Reviews

• gamedeal user

  May 12, 2023

  Played the demo and fell in love! I'm so happy for the love and time that was put into this game. It may be only in EA but it's very enjoyable with very few bugs that get fixed quickly. The creator Eloise is amazing and listens to what the people want. It's great and honestly well worth the money spent! I could spend hours in the demo even though it was only a demo. And now that we are able to play past the first month it's even better! PLUS BREEDING!!!!!! Baby foals make everything better right? Also training and trust building to top it off. So far no cons to this game other than some of the camera motions but you get used to it. Eloise has plans to release more content every two months or so and well from what we have seen she listens to the suggestions the community has as well as bringing some of those suggestions to the game. There's a lot to do, even for it only being EA, and I highly recommend it as a purchase especially if you love horses. Besides us horse people have been chewing at the bit for a new horse game to fix our itch and I like to think this is it even if it's single player. <3
• gamedeal user

  Jun 16, 2023

  Not to be dramatic, but this is the best horse game I've played since Barbie Horse Adventures, and I've been chasing that high for A LONG TIME. The vibe is more mature and relaxing, there is already a ton of content, and I'm so happy I took a chance on it!
• gamedeal user

  May 12, 2023

  SUCH a fun and beautiful game! Its refreshing to have a relaxing and mature horse game finally. I dont think I've seen the color pink at all so far in this game... and since it's a horse game, thats saying something! Thank you Cozy Bee for creating a horse game for real horse lovers.
• gamedeal user

  Jul 1, 2023

  So, now that I played for a while, explored the game, and unlocked things, I think I can write a review about my experience playing so far. I played Bunny Park and Lemon Cake from this developer before so I had positive experiences with their games before playing this one. Ranch of Rivershine is still in early access but it already gives you a very pleasant time. You start with buying a horse from an auction which you take to your ranch to take care of it. The variety of horse colors you can choose from is huge and you get to see the stats and potential for the horse before buying it. The local village isn't very big, but the people have schedules and wander around to attend their shops or be at home where you can visit them. You always see where they are so you can keep track when you have a quest with someone or want to buy something from them. I like how you slowly improve your ranch and horses while doing competitions to earn money. On your own land, you have farming plots so you get to grow your own crops to feed your horses. Farming is simple and you are done very quickly, which is good as there are other things that will take your time. Every time you mount your horse and ride around you are training it, as long as it has potential left. Once depleted the horse can no longer improve and you have to breed new horses to get a chance of having better offspring. Training is simple and finished quickly from what I was able to observe. I assume doing competitions won't improve the stats of an untrained horse as I saw no improvement while doing one. From the looks you can have up to 12 horses which you can take care of or send to the pasture for them to roam around. I love that you can watch them both in the stable and the pasture <3 Caring for the horses is also quickly finished and I am also very happy as I have experience from other horse games in which it took way too long and was draining to do. While I do enjoy the game very much one negative point I have to mention. It gets boring doing the same competitions over and over again to earn money. There are quite a few competitions, but of course, you will focus on the ones that give you the most money and are finished quickly since the day keeps going on while you play and it gets repetitive. I haven't unlocked all courses, but guess what I will do when I unlocked the most beneficial race? The game has a day- and night cycle and seasons you have to pay attention to especially when it comes to planting crops. Character creation does not offer a huge variety, but I'd say the focus shouldn't lie on it as much, so it didn't bother me. The music and sounds were very cozy and relaxing. I'm pretty sure I will sink a lot of hours into the game and looking forward to seeing what will improve during its time in early access.
• gamedeal user

  Jun 13, 2023

  Had a horse as a little girl. Reunited with him through this game. Collecting horses but he is my ride or die. This game brings me joy.
• gamedeal user

