The Ranch of Rivershine Reviews

I'm really enjoying this game. I like the auction system for buying and selling horses, the rotating stock of horse equipment and clothes in the stores is fun, and the horse care, training, and energy needs feels well balanced. E.g. the horse that you're actively training likely won't have enough energy to compete so there's a reason to have multiple horses in your stables and to swap between them. The gameplay feels really satisfying. Overall a great game, especially for a solo developer, and already one of my favourite examples of a horse game done well.

I am obsessed with this little horse game, and I struggle to articulate why. Normally, this is the type of game I would play for an hour, get bored, and never touch again. But I have played just about every day for the past week or so, and I love it. It fills the Nintendogs-shaped hole in my heart. It makes me feel nostalgic in a way I haven't felt in a long time. The thing I loved about Nintendogs as a child was how captivating it was. Nintendogs also wasn't graphically advanced, and wasn't a ground-breaking game. But it was really, really good at being what it was. It managed to take simple concepts and create a gameplay loop that was repetitive without getting boring. Every day, I looked forward to opening up my DS and playing with my virtual dogs. That is the same way I feel about Ranch of RIvershine. It isn't perfect; it's full of bugs, and the camera angles and movement systems are a little wonky. But goddammit, I am attached to my virtual horses. I absolutely refuse to sell my first horse even though his stats are shit. Ohana means family, and Captain Cowboy is a member of the family now.

Even on sale, I struggle to say this game is worth it. 1) Your avatar moves like it's a first-person shooter, not a cute horse game, with camera locking torso and strafing legs. It feels more at home in Fortnite than in a horse game. 2) Clearly using free assets, which on its own would not be bad, but paired with the other flaws makes for a very cheap atmosphere. 3) Artwork looks unfinished, and not in a cutesy stylistic way but in a "hey I did this in 5 minutes" way. As an artist, I was severely disappointed when I saw the map. 4) The characters move and act like bots, with minimal animation and no facial expression. 5) No skip dialogue option, but also no noise to accompany talking, making for very agitating gameplay. Am I supposed to supply my own audio to make this game bearable? 6) The horse mechanics feel like they were made for console, but there is no controller compatibility, leading me to believe this game is genuinely just not polished in any form. 7) The rooms feel empty and slapped together, and the map lacks clarity. There are no portraits or unique indicators to mark important locations, so you have to hover over each one to guess which store is what... which wouldn't be such a problem if the map had other interesting things in its favor, which it doesn't. 8) It wants to be Dreamlight Valley or Stardew so badly, but it has none of the charm or uniqueness of either. It has the calendar mechanics, but it seems to not matter if you want to redo the same competition 8 times in a row on the same day. All in all, it is rough for $20, let alone the asking price of $30. If this were the dev's first ever game, I would give it a pass, but asking such a high pricetag and having multiple "cozy" games in their repertoire, I have to say skip it. I was really hoping this was just an early alpha stage of the game, but when I realized the developer had already shelved the project and put out a notice that they would not create any further content for the game, my heart just sank! It sucks to see so much potential go to waste, when all it needed was someone with an eye for detail and some TLC.

A couple of things. First off, no idea why, could just be my potato PC, but whenever I load up this game and play it for a very short while, like less than 5 minutes, it starts sounding like a turbine and overheats. I have no idea what could cause this as while I played more demanding games such as RDR2, this never happened. Second, as much as I want to keep playing it, little things like stuck to the character camera when you dismount or black screen while entering certain areas within one map irk me a bit. I don't think those would impact the game hugely but I have no idea why they're here either - loading screens I do understand, but to have them within same location where everything's already rendered, for example like how it happens while sending horse to the paddock? Come on. TL;DR: won't play it unless something's done about it's performance because honestly I've never encountered this issue on other games and it scares me a bit. Really wanting to play it and enjoy but these little things just make it impossible for me.

Probably the first horse game to REALLY scratch my itch as a horse girl! I absolutely love the wild herds, the massive range of colours/markings, the breeding system, and the ranch. The graphics are super cute and the horses look lovely. I agree with other reviewers that the world itself feels a little empty/soulless, particularly the other characters in the world. Training can get very grind-y, but this can generally be resolved by maxing out horse attributes and breeding high attribute horses to each other. Despite these faults, it's still a really enjoyable game with so much to love.

I REALLY enjoy this game, Its something when I want a slower pace relaxing game I keep coming back to. It has a few bugs that I've encountered, specifically when dismounting or mounting the horse the animation can bug out sometime and one particular time well dismounting my horse I glitched through the ground and had to restart my day due to forever falling through the map. Despite the few bugs and refinements it definitely needs I highly recommend this game for anyone who is into relaxing horse game with similar vibes to Gallop&Ride, It comes off as very nostalgic in a cuter cartoony style.

