The Legend of Khiimori is starting soon in Early Access on Steam. Therefore, we wanted to know why even non-horse fans should take a look at the game. The developers explain to us in the interview that there is much more behind it than “just a new horse game”.
What kind of game is this? The Legend of Khiimori is a new game with open world and survival mechanics, launching on March 3, 2026, in Early Access on Steam. The game puts you in the role of the Mongolian courier Naara in the 13th century.
The gameplay primarily revolves around your loyal horses, which require regular care in the form of food, water, and affection, but also delivering precious goods, crafting items, building a network, and exploring wild biomes. There is supposed to be a storyline, which, however, will not be part of the Early Access.
What makes this exciting for non-horse fans, we asked the developers in our interview.
“I would also be very sorry if you could just take any horse and master all difficult missions and terrains with it”
What makes the game exciting even for non-horse fans? Your success largely depends on your planning: changing weather conditions, challenging biomes and terrains, and threats from wildlife require strategic action and good planning. With the help of a detailed map and waypoints, you must smartly map your routes, choose the horse suitable for the circumstances, and equip yourself with the necessary gear in the settlements.
It is also important to load the saddlebags evenly so that neither goods nor horses come to harm. Here too, you must pay attention to accepting the suitable quests to be successful.
By exploring the game world and taking on various tasks, you will train your animal’s skills and build a bond with it. Breeding horses and trading in the settlements play a role, as does catching and taming wild horses, with various breeds and coat colors available.
That’s why choosing a horse is so important: According to the developers, the stats of the horses play a significant role and offer a lot of potentials for those players who enjoy a certain grind:
The comparison is this: The horses you have to choose from can be compared to your weapons in a shooter or cars in a racing game. You don’t take the Ferrari to drive over a mountain. You don’t take the shotgun to carry out an assassination. The same applies to our horses. You have different animals that have different strengths and skills, which are trained to varying degrees. You breed improvements into them and train them.
Thus, “horse variety” is not just about “I think it’s cute,” but has very significant mechanical importance. I must choose my horses so that they are strategically sound. I have to pick the right horse to complete a certain mission or cross a certain terrain.
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Accordingly, it is not enough to simply choose the prettiest horse. Let’s put it this way: those who place great value on the aesthetics of the horses must specifically breed for that look in combination with the desired stats. It is, therefore, very much a part of the gameplay to connect aesthetics and abilities.
I would also be very sorry if you could just take any horse and master all difficult missions and terrains with it.
Alice Ruppert, Consultant for Marketing and Horse Accuracy at Aesir Interactive in an interview with MeinMMO
Nevertheless, it should also be possible to accomplish everything with your “favorite horse” and face a different challenge. Because what the animals lack in their stats, one must compensate for through crafting and various items, as Game Narrative Designer Nikolas Hilz explains to us. One must be creative, but the systems also allow for it.
The reputation of your protagonist Naara also plays a role, and as your notoriety grows, you can unlock more recipes, horses, items, and more challenging missions between the settlements.
Horses as an important mechanic, but not the sole focus
Although much in The Legend of Khiimori revolves around horses, Communications Manager Adriano Nicolosi quickly points out that it is anything but just that: “It plays an important role, but in that setting, it doesn’t seem like you have to do ‘horse things’ all the time.”
This is also because, in addition to the courier quests, there are many things to discover. There are also many secrets to uncover in the surroundings and supernatural challenges you must also face. If one wishes, they can also venture into hunting and participate in trading.
In addition, many new features are planned to be introduced during Early Access, such as fishing or falconry, as well as horse racing. Therefore, various features and content will offer excitement even for those gamers who have nothing to do with horses per se.
The Legend of Khiimori is therefore not only aimed at those who care about horses but also at players who value mechanical depth, the feeling of wild adventures, a certain grind, and strategy.
Behind the promising title is the German development studio Aesir Interactive. The project began on Kickstarter and became a massive hit there: the campaign shot through the roof, far exceeding the original funding goal, thus securing not only numerous new game contents but also a release for the upcoming Switch 2: The “Red Dead Redemption 2” without violence from Germany is celebrating incredible success on Kickstarter, also coming for Switch 2
