Customer Reviews (500)

Ushshozushdb • 2025-03-22T13:01:08-07:00

This game is so fun it keeps me entertained yes itvcan be stressful while racing and u want to win but this is a graleat amd fun mobile game

Caitlin Isabella adams • 2025-03-22T08:58:54-07:00

Why, have I not seen an Appaloosa? And really? Ten coins only for each mission. I working my fingers off for ten coins! Atleast give me 20! Great game, great graphics. But fix those things.

Talesa’s • 2025-03-22T06:18:37-07:00

Prose it’s absolutely one of the funniest games that I’ve played! I love that there are so many different types of competitions and challenges. That way it doesn’t get boring. I just wish there were a few more ways to get gold a little easier.

Summary of Key Insights

Rival Stars Horse Racing enjoys generally positive sentiment, with many users praising its realistic graphics, engaging gameplay, and enjoyable breeding mechanics. However, several recurring pain points exist, primarily revolving around the in-app purchase model, limited gameplay options for non-paying users, and feature requests for more diverse gameplay and customization. The game's strengths lie in its core horse racing and breeding mechanics, while its weaknesses are largely tied to monetization strategies and a perceived lack of content for long-term, free-to-play users.

  • Overall Sentiment: Positive
  • Overall Rating: High (based on score distribution)
  • Key Strengths: Realistic graphics, engaging gameplay, enjoyable breeding mechanics.
  • Key Weaknesses: Aggressive monetization, limited free-to-play content, lack of feature diversity.
  • Score Distribution: 5-star (62.8%), 4-star (19.4%), 3-star (6%), 2-star (3.4%), 1-star (8.4%)

Data & Methodology Overview

  • Data Sample Size: 500 reviews
  • Time Frame: Not explicitly stated, but assumed to be recent given the version number (1.62) and the content of the reviews.
  • Analysis Methods:
    • Sentiment Analysis: General assessment based on review text.
    • Keyword Extraction: Identification of frequently occurring words and phrases related to user experiences, feature requests, and pain points.
    • Frequency Analysis: Counting the number of times specific issues and requests were mentioned.

Key User Pain Points

  • Aggressive Monetization: Many users express frustration with the game's heavy reliance on in-app purchases, particularly the Star Riding Club subscription. They feel that core gameplay elements are locked behind paywalls, making it difficult to progress or fully enjoy the game without spending real money.
    • Impact: Reduces user satisfaction, especially for free-to-play players. Creates a "pay-to-win" perception.
  • Limited Free-to-Play Content: Several users complain about the limited access to features like show jumping, canyon falls and other free-roam areas without a Star Club subscription. They feel this restricts their gameplay experience and makes the game repetitive.
    • Impact: Decreases user engagement and retention for non-paying players.
  • High Cost of Stables and Pasture Spots: The cost of expanding stables and pasture spots is frequently cited as being too high, hindering players' ability to collect and breed horses.
    • Impact: Limits breeding potential and horse collection, impacting long-term engagement.
  • Gold Coin Scarcity: Many users find it difficult to earn gold coins, the game's premium currency, making it challenging to acquire desirable horses, tack, and upgrades.
    • Impact: Creates a bottleneck in progression and encourages in-app purchases.
  • Bugs and Technical Issues: Some users report encountering bugs, such as lost progress, game crashes, and issues with purchases not being processed.
    • Impact: Frustration and potential loss of investment for affected users.
  • Loss of Progress/Accounts: Multiple users reported losing their progress after deleting/reinstalling the app or switching devices.
    • Impact: Extremely frustrating, especially for long-term players and those who have spent money.
  • Breeding Difficulties: Some users express frustration with the breeding system, citing difficulties in obtaining desired coat colors, patterns, and stats. They feel the system is too random or heavily influenced by in-app purchases.
    • Impact: Reduces enjoyment of the breeding mechanic and encourages spending.

Frequently Requested Features

  • More Horse Breeds: Users consistently request a wider variety of horse breeds, including Friesians, Appaloosas, Mustangs, Draft Horses, Tennessee Walkers, and more.
  • Western Riding Disciplines: Many users express a desire for western riding disciplines like barrel racing, pole bending, and rodeo events.
  • Dressage and Show Jumping: Several users want to see dressage and show jumping added as gameplay options.
  • Horse Customization: A significant number of users want the ability to customize their horses' appearance, including mane styles, tail styles, and coat colors. The desktop version has customization options, and mobile users want the same features.
  • Multiplayer Features: Users frequently request multiplayer features, such as the ability to race, breed, and trade horses with friends, as well as explore free-roam areas together.
  • More Free Roam Options: Users want more free roam areas and activities, with less restrictive timers.
  • More Realistic Horse Care: Users want more interactive horse care activities, such as grooming, feeding, and treating injuries.
  • Betting System: A betting system for races, similar to the desktop version, is a requested feature.
  • Account Linking: Users want the ability to link their accounts across different platforms (iOS, Android, Desktop) to avoid losing progress.

