Mobile Updates /
UMAWALK Passes 30000 Downloads and Introduces Friend Races for Virtual Horse Trainers
Virtual horse racing fitness game UMAWALK hits 30,000 downloads in its debut week, adding private code-based Friend Races for up to 12 competitors.
Key facts
- Topic:
- Mobile Updates
- Published:
- 2026-11-02
- Reported by:
- Gameforce Mobile News Desk
Key takeaways
- Tops 30,000 downloads in first week and reaches #1 in Japan App Store Health & Fitness category.
- New Friend Race mode allows private code-scheduled races for up to 12 virtual racehorses.
- Transforms daily real-world walking and lifestyle activity into horse racing stats.
Japanese mobile fitness game UMAWALK has surpassed thirty thousand downloads during its first week, demonstrating encouraging early interest in an unusual combination of walking, horse training and competitive racing. Developer Switch Media announced the milestone on November 2, alongside the release of a new Friend Race feature. UMAWALK launched on October 19 and transforms real-world activity into progression for a virtual racehorse.
Players improve their horses through daily walking and lifestyle activities before entering weekly competitions. The game holds a nationwide race every Sunday evening, allowing participants to compare the results of their efforts. According to the developer, more than twenty-four thousand virtual horses participated in a recent Sunday competition. The new Friend Race feature allows players to organise private races involving up to twelve horses.
Organisers can select a course and schedule a race between one hour and seven days in advance. Invitations are shared through codes, making it possible to challenge friends without revealing personal activity information. The developer says friends can see horse names and race results but not private walking or sleeping records. UMAWALK also reached first place in Japan's App Store Health and Fitness free-app rankings.
The concept demonstrates how game mechanics can encourage physical activity without requiring conventional location-based exploration. Apparently the secret to becoming a successful racehorse trainer is remarkably simple: go for a walk yourself and allow the horse to take all the credit.
