Rival Stars Horse Racing is well out in front when it comes to horse simulation games. Here, you can indulge in every aspect of running a family stable – breeding, training and racing your noble steeds. From the animation and art to the depth of detail, expect equestrian excellence across the board.

What we love: One of the coolest features of Rival Stars is the breeding. Picking a complementary pair of horses results in a beautiful little foal that can have a number of unique traits, impacting their speed, jumping ability and more. Carefully train them to become your own personal champion.

Quick tip: It’s easy to neglect upgrading your Homestead in among all the excitement of racing horses. Try to keep on top of it, though, as upgrades mean you get more out of your facilities, which, in turn, helps you to earn more Silver and Gold and breed better horses.

Meet the creator: Founded in 1997, PikPok is the biggest game developer in New Zealand. Its catalogue includes the BAFTA Games Award–nominated Super Monsters Ate My Condo, Clusterduck and other sports titles in the Rival Stars series.