LONELY MOUNTAINS: SNOW RIDERS REVIEW: WHEN SKIING MEETS ZEN AND CHAOS
Ever wondered what would happen if someone made a skiing game that's both as chill as a mountain breeze and as intense as an avalanche? Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders answers that question with a perfect blend of tranquil exploration and white-knuckle descents that'll have you saying "just one more run" until sunrise.
CARVING THROUGH PERFECTION
The snow physics in this game are a straight-up masterpiece. Every carve through fresh powder leaves satisfying trails behind you, and the sound design makes you feel like you're actually there - from the soft crunch of fresh snow to the terrifying scrape of skis on ice. It's so good you'll catch yourself leaning forward in your chair as you take corners.
MULTIPLAYER MAYHEM
The new multiplayer mode turns this zen experience into beautiful chaos. Racing against seven other players feels like trying to navigate a snowball fight while doing ballet - utterly chaotic but somehow graceful. The co-op mode, where you share checkpoints and work together, manages to be both stressful and weirdly wholesome, like teaching your grandma how to use a smartphone.
TRICKS AND TREATS
The trick system adds another layer of style to your runs. Pull off backflips, frontflips, and grabs while hunting for shortcuts - it's like Tony Hawk decided to ditch the skateboard for some winter sports. Each successful landing feels earned, and each crash reminds you that maybe showing off wasn't the best idea.
THE TECHNICAL SLOPES
Performance-wise, the game runs smoother than a freshly waxed ski, though Steam Deck users might notice some frame drops steeper than the slopes themselves. The camera can occasionally be as uncooperative as a cat at bath time, especially when you're trying to spot upcoming obstacles.
THE CONTENT QUESTION
With three mountains and four trails per peak, you might think the content feels light. But each trail comes with both regular and black diamond variants, plus the sheer replayability of hunting better times and finding new shortcuts makes each run feel fresh. That said, a few extra mountains wouldn't hurt.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders nails the perfect balance between peaceful exploration and intense competition. Whether you're a speed demon hunting leaderboard times or just want to vibe down a mountain leaving pretty trails in the snow, this game delivers. The addition of multiplayer transforms an already excellent formula into something special.
Score: 8.5/10 - Like meditation and extreme sports had a baby that turned out surprisingly well-adjusted.
We at NLM received a key for this game for free, this however didn't impact our review in any way.