| Barbie Riding Club | |
|---|---|
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| Developer | Human Code |
| Publisher | Mattel Media[1] |
| Platform | Windows |
| Release | 1998 |
Barbie Riding Club is a 1998video game developed by American studio Human Code and published byMattel Media.[2] Its gameplay involves feeding, grooming, and riding horses.[3] It is for ages 4 to 8.[4]
Barbie Riding Club invites players into an equestrian fantasy where the bond between girl and horse is central. Framed by a quest to find a mysterious horse, the game blends light adventure with puzzle-solving and timed races. Players navigate the world from a first-person perspective, peering over their horse's ears as the screen rhythmically bobs to simulate riding. Barbie can dismount and explore short stretches on foot. Gameplay unfolds along predetermined trails, with occasional opportunities to jump obstacles like fallen logs. While the horse's movement is largely automated, the game compensates with a variety of activities and settings. Navigation is intuitive, aided by menu icons and verbal help prompts. Ambient sounds like birdsong and hoofbeats add to the atmosphere.[5]
The game was developed by Human Code, a company founded in 1993.[6] A PlayStation version was in development.[7]
| Publication | Score |
|---|---|
| All Game Guide | 3.5/5[5] |
| PC Gaming World | 8/10[8] |
| The Houston Chronicle | A[9] |
All Game Guide said "Girls who love horses, but don't have ready access to a real one, will have fun with this game".[5]
PC Gaming World said "While Barbie Riding Club is far from educational, it's great fun for horse-mad Barbie fans".[8]
In the United States,Barbie Riding Club took #1 onPC Data's computer game sales rankings in its opening week.[2] It debuted on the monthly charts in second place for November 1998,[10] a position it held in December.[11] In the United States, it was country's 15th-best-selling computer game of 1998, according to PC Data.[12] The game was also named as a finalist by theAcademy of Interactive Arts & Sciences for "PC Children's Entertainment Title of the Year" at the2nd Annual Interactive Achievement Awards.[13]
