To someone outside of the community, the horse game space probably looks relatively quaint and lovely – just a big group of horse girls (gender neutral) all getting along and bonding over our obsession for equines.
But for those of us actively involved, whether it be in Star Stable, Minecraft, Roblox or Indie horse games, problems are plentiful. While most of it boils down to petty squabbles between friends, some situations can be as serious as hate crimes, financial scams and child safety infringement.
There is only one name that comes to mind when discussing these more serious topics – Rattle. Known as YTRattle on most platforms, she is a content creator who is doing things differently to most in the space. Rattle considers herself a journalist, reporting on these issues and bringing to light what may have been swept under the rug. However many consider her a gossiper, problem stirrer or even a blatant hater of horse games.
I reached out and sent over a few questions provided by myself and the community, and no punches were pulled. These are her exact written responses, not edited out of context or cherry picked.
Who are you and what kind of content do you do?
My name is Rattle, and I make videos about horse game content. It’s a mixture of journalism, review, talking about game design, and horse game news, which often includes horse game drama.
You’ve been labelled “controversial.” Is that a label you’ve embraced, or one you think is unfair?
It’s not unfair, and I do understand where people are coming from. My content often digs into the uncomfortable parts of game development: that mask of positivity they love presenting us with. I like poking at it to see the ugly parts behind it, not to stir, but to understand (game development is fascinating) and sometimes to call out.
That often causes some frustration from players and developers alike. I’m driven more by a need to understand why things function the way they do. Or why they sometimes don’t. Or why it is the way it is. I can’t stop until I have the answer.
What’s the biggest misconception people have about you?
That I hate horse games, that I only make negative content, and that I try to stir drama. I wouldn’t spend hours upon hours playing horse games and reviewing them if I didn’t love them.
‘Only negative content’ is such a bizarre thing to hear. I talk about horse gaming news, about games I like, about up-and-coming games. I have interviews and live streams where I cackle more than play. Basically, I’m having fun. At the same time, whenever I’m positive about a horse game, people get upset that I’m too ‘nice’. Positive videos about Star Stable Online will make people quite miffed. I don’t think you can really win.
And finally, no, I don’t go into spaces to cause trouble. My opinions just often don’t align with the majority, and that does get me into some hot water. Sometimes fairly, because I love to tease, which can be read as ‘mean’.
Is there a reason why you mostly do negative takes on horse games? (Question courtesy of 𓆩ೄྀ🪓⦅↦Technoblade↤⦆⛏️༻ೄྀ𓆪 on Discord)
Because horse games are, more often than not, mediocre. I don’t want to use the phrase ‘bad’. It’s a term I don’t like using in my videos either, but horse games are rarely good. That sounds harsh, but I am comparing them to the history and weight of games, not just horse games. I expect more from games, especially in today’s world of technology and ease of access.
Does the YouTube algorithm play a part in the tone of your videos? For example, if critical videos do better view-wise, do you find yourself leaning away from more positive content?
No. I make videos about things I am passionate about, like genres that catch my eye or games that approach horse games in a unique or different way. It’s about what interests me, really.
My reviews, in turn, are driven by that cognitive dissonance when my experience with a game grinds against the reviews. When the reviews praise a game and I’m having an awful time, that’s when I sit back and ask: why? From there, the review forms.
I really don’t go out of my way to make critical videos. What would the point be? The review is about sharing my experience and explaining why I think something fails or works. If I went out of my way to be negative, that would be poisoning the well for not only that community but also for horse games. I could directly force a future developer into a bad direction. What a terrible thought.
As for drama content in particular, I cover them when I feel it’s something that needs to be discussed, like when communities suffer under toxic positivity or a predator. I prioritize these videos not because they bring in views, but because they are often relevant for a very short time.
Do you let your personal feelings and experiences on a horse game sway your reviews?
This is not something you can properly divorce, especially when you’ve had bad personal experiences with the developer, that frustration will seep into your wording. At the same time, when you have a friendly relationship with a developer, you are going to be pulling punches.
