When it comes to video games, Barbie has been riding along the digital trails for decades. From Barbie Fashion Designer on PC in 1996 to Barbie Horse Adventures on PlayStation 2, she’s worn every possible hat, or rather, every possible riding helmet. Over the years, Barbie games have always tried to capture that sweet spot between imagination and accessibility, giving young players a chance to explore, create, and dream without pressure or punishment. Logical, since Barbie can be everything. Now, Barbie Horse Trails by Outright Games enters the stable as Barbie’s newest equestrian adventure. Known for their family-friendly portfolio, with games like Paw Patrol, Peppa Pig, and Bluey, my latest review of Gabby Outright aims to deliver a relaxed, wholesome, and confidence-building experience for younger players. This Barbie title is a mix of open-world exploration, light quests, and good old-fashioned horse grooming, all wrapped in pastel landscapes and a generous serving of positivity. But does Barbie still have the magic touch? Let’s saddle up and find out.
A new trail for Barbie
In Barbie Horse Trails, players take on the role of Barbie, either Malibu or Brooklyn, as she joins the Canterbury Trails Park team to help restore its natural beauty. Together with familiar faces like Head Ranger Annalise, archaeologist Dr. Potts, and the ever-charming Lady Carson, Barbie sets out to bring life back to this forgotten corner of nature. The story is lighthearted and non-threatening. Like with almost all Barbie stories, there are no villains, no dark mysteries, but just good intentions and friendly tasks. You’ll find yourself helping with everything from rebuilding old trails and cleaning up debris to photographing local wildlife and digging up historical artifacts. Each character you meet has something nice to say, something helpful to share, and the kind of encouraging energy you wish real-life park rangers had on a Monday morning. It plays like the Barbie books I read with my kids, and it shows a world that I want my kids to enjoy.
It’s not a story that surprises, but that’s not the point. The focus here is on positivity, patience, and small acts of care. And honestly, it works. My kids were hooked from the moment Barbie first stepped into the park, because it’s a world that feels safe, colorful, and kind. But the gameplay part made it a bit harder to continue that feeling.
Gentle exploration (and a bit of posture coaching)
At its core, Barbie Horse Trails is about exploration and connection. The world is split into cozy regions, like forests, lakesides, and flower meadows, in which you ride your horse, Lucky (and later other horses), freely. You can trot, gallop, or walk at your own pace, discovering hidden collectibles, time trials, and cozy spots along the way.
The main gameplay loop revolves around simple tasks:
Exploration: Ride through scenic trails, discover treasure chests, and unlock new paths.
Horse Care: Brush, wash, feed, and accessorize your horse to strengthen your bond.
Quests: Help NPCs with photography missions, cleanup jobs, or small park restoration projects.
Customization: Dress up Barbie and her horses with new outfits, saddles, and accessories.
Everything is accessible and forgiving; there’s no timer, no game over, no frustration. It’s a great introduction to gaming mechanics for younger audiences, but there’s still enough to do to keep parents entertained while helping out. That said, I couldn’t help but notice something during the long rides: Barbie’s posture could use a little work. While riding, Barbie tends to lean forward slightly too much, and her upper body doesn’t always sync perfectly with the horse’s movement. It’s a small detail, but once you see it, you can’t unsee it. The transitions between trot and gallop can also be a bit stiff, like Barbie’s body is on a delay, waiting for the horse to remind her to move. It’s not immersion-breaking, but as someone who’s seen my daughters take on some actual riding opportunities during our holidays, I couldn’t help but chuckle at Barbie’s occasionally “robotic” saddle style, and only wondered if it wouldn’t hurt to ride a horse this way.
Still, the controls are responsive, and riding feels satisfying overall. Younger players won’t mind the occasional awkward animation; they’ll be too busy galloping through flower fields and taking selfies with deer. It’s kid-friendly, coded, and works like a charm, and I caught myself taking pictures along with my kids. Why? Because who doesn’t want a picture with a hare or a deer?
Visuals and atmosphere
Barbie Horse Trails doesn’t aim for realism; instead, it embraces a soft, stylized art direction that fits its tone perfectly. The environments are vibrant, the lighting is warm, and there’s always a sense of calm in the air. The world feels handcrafted — even if some textures look a bit flat or simplified. The horses, on the other hand, are quite lovely. Their designs are clean, expressive, and full of charm. You can see the care that went into making each mane, tail, and saddle accessory. The character models also fit the recognizable Barbie style — bright eyes, clean lines, and expressive gestures. It actually felt like the Barbie books from the ’90s, which my wife still owns, and that’s quite an accomplishment 30 years later.
Performance-wise, everything runs smoothly. On my Switch 2, I didn’t encounter frame drops or crashes. Load times are quick, and fast travel between areas keeps the pace comfortable for kids. The audio design is subtle but effective: gentle background music with light acoustic melodies, birds chirping in the distance, the soft clop of hooves on dirt. It’s the kind of ambient soundscape that soothes you after a long day, and one I wouldn’t mind as a relaxation app, to be honest. Are you reading along, Mattel? There’s also full voice acting, which helps younger players follow along without having to read too much text. The cast does a fine job of keeping the tone upbeat and friendly, even when the dialogue itself is pretty simple.
A calm experience for families
As a parent, I’m genuinely happy to see games like this still being made. Not everything needs to be about competition or tension. Sometimes kids need a safe world to explore, one that rewards curiosity and care rather than combat, and my kids like these games more than combat-oriented games anyway. Playing Barbie Horse Trails with my kids reminded me of why these games exist in the first place. They’re not here to challenge; they’re here to comfort. It’s a rare, almost meditative experience where every task, no matter how small, feels good to complete. Even as an adult player, something is charming about riding through open trails, helping out friendly rangers, and decorating your horse’s mane with ribbons and hair chalk (because everything needed to be pink… obviously). It’s a soft kind of joy, simple, but genuine.
The one big downside
If there’s one major downside to Barbie Horse Trails, it’s the language support. Sorry, I have to be that guy. The game is fully voiced in English, which is fine, but the on-screen text and interface are also entirely English-only. For a game so clearly aimed at young children, that’s a real shame. My kids, who speak Dutch, found it difficult to navigate some of the quests or menus without my help. A few local-language options would have gone a long way toward making this a smoother experience for non-English-speaking families. Considering Outright Games usually includes localization for their titles, it feels like a missed opportunity here. It doesn’t ruin the experience, but it does create small barriers for the audience most likely to play it.
Conclusion
Barbie Horse Trails isn’t groundbreaking, but it doesn’t need to be. It’s a peaceful, positive, and visually pleasant experience that understands its target audience perfectly. The gameplay is accessible, the world is charming, and the atmosphere is cozy enough to keep kids entertained for hours (literal hours!). Sure, Barbie could improve her riding posture, and yes, the English-only presentation makes things trickier for younger players in non-English-speaking countries. But when you strip it all down, this is precisely the kind of wholesome, low-stress adventure that reminds us why Barbie remains a timeless figure in play culture. If you’re a parent looking for a safe, uplifting game to share with your kids, or if you want a relaxing digital escape with some equestrian flair, Barbie Horse Trails is worth saddling up for.
