the cutesy looks hide what is actually a rather deep and competitive game. Umamusume rewards players who do their research into game mechanics. though the gacha system is quite unforgiving, Cygames has been quite generous with the odd gift now and then, and have also been willing to implement so much-needed quality-of-life improvements since lauch.

one of the best open world games i've ever played. a good mix of action and compelling story.
it's a bonus that the game is quite respectful of Japanese culture and somewhat accurately depicts 13th century Japan.

A nice, relaxing cozy game that has quite a decent variety and amount of content. Despite some downsides, it's still fun and keeps me coming back to try to get all the achievements. Can easily bring many hours of chill entertainment. Also, it has a feature that sets it apart from many other similar games: the ability to save and resume from any time in the in-game day and not only when the character goes to sleep for the night. I feel every modern game should have this feature, the fact that having it makes Sandrock stand out is quite saddening.

nice game to play with friends or family, or just alone. it isn't too difficult for my two young daughters to appreciate.
i like how i can either play to follow the story, or chill and treat it like a sandbox builder.
also, it was interesting to hear a singaporean accent in the game (no spoilers)

It's a simple game that doesn't try to do too many things nor check off too many boxes. Not really one for the min-maxers, but totally suitable for those who just want a fun and relaxing time.
it surely could do with more depth, and loses some replay value once you get the game mechanics. so, even though the price isn't high, it still may not be as worth it than a slightly more expensive game that gives 2x the hours of fun.
but still, it's a fun little game.

Quite a lot of micromanagement, but it's still fun nonetheless. The animals are great! Prefer this to Planet Coaster.