At most, what you can do is be aware of your own bias and actively ask yourself if it is affecting your review. Try to be objective, compare it to other games, and ask yourself: why am I critical here but not there? You have to understand the mechanics of your own thought process and be willing to see the other side, even if you don’t agree.
It’s not something that’s foolproof, so when I’m uncertain I will send my work along to friends or family to ask them if they think I’m being too kind or harsh. I’ve dropped entire videos due to both.
Do you ever take into consideration the impact that your videos have on the community surrounding whatever your topic is on? (Question courtesy of Addie on Discord)
This is such a hard question to answer. Before making a video, I ask myself if it’s relevant, if it’s important, and if it can lead to change. If all of those boxes are ticked, I start work on the video. Topics that only include drama and petty squabbles I avoid, because they add nothing and only create further division in a community. But now we have to consider the other side. When a topic presses on uncomfortable subjects or concerns we’ve ignored, should we then avoid that subject to keep the peace?
That is more or less a question I almost always answer ‘no’ to, because I don’t believe in avoiding difficult subjects. When we get into the weeds of a problem, that’s when we find the snakes and can think up a solution for the infestation. Although, to be fair, we can’t always find the snakes.
With that being said, I am careful with how I approach difficult videos. Wording can take time to get down right. I spend a lot of time scrubbing the wording into something that will work. I don’t always get it right, but I do try.
Have you ever published a video and later thought, “I got that wrong”?
Oh yes! The most painful example was the AI allegation I chucked at Rival Stars. They were not happy with me, and that is absolutely fair. It still stings when I think about it, but I take it as a harsh learning experience. Check before making assumptions, and when in doubt, question. Or even better, shut up.
Have you ever received feedback or criticism that actually made you rethink something?
Yes! Many times! I read through most comments, and I’m always surprised by how much I can learn. I’ve often thanked people for sharing their insights. It’s awesome to see the different ideas from these different passions or angles, and I’ve even incorporated some of those insights into later videos. My videos have only gotten better because I listen to the community.
On the other spectrum, I have blown up at people and had to apologise. Not a fun experience, but certainly a good one to have.
Another example was Astride. A lot of people told me over and over again that Astride‘s development was not going well. I didn’t want to see it. I think that’s an excellent example of my bias stepping in. I felt connected to the game, and when it started to struggle, I felt the need to defend. I learned a hard lesson from that experience.
Have you ever deliberately avoided reviewing a game because you knew your opinion would upset too many people?
No. One of my favourite quotes comes from Sir Terry Pratchett, author of the Discworld series:
“It’s not worth doing something unless you were doing something that someone, somewhere, would much rather you weren’t doing.”
This sounds like a quote from a contrarian or someone looking for trouble, but the point of the quote is that when you’re doing something worthwhile, someone will get upset. The key is to be honest not only with your community, but with yourself. So, even if I believe that the review might upset people, if it’s important I will make the video because it’s still worthwhile.
Some people would say you profit from negativity. What would you say to them?
I do? Well, damn, glad to hear it.
In all seriousness, though, yes, I’m a YouTuber. Any video I post will bring in some money, that’s what YouTube is. Negative takes do garner more attention; it’s the algorithm at work. I don’t deliberately focus on that. I make the videos I want to make.
I guess you could say the same about news channels. They profit from negativity, and I’d probably be making a lot more if I talked about the latest poll instead of horse game drama.
You’ve been accused of stirring drama in order to make content in the past. Do you think that’s accurate to an extent?
This accusation has been following me since, I think, my first ban, which was from the ETG server. That situation got wild, and I will admit, I got swept up into the rush as much as everyone else. We were all running on adrenaline. I learned a lot from that experience.
The thing is, though, I ask difficult questions, so yes, that in itself can be seen as ‘stirring drama’. But to be clear, I don’t ask questions to stir drama; I ask those questions because I want answers. I want to understand or see behind the curtain. Sometimes that means planting yourself in the middle of the Discord and shouting it loudly to get attention on the issue. I’m not shy, never have been.
