PokéDerby is a free new Pokémon-inspired browser game based on one of 2025's most viral hits

Developed by independent creator Zietes, PokéDerby is an unofficial, free fan-made game inspired by the training and racing mechanics of Umamusume: Pretty Derby.

While the game isn't affiliated with Nintendo, Game Freak, or The Pokémon Company, it does feature copyrighted Pokémon characters and sprites, meaning there's always a possibility it could be taken down. The developer also credits several third-party sources for its artwork, music, and other assets.

We’re certainly seeing lots of independent browser conversions popping up, such as the 128-player version of Halo: Combat Evolved, and PokéDerby is just one of the latest.

While not all of these projects will use AI, in today's 'vibecoding' landscape, these easy-to-create copyright infringements are becoming more common - and are surely a nightmare for IP owners like, in this case, The Pokémon Company and Nintendo.

What is PokéDerby, and how does it work?

After launching PokéDerby through my browser, it took about a minute or so to load. From there, your quest to turn your Pokémon into a racing champion begins.

Career mode features 78 turns, during which you'll need to balance training, competitive races, and some much-needed rest. You'll also have opportunities to improve your Pokémon's abilities and select up to five partner Pokémon to provide additional training bonuses.

Each Pokémon has its own running style and abilities, adding a strategic element to the races. Different weather and terrain conditions can also play a part in the outcome, so there's more to winning than simply having the fastest Pokémon.

Alongside the main Indigo Finals, you can take part in Team Trials, Weekly Cups and friendly races. You can even compete against Pokémon trained by other players, although these aren't live, head-to-head races.

I played PokéDerby, and here's what I thought

It's simple fun. Loading up the game through my laptop's browser was straightforward, and there's no download required. The in-game hub, where you access races, training, rest and more, is easy to understand, while the nostalgic sprite visuals took me back to the old-school Pokémon games of the 90s and early 2000s.

For my main Pokémon, I had to go with my favourite starter, Charmander. Sadly, he didn't win his first race, but after I began improving his stats through training, he was claiming victory in no time. I also found it surprisingly satisfying watching these little sprite creatures get competitive on-screen.

However, it's not simply a case of choosing whichever Pokémon you believe is the fastest. As I mentioned earlier, weather conditions can influence races, and my Charmander certainly seemed to struggle in the rain. Perhaps Squirtle would have fared better.

Unfortunately, while you can select other Pokémon to help with training, you're limited to one main Pokémon per career. If you fancy giving another creature a go, you'll need to start a new run. The game is also technically playable on mobile devices, but it doesn't appear optimised, so I wouldn't recommend it.

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How to play PokéDerby for free

There are technically two ways to play PokéDerby. The first is through your web browser, while the second involves downloading the game directly to your Windows PC although given that the project infringes of the copyright of The Pokémon Company, downloading it is not recomended.

Again, it's worth keeping in mind that PokéDerby is an unofficial, fan-made game and is not affiliated with Nintendo, Game Freak or The Pokémon Company, so there's always the possibility that the game could be taken down following a rights-holder complaint.