I've always felt that mini-games are a beneficial addition to any MMO. Whether you only have a few minutes to play or you just need a break from the grind, it's good to have a quick game to play that's not mandatory. Well, just such a game has been added to Runes of Magic with the Wind-Runner Races.

Head over to administrator Michelle Lang in Varanas to register for the cost of a few Phirius tokens and the horse race will begin once eight players are ready to go. Similar to Mario Kart or other go-cart games, you'll be avoiding traps and picking up items to help yourself or use against your opponents. The winner earns a pot full of Phirius tokens.

A trailer showcasing the Wind-Runner Races can be viewed on the game's official Web site. Keep reading below for the full press release.

SAN FRANCISCO – April 2, 2009 - Frogster America, Inc. today announced that it is adding horse racing to Runes of Magic, the Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game (MMORPG) that is redefining the standard for free-to-play titles. For just a few Phirius tokens, players can take part in Wind-Runner Races, several times each day. A new trailer is now available on the official website at http://www.runesofmagic.com/en/videos,id25,mini_game_windrunner_racep.html. Runes of Magic currently has more than 700,000 registered users worldwide and is available as a free download from the official website at: www.runesofmagic.com.

The Wind-Runner Race administrator, Michelle Lang will take player registrations in Varanas, the capital of the region where the races start. As soon as eight participants have registered, the flag goes up and the exciting race begins. Treacherous traps full of magic will challenge both horse and rider. Similar to go-cart racing games, players can pick up bonuses, such as slow-down effects and speed boosters, or spiders webs along the track to use against their opponents. Winners of the horse race will win a pot full of Phirius tokens, which can then be used either in the game world or in the item shop.