Chris InglisI have one daughter obsessed with Barbie and another who lives and breathes horses. When Barbie Horse Trails was announced, developed by PHL Collective and published by Outright Games, I knew this was going to be a hit in my household. I’m happy to report it delivered a genuinely fun and engaging game and strikes a great balance between open-world exploration and structured equestrian activities.
Players join Barbie “Brooklyn” Roberts and Barbie “Malibu” Roberts as Junior Park Rangers-in-Training, riding their trusted horse, Lucky, across Canterbury Trails Park to help restore the park and uncover mysteries. Team up with Head Ranger Annalise, Archaeologist Dr. Potts, and Ken’s aunt, Lady Carson, to solve mysteries, restore park areas, and discover ancient artifacts.
From the moment my daughters started playing Barbie Horse Trails, outside of the vibrant and colourful graphics, the game’s core appeal was its accessibility. My youngest found the Xbox controls easy to use without asking too many questions. This was helped by the game’s map and waypoint system which is excellent. Neither daughter ever felt lost or confused about where to go next, which maintained the joy of the adventure and discovery. This is a vastly improved gameplay experience to that of Barbie Project Friendship. If you had reservations after playing that game, rest assured this game is definitely worth playing as the gameplay experience is greatly improved.
The gameplay loop is structured around a variety of tasks. While free-roaming exploration and finding hidden trails is a major draw, the game also introduces horse racing events to promote looking after the wellbeing of not only Lucky but the other horses we come across. My eldest thoroughly enjoyed the challenges, which included time trials and obstacle courses that require precision jumping. These events aren’t overly difficult, offering just the right amount of challenge to be satisfying without being frustrating. Success in these competitive elements often unlocks new paths or rewards, driving forward the feeling of progression.
Beyond just riding, the element of horse care and customisation is deeply rewarding. Barbie Horse Trails gives a real sense of ownership over their horse. This involves detailed mini-games for grooming—including brushing, washing, and feeding their horse. You also can find collectible chests to customise outfits, riding gear, and colourful accessories like bridles, saddles, braids, and ribbons. There are also quests to take photographs of animals in the area and teaches the player a little bit of information about each one. This NPC quest givers also explain that you need to be patient, approach quietly and keep your distance when taking the photographs so as not to disturb the animals in their natural habitats.
The graphics are excellent featuring bright, vibrant environments and beautifully rendered horses that capture the positive, appealing Barbie aesthetic well. The voice acting is decent and ensures that the objectives and storyline are easy for kids to follow. There’s a good number of activities to keep players busy, from collecting items and exploring hidden trails to using the in-game camera to take photos. These little extras add to the overall sense of fun and ownership within the open game world.
Overall, Barbie Horse Trails is a delightful and engaging game that merges the charm of Barbie with satisfying, accessible equestrian gameplay. It’s a balanced mix of exploration and challenges which makes it highly engaging. Even as a parent I got some enjoyment out of playing some segments, and the fast travel system makes it easy for the kids to jump in and continue where they left off. It’s an easy recommendation for parents with horse-loving or Barbie-loving kids.
This review utilised an Xbox key provided by Swipe Right and Barbie Horse Trails is available now on Steam, Xbox, PlayStation and Nintendo Switch.
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Yonan