To be clear, I don’t mind getting banned. It’s part of the job, so to speak. I really only mention my own bans in videos when it’s part of a larger concern. Mostly, I just note it to myself or a friend and move on. Although I would be lying if I said I wasn’t keeping a tally. Six bans so far!
Have developers ever changed something after one of your videos? If so, how did that feel?
Yes! Star Stable Online! This is probably the best moment of my YouTube career! I approached a bunch of YouTubers to collaborate on a project where we basically asked the question: Why are players so angry? It was a beast of a thing, stretching over three episodes. After the series was done, one of the marketing managers reached out to me and let me know that these videos were being circled around in SSO’s offices.
It felt good. It felt really good because it wasn’t just me, it was everyone, all of us who gave them a blueprint for what had to change. And I think they really did listen. SSO is in a much better place now than it was three years ago. I think the SSO team can be very proud of that. Doesn’t mean I won’t hold them accountable when they muck up again.
Do you think being brutally honest ultimately helps horse games, or does it discourage developers from engaging with players?
This is one of the hardest things to juggle as a reviewer. I think it can and has harmed developers which is why when reviewing I must ask if what I’m saying is productive or destructive. I try to offer solutions to the problems I find: give them ideas, not just criticism. But yes, we as reviewers are basically taking a hammer to something half-formed. We can knock it into shape, or break it.
And I do try to be careful.
A good example of this is My First Horse: Seahorse Island. I played it, found it to be a bit boring, and wanted to do a review. But then I realised that what I was looking at was a man who made a game for his daughter and shared that game with others. What benefit would it be for me to say ‘oh, this game is awful, actually’ or anything negative? So I didn’t write anything, because my negative review would have landed hard on something gentle, and fake positivity would not have been fair, either.
Do you think developers are sometimes too quick to dismiss criticism as “hate”?
Yes, and it’s understandable. Developers are in that artistic position of being intimately entwined with their work. When we complain about a game mechanic, we don’t know that they spent a week trying to balance it just right. It’s very discouraging when we break down something they built.
Struggling with taking criticism is normal, but they really shouldn’t shut it down, because criticism is going to be your bread and butter in how to fix your game. If you can sit through it, you’ll find a wealth of information freely given by people who love your game.
I will add, there is a trend in horse games to cultivate a ‘positive’ atmosphere. I see this so many times where players act like terrified rabbits edging around snares to give their bits of feedback to the altar. I hate that. It brings to mind women who were forced to shrink themselves for their husbands. Players should have the freedom to speak about their experiences without fear of harsh repercussions.
It cultivates bitterness in your community.
Has there ever been a creator you felt was afraid to criticize a game because they didn’t want to lose access or opportunities?
Not a specific one, no, but I will say I don’t understand the ambassador programs.
When you create ambassador programs, you create mouthpieces. Not all of them, but a lot of them will feel indebted to you as a developer, and, as we discussed earlier, splitting your honest opinion from your gratitude is difficult. Recently, YouTuber Zaaap! was accused of being ‘misinformed’ by a consultant from Equinox. Zaaap! can handle it, but a younger player? A person wishing to grow their channel? They’d be terrified of that kind of attack. So they fall in line to keep their title and to stay on the good side of these companies.
The worst-case scenario of this is the Sims 4 community. It’s a mess of people shilling for a company instead of being honest about the game.
So, no, I’ve never clocked an independent creator ‘shilling’ for a company in horse games. But I do see that type of mindset with ambassador programs, which is good for the company but not so much for the community.
Why do you think players often defend games they admit they’re unhappy with?
It’s a sunk cost fallacy. When we pour a lot of money or time into a game, we have to justify that by telling ourselves it was worth it. I’ve done it, you’ve done it, no one is immune to it. My problem is that I eventually realise that I basically spent hours or hundreds of dollars on something that won’t give back. I get angry, and then I vomit up a review.