Strengths and Positive Aspects

  • Realistic Graphics: Users consistently praise the game's realistic graphics, particularly the detailed horse models and animations.
  • Engaging Gameplay: The core horse racing and breeding mechanics are generally well-received and considered engaging.
  • Variety of Racing Disciplines: The inclusion of flat racing, steeplechase, and cross-country racing provides a good variety of gameplay options.
  • Breeding System: Many users enjoy the breeding system, finding it exciting to discover the unique coats and patterns of their foals.
  • Lack of Excessive Ads: Compared to other mobile games, Rival Stars Horse Racing is seen as having a relatively low number of intrusive ads.
  • Team Feature: Users enjoy the ability to join teams and compete together.
  • Continual Updates: Users appreciate that the developers continue to update the game with new content and features.
  • Storyline: Some users enjoy the game's storyline and missions.

Prioritized Action Recommendations

High Priority:

  • Address Account Loss Issues: Implement a robust account linking system (e.g., Google Play, Game Center, email) to prevent progress loss when switching devices or reinstalling the app. Impact: Significantly reduces user frustration and improves trust.
  • Rebalance Monetization:
    • Provide more ways to earn gold coins through gameplay (e.g., race rewards, daily quests). Impact: Improves free-to-play experience and reduces "pay-to-win" perception.
    • Consider offering a one-time purchase option for permanent access to certain features instead of solely relying on a subscription model. Impact: Attracts users who are hesitant to subscribe.
    • Re-evaluate the cost of stables and pasture spots. Impact: Encourages breeding and horse collection.
  • Fix Steeplechase Bug: Resolve the bug that causes steeplechase jumps to not render correctly. Impact: Improves gameplay experience.
  • Address Item Loss Bug: Resolve the bug where purchasing Star Rider doesn't deliver the service. Impact: Builds trust in the app

Medium Priority:

  • Expand Free-to-Play Content:
    • Make show jumping and some free-roam areas accessible to all players, perhaps with limited access or restrictions. Impact: Improves engagement for non-paying users.
  • Implement Breed and Coat Customization: Add horse customization options, including mane and tail styles, and possibly more control over coat color inheritance. Impact: Enhances personalization and creativity.
  • Add More Horse Breeds: Introduce more popular horse breeds requested by users. Impact: Increases variety and appeal.
  • Improve the Racing UI: Resolve the bug where the horse number is displayed instead of the horse's name. Impact: Improves user experience

Low Priority:

  • Add Western Riding Disciplines: Consider adding western riding disciplines like barrel racing as a future content update. Impact: Expands the game's appeal to a broader audience.
  • Implement More Realistic Horse Care: Add more interactive horse care activities, such as grooming and feeding. Impact: Enhances immersion.
  • Improve Character Models: Improve the visual quality of human character models. Impact: Enhances visual appeal.

Opportunities for Startup Ideas

  • Horse Breeding and Trading Platform: A separate platform or app dedicated to trading and breeding virtual horses with complex genetics and customizable traits, potentially integrated with existing horse games like Rival Stars.
  • Virtual Horse Show Simulation: A game focused on virtual horse shows, offering a wide range of disciplines (dressage, show jumping, western riding) and judging criteria.
  • AI-Powered Horse Training Assistant: An app that uses AI to analyze horse training data and provide personalized training recommendations for virtual horses.

Trends and Observations

  • Strong Demand for Customization: Users consistently express a desire for more customization options, indicating a strong interest in personalizing their gameplay experience.
  • Preference for Realistic Gameplay: The positive feedback on the game's realistic graphics and animations suggests that users value realism in horse simulation games.
  • Language Preferences: Reviews are primarily in English, but there are also some reviews in Spanish, indicating a potential audience in Spanish-speaking regions.
  • Desire for Community: The frequent requests for multiplayer features highlight a desire for social interaction and community within the game.

Conclusion

Rival Stars Horse Racing is a well-regarded horse simulation game with strong core mechanics and realistic graphics. However, its monetization strategy and limited free-to-play content are significant pain points for many users. By addressing these issues and implementing requested features like more customization options and multiplayer functionality, PikPok can further enhance user satisfaction and increase long-term engagement. The game holds a strong position in the market, and by responding to user feedback, it can solidify its leadership and attract a wider audience.

Original App Link

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/rival-stars-horse-racing/id1215477266?uo=2