Umamusume: Pretty Derby - Party Dash is a pixel-art party action game centered on competitive events and light story elements. Players assemble teams of horse-girl characters to compete in a school festival tournament called the Slapdash Grand Prix.
Gameplay
The core loop revolves around selecting characters for short, chaotic matches in one of four themed events. Each match emphasizes quick reflexes and team strategy as players run, throw objects, or collect items under modified rules that introduce obstacles and power-ups. Pixel-art visuals keep the action clear on screen while allowing up to four participants to join locally or online. Progression comes from unlocking additional characters through repeated play and completing objectives tied to each event.
Matches reward strong individual performance within a team format, where switching between the five members of a chosen squad helps adapt to different challenges. The controls focus on movement, basic attacks, and special abilities that vary slightly by character, encouraging experimentation across the roster.
Game Modes
Story mode follows the four competing teams as they prepare for and participate in the Grand Prix. This section mixes dialogue scenes with the main events, giving context to each group's members and rivalries. Players advance by winning matches and unlocking new characters along the way.
Multiplayer supports both local split-screen and online sessions for the four events, allowing direct competition or cooperative play against AI opponents. A separate clubroom area lets players customize furniture and interact with unlocked characters outside of matches.
The single-player roguelike experience places Gold Ship in a side-scrolling survival run against waves of robotic enemies. Players collect and switch between weapons such as water guns and dodgeballs while managing health and distance traveled. Longer runs yield stronger foes and better rewards, creating a distinct contrast to the festival events.
Characters and Presentation
Twenty-five pixel-art Umamusume appear across four fixed teams, each with five members. The art style emphasizes expressive animations during events and idle moments in the clubroom. Backgrounds and stages incorporate festival decorations that change based on the active event, maintaining a consistent bright and energetic tone throughout.
Sound design pairs upbeat music with character voice lines that trigger during matches and story segments. The limited but focused roster means most players will encounter familiar favorites from the broader series while discovering new combinations in team play.
Is It Worth Playing?
Reception on Steam sits at mostly positive overall, with recent reviews trending very positive. The game suits fans of short-session party titles who enjoy pixel-art aesthetics and character-driven stories. Those seeking deep single-player campaigns or highly varied minigames may find the four core events repetitive after extended play.
Local and online multiplayer options make it suitable for groups, while the roguelike mode adds replay value for solo sessions. The title remains actively supported with patches addressing controls and localization, including expanded language options for the roguelike content. Players who value quick competitive matches and roster collection will find the most consistent enjoyment here.
