The Japanese game “Uma Musume Pretty Derby” (PC, Android, iOS) is considered one of the most successful mobile games worldwide. The game features horse girls competing against each other in races. In 2021, the game generated over 937 million euros in revenue.
What is Uma Musume Pretty Derby? Uma Musume Pretty Derby is a mobile game developed by Cygames. It is marketed on Google Play as a training simulator.
On February 24, 2021, the game was released as a mobile game. A PC version followed on March 10, 2021. However, the game was only released in Japan.
In addition to the mobile game Uma Musume Pretty Derby, there is also an anime series and a manga set in the same universe. It thus constitutes an entire multimedia brand.
Here you can see the Japanese trailer for Uma Musume Pretty Derby:
What is the focus of Uma Musume Pretty Derby? The game centers around human characters with animal traits – in this case, horse girls.
They compete against each other in races designed similarly to horse racing. Although the game is referred to as a “training simulator,” many players are likely more interested in the anime waifus in the game than the races themselves.
What does the gameplay of Uma Musume Pretty Derby look like? The player assembles a team of different horse girls. They can spend time with the girls and train them to make them stronger and improve their chances of winning the races.
The characters have various stats that can be improved by the player: These stats include speed, strength, and wisdom.
The game features various game modes. There is a story mode, as well as PvE and PvP elements. Similar to Genshin Impact, Uma Musume Pretty Derby is also a gacha game.
Here you can read what gacha game means.
Huge revenue, despite only being released in Japan
How successful is Uma Musume Pretty Derby? The revenue total in the release year 2021 speaks for the game Uma Musume Pretty Derby.
The website SensorTower analyzed its data and created an overview: It included the top mobile games in terms of global revenue in 2021. There were 8 games that earned over 1 billion US dollars in 2021. Uma Musume just barely missed this billion-dollar mark, landing in 9th place.
Uma Musume Pretty Derby achieved revenues exceeding 937 million euros from launch until December 14, 2021. It is important to note:
- Uma Musume Pretty Derby launched only on February 24
- It is only available in Japan
Note: With these limitations, the revenues are even more impressive and show how much money the controversial gacha games can bring in.
Will the game also have a global release? So far, no official global release date has been announced.
Are there more games like Uma Musume Pretty Derby? Uma Musume Pretty Derby is not the first game to feature hybrid female characters (as anime waifus). Azur Lane, a mobile game from 2017, already featured this unique concept.
In Azur Lane, it involves an alternate timeline of World War II. The characters in the game embody the various warships of different countries.
Here is another article on two popular husbandos in Genshin Impact.
What do you think of the game concept in Uma Musume Pretty Derby and Azur Lane? Feel free to let us know in the comments.