  May 28, 2023

  After playing this game for 8 hours I'm sad to say it's not the best piece of work out there, and isn't worth what it is cost. The game is in early access so things are subject to change (obviously) but the game itself right now does not reflect it's pricing...however before I get into the cons let me start off with what I do like about the game: - Cute atmosphere and graphics - Cute character designs - Nice horse models - Tiny quality of life things such as your character leaning forward or leaning backwards when going up or down a hill respectively on their horse. I wish there was more, however these are the only things I have found enjoyable. Now for the reasons why I don't think anyone should pay the asking price for this game as it stands right now: - Bad camera angle. The camera is either attached to the horse causing you to have to steer with the camera, which doesn't even work well by the way. You turn like a bus and can't even turn quick enough to jump. The other option is turning it to free cam mode, which allows you to turn a lot easier, but you can not use this if you are someone who suffers from motion sickness. I don't even have motion sickness and the camera made me feel sick. - Empty empty world. Despite the vast colourful world, it feels very empty. There are only six main npcs so far after unlocking three areas. The rest of the world is empty minus one or two spots which has some kind of cute little animals running around. - Unique character designs, but bland characters. The writing for the characters is absolutely atrocious. They are just exposition galore. No personality. They only exsist to either give you a quest, give you horse care tips, or to sell you whatever it is they have in their shops. - Visual bugs. Floating sheep and random nameless npcs...the usual things you'd see in an early access. Hopefully they are fixed in time. - False advertising. Despite being brandished as a horse ranch builder/farm sim; you have VERY little customization on anything. You can only 'build' by paying to expand your stable...or for an indoor arena. You don't even get the 'farming' part of it. You just throw down your seeds and leave em. That's it. No choosing where to place your crops, no being able to place things down for however you want. You can only place things in it's assigned place and not even decorate your farm area leaving it once again...empty looking. - No tutorials. The game doesn't show you how to do anything. You are basically on your own. Took me a full hour to figure out how to breed horses after unlocking the fertility pen. - No story. If you want something with an interesting story, this game is not for you. What little story there is, is dry, boring, and doesn't even stand out. I really had high hopes for this game, however it's just been a huge let down. Also there is the fact that the creators other game, 'Alchemy Story' which is basically abandoned...so question is if this game will meet the same fate after a point. TLDR: Don't bother buying the game unless it is on sale. It's not worth it in the current build of the game, hopefully things are resolved as it moves out of early access. Pros: -Cute atmosphere -Cute characters -Nice Horse models -Nice attention to detail when it comes to horse riding. Cons: -Bad camera angle -Bland, empty, world -Bad character writing -Bad writing in general -Falsely advertising features -No real tutorials leaving you confused for a good portion of it
• gamedeal user

  May 19, 2023

  Every horse girls wet dream
• gamedeal user

  Jun 20, 2023

  Please, please, please let there be more work on these horse animations. For a 30$ game, these animations are so stiff and janky, I can not bring myself to overlook them. The horses seem so small compared to the main character as well, and I direly hope more work will be done on the focus of the whole game: the horses. Apart from that, the rest of the game look cute, and I was really excited to get into it. The premise is exactly what I want out of this type of game. But...seriously. Have that one developer from Emerald Valley Ranch look at the animations. They deserve a lot more work.
• gamedeal user

  Jul 17, 2023

  First off: I have horses in real life. I bought this game while I'm stuck inside with a cold and can't go to the barn (I'm going stir crazy). I have never had high expectations for an equestrian game, but the reviews here gave me hope. This game is honestly fabulous. Love the little details, like the rider posting the trot. Lovely diversity in the characters you interact with - even a character with vitiligo. I'm only 5 hours in but the pacing so far is great, not boring and not too hard. Doesn't feel overly grind-y. If I could make some suggestions I would love for there to be more body types (various weights) and non-traditional hair colors. Thanks for making a great game for horse lovers! I look forward to future updates.
• gamedeal user

  May 15, 2023

  The Ranch of Rivershine is a captivating equestrian game that holds great promise. Although it is still in its early access phase, I'd like to share my thoughts on the game's current state, highlighting its strengths and areas that could be improved. The gameplay mechanics are smooth and intuitive, making it accessible for both experienced gamers and newcomers. Whether I was exploring the open fields on horseback or taking on quests, the controls were responsive, providing a seamless experience. Visually, the game is stunning. The horse models are adorable, and the coat variations are visually striking. The cross-country courses offer an enjoyable challenge, and the landscapes are beautifully crafted, immersing players in a picturesque world. While dressage and show jumping are not featured, I found that the focus on cross-country courses was engaging and satisfying. However, it's worth mentioning that the game's content is currently limited. The closed shops in town and restricted customization options may lead to repetitive gameplay during long sessions. I'm hopeful that future updates will address these limitations and expand the available content. One area that could be improved is the foal aging process. Currently, it takes seven in-game days for a foal to grow up, which can feel lengthy. Providing options to sell or skip the aging process for unwanted foals would enhance the breeding experience. Additionally, implementing loading screens during location transitions would improve the overall user experience. The current black screen can be confusing, making players wonder if the game has crashed. In summary, The Ranch of Rivershine presents a promising equestrian adventure. While it's important to consider its early access status and the need for further updates, the game offers enjoyable gameplay and stunning visuals. With improvements and expansions in the pipeline, I'm excited to see how The Ranch of Rivershine evolves into an even more captivating virtual world.