Windstorm: Start of a Great Friendship (Remastered) A Beautiful Ride (with Some Bumpy Trails)

I finally got around to playing Windstorm: Start of a Great Friendship with my girls and let me just say.... it was sweet, memorable experience.... with a few frustrating hiccups along the trail.

If you're looking for a horse game that delivers a heartfelt story, stunning landscapes, and some great bonding moments (especially with your kids), this one definitely checks a lot of boxes. But just like any ride, there were a few times we hit a bump and had to hold on tight.

Storytelling That Actually Pulled Us In

Let's start with the good: the story.

The narrative follows Mika and the majestic stallion Windstorm, and it has that wholesome, magical vibe that horse girls dream about. My daughters really loved watching the bond between Mika and Windstorm grow. The storytelling was gentle and warm like something pulled out of a bedtime novel. We actually cared about the characters. It gave us that cozy. "Sit by the fire and read a horse book" kind of energy.

Gameplay: A Mix of Easy Breezy and Wild Goose Chases

Some missions? Total cakewalk.

Others? Oh my goodness, I wanted to yell.

There's a lot of running around the map, and while that might sound relaxing, it actually made the gameplay feel a little.....slow. Like, aimlessly-wandering slow. Especiallly when you're trying to help your kid find that one tiny item or figure out where to go next with zero clear direction.

That said, the races were a HUGE hit in our house. My girls were obsessed with them and wanted to go back just to ride again and again. The photo missions? Not so much. The excitement kinda of stalled there. They weren't intuitive and didn't really hold anyone's attention.

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DLC: Yes, to the Festive Fun....No to the Hidden Santa Shoes

The DLC (yet that one with the hidden Santa shoes added some much-needed freshness. It was adorable and festive, but finding those shoes? That was a whole mission in itself.

We spent a long time trying to track them down, and it turned into once of those we're a little cranky now but determined to finish moments. Still, seeing the whole map dressed up for the holidays made the work worth it. It gave some extra sparkle and seasonal games always hit differently.

The Carvings....Oh, the Carvings

Let me be real: finding all the carvings was hands-down the hardest part of the entire game.

The three of us were running in circles for what felt like hours. We combined every path, every tree, every little nook and cranny trying to complete that achievement. We were missing one and about to go stir crazy trying to find it. I was seeing carvings in my dreams till we finally found it.

But I have to give the game props it created such an immersive world that even the frustrating parts still kept us connected, talking, and laughing

A Cozy Game with Heart (That Just Needs More Story)

At the end of the day, Windstorm: Start of a Gret Friendship (Remastered) gave me something I'll always cherish: Sweet memories with my girls. We laughed, we got annoyed, we raced, we took screenshots, and we had fun together.

Was it perfect? Nope

Was it cozy? Yes/

Would I recommend it? For horse game lovers and parents playing alongside their kids absolutely.

I just really wish there was more to the story. More missions. More character building. More cozy barn vibes and dialogue. It had so much potential to go deeper, and I hope future games in the Windstorm series take that to heart.