Horses are one of the most common ways to travel in video games. They usually cement a bond with the protagonist working as a trusty steed and a best friend. Some horses, though, no matter how iconic are more realistic than others.
The horses from Assassin's Creed Odyssey are user friendly, with the ability to travel almost anywhere, but accessibility does not equal realism. Anything can account for realism including the way they move, the way they jump, how the mane blows in the wind, and how strong they are.
10 Assassin's Creed Origins
There are horses in almost every Assassin's Creed game and some are better than others. The first few games suffer from older technology while Odyssey choices accessibility over realism. Sure, the Origins horse can be spotted trotting on rooftops but that's better than jumping off large mountains and surviving. The animation is the best in the series and horses function differently in terms of speed and movement.
9 The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
Unlike Assassin's Creed where horses are simply vehicles of transportation, Roach, from The Witcher 3, is Geralt's best friend. Roach has the most personality of any horse from any game - for better or worse. Roach's animation looks good when riding and different saddles add to the realism. When Roach isn't being controlled, though, he'll get into trouble. Sometimes Geralt will find Roach in the oddest of places or sometimes he will magically teleport. That's one odd horse.
8 Uncharted 3: Drake's Deception
Uncharted 3 has the advantage of creating a horse for two chapters instead of a horse for an open-world experience. Whereas horses in other games have to react to the unpredictability of the free-roaming player, the horse in Uncharted 3 is set on a linear path.
That means Nathan Drake's horse has realistic movements and interacts with the world like one would expect. At the same time, players are not trying to ride the horse up a mountain. On the other hand, the horse is about as impervious to bullets as Nathan Drake. They were meant for each other.
7 Ghost Of Tsushima
Ghost of Tsushima is one of the most beautiful games of this generation. It would look odd if Jin was riding a janky horse through this picture-perfect world. Lucky for gamers, that's not the case. Players get to choose out of three different horses near the beginning. The chosen horse is Jin's companion for the rest of the game. This horse has a tendency to nudge Jin with his nose like a cat. It's kind of cute.
6 Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
The best part of Metal Gear Solid V's horse is its usefulness in gameplay and realistic reactions to player shenanigans. The horse will fall over after being tranquilized or get knocked over by a mighty Big Boss tackle. D-Horse's bond with the player will decrease if actions like this continue. D-Horse can also be used for creative gameplay encounters such as stopping vehicles by standing in their way or pooping on command.
5 The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild
Breath Of The Wild may have a cartoony art style but that doesn't take away from the realistic movements and muscles of these beautiful creatures. Riding a horse at high speeds through a grassland is one of the most mesmerizing moments on the Nintendo Switch.
The most impressive part is the large array of different horses in terms of look and size. Wild horses can be tamed as they frantically jump around while Link tries to control them. After they are tamed, horse saddles and manes can be customized. Horses can also grow an affection for the player like any real-life pet.
4 Shadow Of The Colossus
Agro, the horse in Shadow of Colossus, is one of the best parts of the game. Wander and Agro spend so much time together in an empty world that the player can't help but see the bond between the two characters. Agro's movements while making a quick stop at full speed to making a quick turn while galloping illustrate the horse's wide range of realistic movements. Argo is one of the most loyal and fluent mounts in games.
3 Red Dead Redemption
Red Dead Redemption is a western game so horses are a major part of the open-world. If Rockstar got them wrong, then the whole game may have failed. Luckily, Red Dead Redemption is one of the best games ever created. Wild horses are difficult to tame and catch because the AI is expertly realized and run in unpredictable pathways. John Marston's horse will realistically travel over the rocky terrain and its mane will blow with the wind.
2 The Last Of Us Part 2
Just like Uncharted 3, Naughty Dog has the advantage of creating horses for a linear story. The game developer's huge budget gives them the resources to create a detailed game like no other. This is illustrated with the little details scattered across the game such as the snow that falls on the horse's backs. Naughty Dog used real-life horses for mo-cap to make some of the most realistic animals in gaming.
1 Red Dead Redemption 2
Red Dead Redemption 2's horse will outshine any other video game horse. Not only are their movements and muscles realistic but caring for them goes a long way. The horses must be brushed and fed. They also have permadeath so horse care actually matters a big deal. The fact that horse testicles swink in the cold proves that Rockstar had meticulous care for their horses.