Horses are one of the most beautiful and majestic creatures on the planet that were human companions for thousands of years. Their influence in our history is tremendous, which is why it is not surprising to see many game developing companies including horses as the main focus of the game.
When it comes to game creation, horse mechanics are one of the most difficult to master. With so many moving elements it is hard to create a realistic horse-riding experience. However, the are some game-developing studios that somehow mastered the mechanics of horse riding, and managed to create the most realistic experience.
With that said, let’s go through some of the games that include horses as the main focal point which are designed to perfection.
Red Dead Redemption 2
Since we are talking about Rockstar, we can only assume the best of the best. This western video game includes a horse in the focus point of the story and the main’s character companion.
With that said, Red Dead Redemption 2 has one of the best horse mechanics we’ve seen out of all games.
On top of that, the horse’s movement looks very realistic, and the visuals are out of this world. Plus, the average horse in RDR2 can be as fast as the horses in the 2022 Kentucky Derby Odds.
Every muscle on the horse’s body is noticeable and they added a ton of work in the horse’s physics and how it behaves in the open world.
But it seems like that wasn’t enough for them, which is why they also included taking care of the horse. Your horse in Red Dead Redemption 2 must be brushed and fed in order to maintain its health. They even go to the point of making the horse’s testicles swing in cold temperatures, which proves that Rockstar knows plenty about horses.
The Last of Us 2
The Last of Us 2 is another incredible triple-A game coming from Naughty Dog that features horses as the main focus of the story. Since the game had a huge budget, they decided to create an extremely detailed game like no other.
The attention to detail is illustrated in the little details across the game such as the snow that falls on the horse’s back. Additionally, the movement and appearance of the horses look very realistic, which is the most difficult part to recreate.
Ghost of Tsushima
This is one of the most beautiful games that came out recently and managed to make quite a name for itself in the industry. Since Jin is designed to be in a picture-perfect world full of beautifully designed animals, it would look odd if he was riding a janky horse.
Luckily, the developers made a huge effort in creating a realistic companion for Jin. This horse is beautifully designed and has perfectly recreated movements from real-life horses.
Shadow of the Colossus
Even though we are talking about a game that is close to two decades old, this is one of the best games when it comes to prioritizing the horse and its usefulness as the main part of the story. Wander and Agro spend almost the entire game together in an empty world where it is hard to avoid the bond between the two characters.
The best thing about this game is the mechanics of the horse. Considering that is made a while ago, the game developing studio made an impressive work on how the horse runs. Agro’s movement is very realistic, especially for complicated mechanics like making a quick stop at full speed or turning while galloping.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
Even though the Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is designed in a cartoony style of art, it also features quite realistic movements, at least when we are talking about horse riding. Riding the horse at high speed is one of the most memorizing moments playing the game.
The best thing about this game is the wide array of different horses in terms of how they look and their size. Wild horses can be tamed, as they jump around while Link tries to get a hold of them.
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
The Witcher 3 is a complete masterpiece winning many awards for its story, originality, and game design. Since the story takes place in ancient times, Geralt’s best friend is Roach – a horse with incredible abilities.
The most impressive thing about the horse is its movement when riding and different customization options like saddles that make quite a big difference. On top of that, this is one of the first games that started focusing on the emotional connection between the horse and the main character and the horse’s personality.
