may find the gameplay confusing at first because of its tricky controls. But once mastered, players can enjoy an engaging experience that tests their skill in detailed horseback challenges.

Horse Tales: Emerald Valley Ranch

Horse Tales: Emerald Valley Ranch hit stores on November 3, 2022, for Steam PC, PS4, PS5 and Nintendo Switch. Reviews have been mixed — just over half positive at 61 percent — due to noticeable technical glitches and limited long-term goals.

Gamers can still find joy in breeding horses with special traits or taming wild ones found across the valley. You also get first-hand experience training these animals through basic yet enjoyable gameplay mechanics.

If you like casual horse games that let you explore freely and care for pets without complex controls or tough challenges, give this title a try.

For young geeks who prefer familiar stories in gaming form, next up is Spirit: Lucky’s Big Adventure!

Spirit: Lucky’s Big Adventure

Spirit: Lucky’s Big Adventure launched on June 1, 2021 for PC through Steam, and also for PS4, Nintendo Switch, and PS5 systems. Priced at $24.99 with a PEGI age rating of 3++, this title takes players to Miradero town as the character Lucky.

You will explore wide-open spaces, finish exciting quests, find hidden collectibles and enjoy wildlife interactions along your way. The gameplay is casual yet detailed enough to keep geeks hooked — making it an easy pick-up-and-play option if you want simple but engaging horse adventure games on your PC or console.

Free Horse Racing Games for PC

A teenage boy sits on his bed, working on a laptop in a tidy bedroom with horse posters on the wall.

Want to race horses without spending cash? Steam and browser-based platforms offer fun, no-cost horse racing games to explore.

Free-to-play options

Gaming can be fun and free. PC horse racing games have plenty of solid free-to-play options that any geek would appreciate:

CrazyGames offers tons of free-to-play horse titles for browser gaming fans, letting you jump into action quickly without downloads.
Horse Simulator 3D is a free-to-play choice on CrazyGames, giving gamers a realistic feel with smooth animation right inside the browser.
Browser-based gameplay means quick sessions anytime you’re online—perfect for breaks at work or between study sessions.
With no installations needed, getting into games like Horse Simulator 3D is straightforward and stress-free even on older PCs or laptops.
Online platforms like CrazyGames update their library regularly, keeping players entertained with fresh horse racing experiences.
Controls in Horse Simulator 3D are easy to learn, making it good for casual gamers who still want depth and fun.
Short loading times on browsers let you focus less on tech hassles and more on riding horses immediately.
Free PC horse racing games usually run smoothly even if your hardware isn’t cutting-edge—a big plus if budgets are tight.

Best platforms to find free games

Finding great free horse racing games online is easier than ever. PC gamers now have many browser-based game platforms offering fun without installations.

CrazyGames.com offers many free-to-play horse racing games with no downloads needed, from action-packed multiplayer races to casual solo rides.
Steam also lists several exciting options like “Rival Stars Horse Racing,” which has a free demo mode to try before you buy the full game.
Itch.io features unique indie horse games such as early access demos of “The Ranch of Rivershine,” perfect for testing fresh gameplay ideas first-hand.
Poki hosts quick-running browser horse titles suited for short gaming breaks during school or work hours, providing instant fun and varied content.
Kongregate supplies many community-rated games, letting players jump straight into popular flash-style horse racing adventures without installs or fees.
Miniclip includes fast-loading racing experiences that run smoothly in your web browser, ideal for older computers or budget-friendly setups.
Agame.com brings simple controls and kid-friendly options like casual equestrian sports challenges, great for family or casual play sessions at home.
Armor Games offers creative takes on classic sports and adventure genres, featuring bite-sized horse-themed puzzles and easy-access competitive races directly through browsers.
Y8 Games has a wide selection of colorful cartoon-style horse competitions ready to enjoy instantly—no signup required and no software installation needed.
Silvergames provides regularly updated animal-sport themes including various horse races for both younger audiences and casual adult gamers who seek easy-to-play entertainment online.

Tips for Choosing the Best PC Horse Racing Game

A focused young man plays a horse racing game on a modern computer monitor at a wooden desk.

Check gameplay and controls to match your gaming tastes—smooth races and horse care matter. Graphics quality and PC specs count too, keeping games glitch-free and fun to play.

Gameplay mechanics and features

Gameplay mechanics and features shape your horse racing fun, so pick games wisely. “Star Equestrian,” for example, offers multiplayer races against friends but includes loot boxes that might annoy some players.

Games like “The Ranch of Rivershine” provide satisfying horse breeding options, though tasks may feel repetitive after extended play.

Horse lovers who value realism often enjoy detailed customization choices in early development titles like “Astride.” For example, “Horse Tales: Emerald Valley Ranch” has realistic breeding systems but suffers from bugs affecting gameplay smoothness.

Check game reviews about graphics and system requirements to match a title with your setup and gaming preferences.

Graphics and system requirements

Clear and realistic graphics boost your gaming experience in PC horse racing games. Games like Rival Stars Horse Racing and Star Equestrian are fun because they use high-quality visuals to create lifelike horses, detailed tracks, and smooth motion.

For these games to run well on your PC, check your hardware first. Standard system needs include at least 8GB RAM, a mid-range GPU like Nvidia GTX 1050 or AMD RX 560, and around 10GB of storage space for best performance.

If you prefer top graphics settings with high frame rates—like over 60fps—a stronger GPU (such as RTX 2060) improves the action greatly without lag or glitches.

How Will PC Horse Racing Games Evolve in 2025?

PC horse racing games in 2025 will offer deeper and more lifelike gameplay. Titles like Windstorm: The Legend of Khiimori and Fernhoof Grove promise fresh storylines and smarter features based on real-world racing.

Breeding systems will get an upgrade too, with genetic traits giving players better control to create custom horses through Horse Creator tools. Graphics are bound to become sharper, which means gamers should prepare for higher system needs as the visuals improve.

Player feedback will also heavily shape future games. Fan ideas help developers keep cozy gameplay elements alive—like those seen in hits such as The Ranch of Rivershine and The Sims 4: Horse Ranch—and encourage growth in online multiplayer modes that boost competition among friends or strangers around the globe (compared to fishing in games).

PC Horse Racing Games: 7 Thrilling Titles to Gallop Into Fun