Wabi-Sabi Sushi Derby is a $5 gacha-free alternative to Umamusume on Switch and Steam

If Umamusume Pretty Derby hooked you on anime horse-girl racing but the gacha grind wore you down, Wabi-Sabi Sushi Derby might be exactly what you need. The indie game is available right now on Switch and Steam for $5, with zero gacha mechanics in sight.

The game blends horse racing with a sushi bar aesthetic — think charming, low-stakes, and deliberately chill. At $5 it's a flat purchase with no rotating banners, no stamina meters, and no premium currency nudging you toward a credit card. Polygon's impressions frame it as a genuine alternative for players who loved Umamusume's vibe but bounced off the mobile monetization model.

Umamusume Pretty Derby became a genuine cultural moment in 2025, pulling in players well outside the usual gacha audience with its surprisingly deep racing strategy and endearing character writing. The flip side was the standard mobile gacha friction — limited pulls, event-gated content, and the slow drip of a free-to-play economy. Wabi-Sabi Sushi Derby sidesteps all of that by being a straightforward paid indie, which is a meaningful distinction for players who want the cozy anime racing fantasy without the financial pressure.

At $5 the barrier to entry is low enough that it's worth a shot for anyone who's been looking for something in this space. No word yet on post-launch content plans, but at that price point the base package alone seems like a solid deal.