Umamusume: Pretty Derby Is More Than Just Another Anime Girl Gacha

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Gacha games span a broad range of gameplay styles, from strategic battles to musical rhythms, leaving little unexplored in the realm of chance-driven monetization. With the rise of gacha games in today’s gaming culture, the current trend, which arguably started with the launch of Genshin Impact in 2020, has resulted in an overwhelming abundance of these games on the market. These games often prioritize the gacha mechanic over gameplay, sometimes resulting in a subpar player experience. Successful gachas maintain their appeal by providing diverse in-game activities, striking a balance between engaging gameplay, monetization, player interaction, and replay value.

As a gamer, I can’t help but be intrigued by “Umumasume: Pretty Derby” daringly exploring a concept that’s never been asked before: “What if we were horse girls?

The Gacha Formula At Work Yet Again

Gacha games generate substantial revenue for studios, motivating them to produce numerous games with similar anime aesthetics and potentially exploitative drop rates. The goal is usually to earn money rapidly, taking advantage of initial excitement surrounding a new release before it eventually fades away.

In most cases, the studio has significant freedom in determining the specifics of gameplay; as the focus is primarily on the gacha system, where players earn draws and collect new characters. Consequently, this approach to game design often relegates gameplay mechanics to a lesser priority. As a result, many newly released gacha games can appear unengaging and quickly lose popularity once players discover that the actual gameplay is rather shallow.

Games that fall under the category of gacha, such as Genshin Impact, Honkai Star Rail, Wuthering Waves, and Infinity Nikki, keep players coming back by providing them with opportunities to enhance their characters or collect new items (in the case of combat-based games) or by introducing fresh storylines, outfits, and world interactions (for dress-up RPGs like Infinity Nikki). In the case of Otome gacha games, like Love and Deepspace, players are drawn in by engaging with different characters they can develop relationships with.

Every variety of gacha game employs unique strategies to keep players engaged and coming back, often capitalizing on the player’s fear of missing out. Time-limited banners and draw pools compel players to either save their draws for desired items, grind persistently to earn them, or invest money in the draws they desire. This dynamic holds true for Umamusume, but what sets it apart from other gachas, and has contributed to its popularity following its English release, is its gameplay structure.

The Umamusume Gameplay Loop Offers A Fresh Take On Gachas

Despite following common gacha mechanics for character pulls, what sets Umamusume apart is its unique approach to gameplay. Unlike most gacha games which focus on turn-based or real-time combat, as seen in titles like Love and Deepspace, Umamusume offers a different experience. Instead of battle scenarios, the main gameplay revolves around the career progression of one character from the player’s stable. The game continues until either the player fails to achieve a required career milestone or completes a “run.

In games categorized as roguelites such as Hades and Risk of Rain, the gameplay typically revolves around cycles. However, Umamusume’s Career mode buck this trend by concentrating on the career development of a single character – in this case, a horse. Each phase of your horse’s career provides opportunities to enhance her abilities or boost her energy levels, culminating in a race day where you find out if your efforts have been fruitful.

Although it may appear simple at first glance, the races in this game are surprisingly captivating, serving as a type of spectacle where characters run a race. There’s an intrigue in not knowing when your strategies will pay off, and the gameplay becomes even more engaging because the results of these races depend largely on how well you’ve prepared. Instead of testing mechanical skills, Umamusume is about macro-strategy, managing risks, and dealing with elements of luck.

In its own distinctive way, “Umamusume: Pretty Derby” stands out among gacha games, particularly through its innovative gameplay mechanics. By blending the classic gacha pull system with roguelike elements, developers Cygames, Inc. have crafted an engaging reason for players to continuously draw. Even without additional updates, the game offers substantial replayability due to its Career system, as players are always driven to draw new cards in pursuit of becoming even faster than they were previously. This unique feature makes “Umamusume” a noteworthy gacha game to explore, regardless of whether you’re planning on investing any money.

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2025-07-12 16:10