If a developer publicly said your videos were harming their game, would you change how you cover them?
Depends. I would contact them to ask why they think my videos are harming them. If they can show me points where I was wrong or misrepresenting their game and that is causing damage, I will change it. I will even post a video apologising. Apologising is hard, but as Shane Koyczan says:
“If the price to heal someone is only your pride, then apologise and be grateful you found peace at such a bargain.”
Have you ever felt that people judged you instead of engaging with your arguments?
Oh yes! One memorable occasion was in the Mane Quest Discord, where I said that if the camera of a game is badly designed, it would put people off the game because, you know, nausea is a thing. I spent the next hour listening to people telling me I was wrong and how ‘cameras are not that big of a deal’. I realised later on that the disagreement wasn’t just about the camera itself. My reputation in that community probably influenced how people received what I was saying. At the same time, it’s entirely possible I wasn’t conveying my point very well, or that I was misunderstanding theirs. I can be an A-grade idiot sometimes.
But when I first talk to someone, I take the criticism as a form of honest debate before I think it’s coming from a place of malice. We all have different sides we fight for, regardless of how we feel about each other.
As a controversial creator, I’m sure you receive more negative feedback on a regular basis than most YouTubers do. To what extent does this affect you, and have you ever considered quitting over it?
No, I’ve never wanted to quit, but insults or attacks can be exhausting because they bring nothing to the conversation. Tell me why I’m wrong, not just that I’m wrong.
As for how it affects me, I’ve been called some creative names in the past! They don’t bug me. What bugs me is when my work is misrepresented. When people say ‘you’re only negative’ or ‘she’s never happy’ or ‘she only looks for things to criticise’. Sort of. I am trying to understand why something works or doesn’t work. I’m not going out of my way to be negative; I’m giving criticism or critique which I hope will help the game grow.
It can be so frustrating when you’ve spent days poring over your script, trying to be fair, only for people to call it ‘negative’. That is discouraging, especially when it’s obvious they didn’t even watch the video. Some even brag about that in my comments! But, at the end of the day, it’s part of being a YouTuber.
Have you ever lost friendships because of your opinions?
I don’t have friends. I do have a dog, he does give me the side-eye when I don’t give him attention, and a cat that likes to pat me in the face for food in the mornings. And a plague mask that talks back at around one in the morning and three Monsters in.
But no, I haven’t lost any friends due to my opinions. Despite my videos being quite forthright about my thoughts, I always try to leave space for other people’s perspectives. I have learned to back away as my passion can get quite intense. Always be willing to listen, even if you don’t agree, and if you can’t, accept it and walk away.
Is there something you wish more people knew about your content and your personal stance on horse games?
I started my channel because Star Stable Online made me angry enough to make a video about it. I was angry because, after playing games since childhood, all I could see for the future of horse games was the same mediocrity, bad mobile games, and a level of disrespect no gamer should accept.
But I review horse games because, like all of us, I love them. They let me pretend for a little while I can own a horse, or I can go on adventures with them. What else do we all really want as horse lovers?
There are so many I’m looking forward to, but I will always love breaking them down to see why they work. It’s the best part, in my opinion, and I encourage others to do the same. Play games outside of your comfort zone—go out and see the world of games, because the vastness of it is so humbling when we put it next to our little niche genre. Horse games will never be as big as FPS or horror, but with time and our willingness to push for something better, it can grow into something wonderful.
Whether you come away agreeing with Rattle or disagreeing with her methods, it’s clear that she occupies a unique and often divisive position within the horse game community. Her approach raises broader questions about the role of criticism, where the line between journalism and commentary lies, and how communities should respond when uncomfortable topics are brought into the spotlight.
Ultimately, this interview isn’t intended to decide whether Rattle is right or wrong. Instead, it offers insight into the thinking behind one of the community’s most talked about creators, allowing you to draw your own conclusions about both her work and the conversations it continues to generate.
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