Star Stable Online review

This Star Stable review is based on official sources and player reviews, not on our own play time. Star Stable Online is an online horse-riding adventure from Swedish studio Star Stable Entertainment, on Windows, Mac, iOS and Android with shared progress. You can play free up to level 5; after that you need a Star Rider membership, either a renewing subscription or a one-time Pay Once option ($54.99 on the US App Store). Star Coins, bought with real money, pay for horses, clothing and other items.

What is Star Stable Online?

Star Stable Online is an online horse game set on Jorvik, a fictional island with a magical storyline. Star Stable Entertainment, a Stockholm studio whose story page dates its founding to 2011, develops and publishes it. According to the official site and the App Store listing, you ride, train and care for your own horses, choose from more than 50 breeds and over 300 unique horses, follow story quests with the Soul Riders, take part in competitions and customize your rider and tack. Players can chat, ride together and start riding clubs.

New content arrives in weekly game updates. The Halloween Festival runs until November 4, 2026, and the current Champion Ranks racing season ends on November 3. On October 27, 2026, the new Creative Director said the team will focus on story quests next year, with fewer festivals and time-limited events, a new breed every quarter and more Show Jumping courses.

Is Star Stable free to play?

Only at the start. New players get a trial area, and the help center says non-Star Riders can play up to level 5 in the Moorland and Fort Pinta areas. The official site states that to continue beyond level 5 you need to buy a Star Rider membership, which opens more of the world map, quests, events, breeds and all game updates.

The App Store and Google Play list the app as free with in-app purchases, and progress carries over between iOS and desktop. Star Coins, the premium currency, are bought with real money. Jorvik Shillings are earned through quests and other activities, but Star Stable says certain items can only be bought with Star Coins.

In short, Star Stable is free to try, while ongoing play requires a Star Rider purchase.

Is Star Stable pay to win? What money buys

As of October 30, 2026, the US App Store lists Star Rider for 14 days at $3.49, one month at $9.99, three months at $22.49 and Pay Once at $54.99, plus Star Coin packs from $7.49 to $86.99. Star Stable's help center says Star Rider subscriptions renew automatically for the same period, except the Pay Once option, which gives lifetime Star Rider access for as long as the game runs and opens a Bonus Shop.

Star Coins buy horses, pets, clothing, tack, care items and amenities; three new coat variations added on October 28, 2026, cost 950 Star Coins each. The Star Coins page also lists hiring a trainer to level up your horses and checking in to skip an in-game day, which save time. Neither store flags random paid items, and official sources describe none.

Based on what the official stores sell, we rate it as mildly pay to win; we will check this again when we play it ourselves.

Star Stable on PC, Mac and mobile

Star Stable Online is available on PC, Mac, iOS and Android, according to the official site. On computers you download the game from starstable.com; it is not sold on Steam or the Epic Games Store. The help center says only Windows and Mac are supported among desktop systems, so Linux and Chrome OS are not.

On phones and tablets, the App Store version is called Star Stable Online: Horse Game, and the Google Play version is also free with in-app purchases. The App Store description says the game picks up where you left off when you switch between iOS and desktop. Star Stable Horses, a foal-raising app on the official site, is a separate game. There is no console version.

Star Stable system requirements

Star Stable publishes its desktop requirements as news notices rather than a full spec sheet.

Windows: since March 6, 2024, the game needs Windows 10 or later, and since October 16, 2024, a graphics card that supports OpenGL 4.3 or above.

Mac: on October 19, 2026, Star Stable raised the minimum to macOS 14.8 Sonoma, with macOS 27 recommended, after crashes it traced to macOS Ventura, which can no longer run the game.

Mobile: the App Store version needs iOS or iPadOS 18.0 or later and lists a 219.4 MB download.

Star Stable lists no official RAM, processor or storage figures for desktops, so check the help center before installing on an older PC.

Games like Star Stable

These games from our catalog share Star Stable's mix of collecting, building or family-oriented online play:

Wizard101: KingsIsle's card-battle MMORPG on Windows and Mac, plus PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch, free to start, with a membership or Crowns for later zones.

Merge Dragons!: Gram Games' free merge puzzle for iOS and Android, where you hatch and evolve dragons and heal a cursed land around your camp, with no battles against other players.

Elvenar: InnoGames' free fantasy city builder for browser, iOS and Android, where you play as elves or humans, trade with other players and join a Fellowship.

• Wizard101
• Merge Dragons!
• Elvenar