If you ever wanted to have a fun and easy game to play on Nintendo Switch which also revolves almost entirely around horses, then this is the list for you. Across many different games, the horse mechanics remain relatively the same. But it’s the stories that transport you away to the wonderful lands of fantasy, even if it’s just experiencing what it’s like to run a horse stable in real life.
From riding through the Emerald Valley or befriending the local wild horses, to racing your friends in the stables or engaging in mounted combat, these games are full of adventure and danger, friends and foes alike. And they can all be played on Nintendo Switch. Some of these games are definitely for kids, but if you’re a fan of the source material, it might just be the hit of nostalgia you’ve been looking for.
10 Soul: Lucky’s Big Adventure
Spirit: Lucky’s Big Adventure is one of those games best suited for someone 10 and under, but if you really liked the movie Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron as a kid, or even the more recent series Spirit: Riding Free, then it’s worth a look. Nostalgia if nothing else. The story follows a girl named Lucky and her horse, Spirit, around the town of Miradero as they complete quests for NPCs and try to stop the villain, Hendricks the Horse wrangler.
As far as ride mechanics go, Lucky’s Big Adventure is similar to the early Legend of Zelda games, which included a sprint speedometer. Plus, it’s relatively full of fetch missions, except for the rare stealth mission where you have to go after the villain without being spotted. The graphics aren’t great, but the music is cheerful country/western and similar to the original movie, complete with harmonica, banjo, and steel guitar. Overall, Lucky’s Big Adventure is great for Spirit fans who now have kids and want to share their favorite horse experience with their family.
9 My Riding Stables Series
There are three games in this series, My Riding Stables: Life With Horses, My Riding Stables 2: A New Adventure, and then My Riding Stables 3, which are released in October 2022. These games let you experience running a horse farm, at least on a scale. very harmonious. You have to race, breed, train and take care of your horses throughout the game.
The mechanics aren’t stellar, and the graphics leave something to be desired. Plus, they don’t seem to have improved much with the last iteration. But that doesn’t mean that this won’t be a fun game for a while. In fact, this is another great game for players who have their own little players who want to share their hobbies.
8 Farming simulator
Farming Simulator is a classic simulation game that allows you to explore the satisfying yet complex world of farm management. Once you get the hang of this game, it’s one of the most romantic, immersive experiences on the market. In addition, although this game is not entirely dedicated to horses, there is still a great aspect of it.
First, you need to buy a stable for your horse friends, and after that you can buy your horses. If you already have a horse, you can buy a trailer to take it to your farm, or buy a horse directly from an animal dealer. Then, horse care is crucial. You will be able to feed them, groom them, and exercise to keep them healthy. It sounds like a lot, but it wouldn’t be a farming simulator without a little hard work.
7 A windstorm: the beginning of a great friendship
The first Windstorm is an adaptation of the 2013 movie of the same name and was intended to be played as a tie-in to the movie. So, there is not much talk about the story, but it is still a good game if you really like the horse game experience.
This game follows the main character, Mika, as she befriends a wild horse named Windstorm. The graphics are good, but the mechanics are a bit harsh and confusing. The user interface leaves something to be desired, too. Everything must be accessed from the Properties menu, which makes it difficult to find quests organically in the world. But what makes this game worthwhile is the production value of its environments. It’s clear that a lot of care has gone into crafting the world, and it’s one of the most beautiful horse games on the market.
6 Horse Club Adventures
Horse Club Adventures and Horse Club Adventures 2 both come from German developer Wild River Games, also responsible for Windstorm Games. However, Horse Club Adventures is based on the Schleich Horse Club line of games, which are horse busts popular in Germany. The game aims to create a rich world focused on friendship, puzzle-solving, and bonding with horses.
The graphics and animations are attractive and well designed for a game with a relatively low budget. There are a bunch of NPCs for you to meet, including your close friends on the farm. The game has a calendar structure similar to Stardew Valley, where you can complete tasks or roam freely, then take your horse back to the farm and finish the day. In terms of mechanics and camera angles, they leave something to be desired. But the world around the farm is beautiful and well developed and no part of it feels like an afterthought.