This is a very cute horse game. The gameplay can feel a bit slow and grind-y in the beginning, but as features unlock it becomes much more interesting and fun to play. There are a lot of different horse coats that show up, although there is no custom horse creation. You can also breed the horses and train the foals! I highly recommend this for anyone who enjoys horse games in general.

Alright, despite the hours I've sunk into this game i do not consider myself a "horse girl" nor "Horse girl gamer". I grew up hearing stories of horses and have had my lucky encounters with many in real life. For me this game perfectly scratches the itch of owning a horse without actually owning a real life horse. I appreciate the care options available to us as we manage our horses and their stalls. The options for keeping them clean longer with different items helps keep management under control if you ask me. The horses in game are absolutely beautiful, my personal favorite seems to be the rarest as the the "Blue" horse type is hard to find but stunning when discovered. Yes of course there can be a lot of repetitive actions, but I, personally don't mind that and don't think that you should seek this style of game if repetitive play isn't for you. It's a really chill game that helps me relax in times I'm desperate for little bits of joy. Seeing my horses all out together, winning a competition, training, or raising the foals (my favorite) it's just simply nice and enjoyable. I think it fits the workings of that missing horse game some of us have been craving.

As someone who is extremely prone to motion sickness, I can say that the controls/camera were certainly a choice. Turning down the mouse sensitivity is borderline pointless. It does slow the camera down, but only when I'm stationary in game. Once I start moving my character it's like I didn't even adjust anything - plus I have to turn it back up anyway if I want to ride the horse because the mouse sensitivity is what controls the speed at which the horse turns! I want to like it. I think I *could* like it, but it's very difficult to enjoy a game that I have to quit out of at 10 minutes because that's all I can withstand.

The Ranch of Rivershine offers a charming and immersive blend of farming simulation, life management, and RPG elements set in a peaceful rural environment. Developed by Axol Studio, the game invites players to take on the role of a rancher tasked with rebuilding and managing a rundown homestead nestled in a vibrant, nature-rich world. With its focus on exploration, relationship-building, and the rhythms of rural life, The Ranch of Rivershine creates a relaxing yet rewarding experience that appeals to fans of slow-paced simulation games looking for depth and meaningful progression. At its core, the game revolves around typical ranch activities such as planting and harvesting crops, raising livestock, and crafting useful items. The farming mechanics are intuitive but sufficiently detailed to keep players engaged, requiring careful planning around seasonal cycles and resource management. Players must tend to animals, repair buildings, and expand their homestead, all while exploring the surrounding wilderness to gather materials and uncover secrets. This balance between day-to-day chores and broader exploration gives the game a satisfying loop of productivity and discovery. One of the standout features of The Ranch of Rivershine is its open-world environment, which is rich with flora, fauna, and diverse biomes. Exploration feels rewarding, as players can fish in serene rivers, forage for rare plants, or venture into forests filled with wildlife and hidden treasures. The world feels alive and inviting, encouraging slow, deliberate pacing to appreciate the beauty and calmness of rural life. The day-night cycle and changing weather patterns add atmosphere and influence gameplay, such as which crops thrive or which animals are active. The game also integrates RPG elements through skill development and relationship-building with local characters. Players can improve their ranching abilities and unlock new recipes, tools, and upgrades that enhance efficiency and open up new gameplay possibilities. Interactions with townsfolk and fellow ranchers provide opportunities for friendships, romances, and trading, enriching the narrative layer and grounding the player’s experience in a sense of community. These social dynamics add warmth and personality to the otherwise solitary life of a rancher. Visually, The Ranch of Rivershine features a bright and colorful art style with a charming, slightly stylized aesthetic that perfectly suits its pastoral setting. The environments are detailed without overwhelming the player, and character animations are smooth and expressive. The soundtrack complements the visuals beautifully, blending gentle acoustic melodies and ambient nature sounds to create a peaceful, immersive atmosphere that enhances the meditative quality of the game. While the game excels in many areas, it does have some pacing issues, especially in the early stages where progress can feel slow due to resource scarcity and limited tools. Some players might find the initial grind tedious before the ranch begins to flourish and gameplay opens up. Additionally, certain UI elements and inventory management could benefit from refinement to improve ease of use. However, these minor drawbacks are outweighed by the game’s overall relaxing tone and engaging progression. In summary, The Ranch of Rivershine is a heartfelt and thoughtfully designed simulation game that captures the gentle rhythms of rural life with charm and depth. Its blend of farming, exploration, and social interaction offers a well-rounded experience that encourages patience and creativity. Players looking for a cozy, slow-paced game with plenty of content to discover and a world to nurture will find much to love here. It’s a serene escape into the countryside where every small achievement and relationship feels meaningful, making it a worthy addition to the farming sim genre. Rating: 9/10