Review: Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders | Xbox

I approached Snow Riders with sky-high expectations. I’m delighted to report that Megagon Industries has delivered a worthy successor to Downhill, swapping bikes for skis whilst maintaining that perfect blend of zen-like tranquillity and controller-gripping challenge.

The premise remains gloriously simple: start at the peak, make your way down through checkpoints, and try not to become intimately acquainted with the local trees.

Across 12 handcrafted mountains (each with two runs), you’ll carve through pristine powder, navigate treacherous ice patches, and occasionally find yourself launched into the stratosphere after a particularly nasty tumble.

The first hour with Snow Riders left me occasionally pining for my trusty bike from Downhill. Skis handle differently – they’re initially less responsive and trickier to master. But perseverance pays off magnificently. Once I’d sussed the nuances of when to tuck for speed, when to brake (which is far more important than you might initially think), and how to use ski poles effectively, the controls clicked into a satisfying rhythm.

What makes Snow Riders truly brilliant is its perfect balance of skill and punishment. When you nail a perfect run, carving through fresh powder whilst threading the needle between rocks, it’s utterly exhilarating. When you misjudge that corner and go careening off a cliff, the ragdoll physics provide enough comic relief to soften the blow to your pride.

Multiplayer Makes the Mountain Less Lonely

The biggest evolution from Downhill is the addition of online multiplayer, supporting up to eight racers simultaneously. Racing against others adds a brilliant competitive edge that I never knew I needed. The co-op exploration mode, which grants six manually placed checkpoints to your team, provides a more relaxed social experience that’s perfect for unwinding after those intense races.

Visually Stunning Simplicity

Visually, Snow Riders maintains the series’ distinct low-poly aesthetic. The snow effects are particularly impressive – your skis leave realistic tracks that persist after each attempt, helping you fine-tune your route down the mountain. The audio design deserves special mention too; there’s no pumping soundtrack, just the satisfying crunch of snow, the whistle of wind, and the occasional wince-inducing thud when things go wrong.

Just One More Go

Snow Riders isn’t flawless – the fixed camera occasionally hides obstacles until it’s too late, and some physics oddities can send you flying for seemingly no reason. But these minor niggles do little to diminish what is otherwise a superb winter sports game.

Whether you’re tackling the challenging campaign, setting personal bests in zen mode, or racing friends online, Snow Riders offers that rare “just one more go” quality that will keep you on the slopes until the early hours. It’s the kind of game you’ll dip into for years to come, and a worthy addition to any snow sports enthusiast’s digital collection.