5 Horse Club Adventures 2: Hazelwood Stories
As the sequel to Horse Club Adventures, this game isn’t much different. It’s the same map as the first game, just with some landmarks added with no context or explanation. You’re still at Lakeside Ranch, and your friends are all there, so is there any point in playing this game? Really, the point of playing the sequel hinges on your enjoyment of the first game.
There are some new things to see and do, and new missions to complete, but the open world is relatively the same. The navigation mechanics have been overhauled compared to the first game, which greatly improved the gameplay. Again, the world is still beautiful and well made, and there are also new camp options instead of having to go back to the stables every day. Overall, Horse Club Adventures 2: Hazelwood Stories is worth playing just to try out the upgrades from the first game.
4 Horse Tales: Emerald Valley Ranch
Horse Tales: Emerald Valley Ranch debuts in December 2022, and while it’s been described as a truly open-world horse game, it lacks some important storytelling elements. There is not much narrative in this game despite the detailed open world. There are NPCs to encounter, but the story is mostly uninteresting.
Where this game excels, however, is in allowing you to forge your own path. The open world really lends itself to a good horse game, and Emerald Valley Ranch has that in spades. There are a large number of areas to explore with your horse that will lead to rare crafting materials as well as new activities and experiences. Though, the mechanics are somewhat lacking as well. The horse becomes difficult to control at high speeds, and the horse races (which are an integral part of the main story progression) are tedious and difficult. Overall, exploring the world of Emerald Valley Ranch is nice and worthwhile, but there are some frustrating elements that you get to access in order to explore freely.
3 Windstorm: Ari’s arrival
The Windstorm sequel is vastly superior and features many improvements in most aspects of the game. While this also ties into the movie of the same name, Windstorm: Ari’s Arrival has much better story appeal. The game now focuses on troubled baby Ari as she arrives at the farm to work out her problems with the equally troubled horse Storm. Right out of the gate, the sequel is still just as beautifully designed as its predecessor.
The horse animations have also been improved, making Windstorm easier to see while playing. But the camera angles are still a bit wonky. Ari’s Arrival is clearly an open world compared to the first game. Whereas the first game had you accessing the world through a list of real estate and the user interface was less than ideal, the sequel lets you explore the world freely, collecting quests more organically. The only way to travel across the world is to ride the windstorm, so the fact that the landscapes are fun to look at is a big plus.
2 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
While The Witcher 3 isn’t technically a horse game, Roach is a big part of it, and there are missions that share it with both the base game and the Blood and Wine expansion. In the main game, Wild Hunt, Geralt and Roach can participate in horse races with NPCs who usually reward you with horse equipment. Roach’s equipment upgrades his fearlessness, stamina, and speed. In addition, Roach is easy to travel with, and can be summoned by whistling even if you are continents apart.
In Blood and Wine, there is a quest called Equine Phantoms that allows you to actually talk to Roach. The mission involves solving a mystery of a recluse woman who claims to be haunted by a spirit. Drinking a hallucinogenic potion will allow you to talk to your horse, which is as fun as it is useful. Roach turned out to be very cool, there are even moments when he and Geralt break the fourth wall, subtly discussing game mechanics.
1 The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Breath of the Wild is the ultimate horse game that isn’t technically a horse game. While the story does not revolve solely around the horses and includes a host of other famous interactions, the horses are still a huge part of the game. Horses allow you to travel through Hyrule with ease, and bonding with your horse upgrades their basic abilities somewhat. In addition, there are many different styles of horses to bond with, including the rare giant horse and the royal horse.
The horse mechanics in Breath of the Wild are similar to other Legend of Zelda games where you can ride Epona. Horses are sometimes difficult to control, but not to the point of causing any damage to the game. The horse design and animation are top notch, as are the rest of the graphics in this game. The horses are heavily stylized, but in ways that align with the overall game design. It’s almost as if Nintendo secretly designed a horse game under Legend of Zelda, and overall it’s a great experience for any horse lover.
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