After Project Friendship™ , Mattel Inc and Outright Games partnered again to deliver a new single-player game for horse lovers of all ages. We’re talking about Barbie™ Horse Trails, the latest riding adventure of the world’s most famous blonde. Promising “a rich, hands-on adventure rooted in exploration and creativity”, the title will have players discover an immersive open world, on the hunt for treasures and a mysterious horse.
BARBIE™ HORSE TRAILS: A RIDE IN CANTERBURY
Playing as either ‘Brooklyn’ or ‘Malibu’ Roberts, Barbie™ Horse Trails is set in the idyllic countryside of Canterbury Trails Park. As a Junior Ranger-in-Training, it will be your duty to protect the wilderness. Team up with Ken, Teresa, Nikki and Daisy to complete various challenges, or explore the park at your own pace. Venture from the lush forests to the peaceful lakes and fields and uncover the secrets of Canterbury!
- Join forces with the Park Rangers to preserve the beauty of Canterbury Park.
- Build your bond with Lucky through caring minigames, like grooming and feeding.
- Find the treasure chests to unlock new accessories for you and your horse.
- Use the camera to capture the highlights of your adventure, and document your findings on your very own journal.
- Partake in many nature-inspired activities, like stargazing and animal tracking.
It’s not a Barbie game without some pink! And believe it or not, I’m not mad about it.
Barbie™ Horse Trails © Outright Games
THE PINK PONY CLUB
From the beginning, Barbie and her friends have always been a core pillar of Horse Girl culture. The iconic doll had its official baptism of the saddle in 1977, when she rode the bay horse ‘Dancer‘. Sporting brushable hair and moving limbs, Dancer was also equipped with an English-style bridle and sidesaddle. In 1980, it was Dallas‘ turn to steal the spotlight, followed by Dixie, Prancer and Midnight. At this point in time, Barbie’s riding attire mostly involved dresses and western-style chaps, with one English outfit featured in the Designer Collection. And finally, the year 2000 saw the release of Barbie Horse Riding—this time, clad in jodhpurs and using a standard English saddle.
Questionable anatomy, but major points for creativity and style!
© Barbiepedia
The country chic feel of the toy line also made its way into digital entertainment. Released in 1998 for PC, Barbie Riding Club had the players ride on fixed paths to complete several mini-games. In between assignments, Barbie could also race and take care of her horse, speaking directly to the player to give them instructions. The game was a massive success, earning around 9 million dollars becoming the 14th best-ranked game of the year according to PC Data. By 2003, the stage was set for Barbie Horse Adventures to gallop into the homes (and the hearts) of Horse Girls everywhere.
There are only two kinds of Horse Girls. Those who recognize these screenshots, and those who lie.
Barbie Horse Adventures: Riding Camp © Activision | Barbie Horse Adventures: Wild Horse Rescue © Vivendi Games
Horses are also at the forefront of some classic Barbie movies, namely The Magic of Pegasus and A Pony Tale, as well as the Netflix TV series A Touch of Magic (2023) and The Great Horse Chase (2024). Making her debut in 2021 with Big City, Big Dreams, Barbie ‘Brooklyn’ Roberts joined Barbie ‘Malibu’ as a permanent co-star.
THE BLAZING TRAIL
The cultural relevance of Barbie cannot be understated. With a history spanning more than six decades, Ruth Handler’s creation shaped the imagination of countless children around the world. The 2023 movie by Greta Gerwig not only paid homage to this legacy, but also opened the door for a deeper discussion about the burden of strict gender roles—a topic that remains incredibly relevant when it comes to Horse Girls.
With that being said, we can all agree that Barbie™ Horse Trails will set its aim a little lower. The trailer presents something more akin to Barbie Horse Adventures: Wild Horse Rescue. Aside from the obvious focus on exploration, the presence of collectibles and (possible) wild horses, as well as Lucky’s design, are a dead ringer to the beloved 2008 classic. This, in and of itself, doesn’t surprise me. Mattel is a company focused on selling toys, after all, and I have no doubt that this game too will be associated with some kind of marketing push.
Barbie™ Horse Trails © Outright Games
But what does all of this mean for the game itself? For starters, although Outright Games promises “an experience that fans of all ages will love”, the branding is definitely on the younger side. The overall style and UI reminds me of Horse Club Adventures, with a dash of Bibi & Tina thrown in. We’re clearly not breaking any new ground here, but nothing unforgivable. Whether the team went hard on the nostalgia factor to recapture a generation of Horse Girls or not, the return of a household name like Barbie in the genre is encouraging nonetheless.
So, see you this Fall?
Barbie™ Horse Trails will release on October 10th on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox Series X/S and PC.
