Why did it take me so long to write about Pocket Card Jockey: Ride-On?

Actually, I know why. It’s because my Pocket Card Jockey playthrough isn’t “finished” yet.

I played it obsessively when it came out and considered writing this review (same post title and all), but I decided to wait until I had finished the game. Then I took a break from it and forgot.

But recently I ended up playing it again on a whim, and I found myself just as addicted as I was before.

Pocket Card Jockey is one of those weird genre mash-ups that sounds like a fake game when you describe it. It’s a horse-racing game from Game Freak in which you play solitaire to help your horse win each race.

Strange combination? Yes. Insanely addicting? Also yes.

I was hooked on the original when it came out for the 3DS, and when the Apple Arcade remake finally came to the Switch, I was thrilled. Pocket Card Jockey: Ride-On! is largely the same as the original, with some differences like 3D graphics for the races and some UI changes. (Some of the dialogue must also be new, since I saw, for example, an Elden Ring reference.)

The “story” barely exists and is mainly an excuse for you to race horses, but the nearly nonsensical dialogue in between races is entertaining to read nevertheless as you learn about the ridiculous lives of the horses’ owners.

You’ll try to strategically line up your horse to get a good round of cards, play solitaire, run races, and eventually breed your horses to get horses with better stats and repeat the process all over again in pursuit of those race trophies. It’s a simple gameplay loop, but it’s so easy to keep telling yourself you’ll just do one more race.

Pocket Card Jockey: Ride-On! has once again been put on the backburner in favor of other games for me, but I know when I pick it up again, I’ll be just as obsessed as I was this time.