Alto's Odyssey

Alto's Odyssey transfers the proven principle of endless descent from the first game's snowy hills to desert sand dunes, where the player again jumps with one finger, performs tricks, and heads onward, this time through canyons, ancient ruins, and a sandstorm that can speed up or slow down the descent at any moment. New elements such as bounce sails on hot-air balloons, mysterious underground caves, or riding across a water surface expand the repertoire of tricks without abandoning the simplicity of one-finger control that made the first game famous around the world.

Snowman released the game in 2018, three years after the first title, as its direct sequel, clearly wanting to show that the same minimalist concept can also carry a more striking setting and more game elements without losing the calm and flow that made the original such a success. Visually, Odyssey goes even further with the colors of dusk and dawn over the dunes, adding more pronounced transitions between the desert's biomes from canyons to underground caves, while the music remains just as ambient and unobtrusive as before, only underscoring the atmosphere of the long desert descent.

Reception from critics and players alike was similarly warm as for the first game, with reviews praising above all that the sequel didn't try to change what worked, only enriched it with a new setting and a few clever mechanics without unnecessary padding and without requiring the player to learn anything new.

Why play it: For fans of the first game who want an equally calm and visually lavish ride, this time set in a desert scenery with a few new tricks added.