Funselektor, the studio behind the stylish <em>Art of Rally</em>, has released <em>Over the Hill</em>, an indie offroad driving game that emphasizes a clean, relaxing, and meditative exploration experience. Similar to Don't Nod's climbing game <em>Jusant</em>, <em>Over the Hill</em> presents a smoothed, streamlined vision of an outdoorsy pastime, focusing on taking it easy, reading the environment, and being present in the moment.
A Minimalist Driving Experience
The game features a beautiful art style that favors chunky, tactile modeling in pastel colors and rich sunset hues, foregoing excessive detail for a cohesive aesthetic. <em>Over the Hill</em> offers a more minimalist experience than <em>Jusant</em>, lacking any narrative elements and presenting players with a series of large, explorable maps rather than a linear, crafted journey. It supports four-player co-op, which is suggested as a fun social activity, but the solo experience is described as gloriously quiet and soothing.
Players pilot unlicensed, toylike models of iconic late 20th-century vehicles, such as faux Land Rover Defenders, Toyota Land Cruisers, and Ford Broncos, across difficult terrain. The controls are simple, featuring high and low gears, headlamps, a handbrake, and a winch for recovery. Exploration is a core loop, with players discovering cabins that act as fast-travel points and places to advance time, allowing them to experience the game's day/night cycle and dynamic weather.
Discovery and Progression
Scattered throughout the maps are crates that reward players with cosmetic customizations for their vehicles, such as mudflaps and roof racks laden with gear. Players might also find abandoned vehicles that need to be towed to a cabin or challenging trails. Discoveries grant currency used to upgrade vehicles with improved engines, tires, and waterlogging protection. Crucially, players can also unlock inventory slots for essential items like jacks, planks, portable winch points, and weather-clearing bells, which become vital when the driving becomes more difficult.
While the game aims for relaxation, <em>Over the Hill</em> does present challenges, particularly on its dedicated challenge trails which involve navigating treacherous swamps, rock-crawling mountain passes, or precarious cliffside routes. Success relies on careful observation of the terrain and deliberate, slow driving.
Environmental Puzzles
Beyond the immediate driving challenges, <em>Over the Hill</em> presents a larger meta-puzzle: solving its environments. This is particularly evident on maps like the desert, where points of interest are located on high mesas requiring intricate three-dimensional mental mapping and driving skill to reach. To break up the exploration, players can equip a meteorite radar, which guides them toward valuable space rocks with only a compass direction, offering a refreshing way to re-engage with familiar maps. Additionally, players can photograph local wildlife to fill out a compendium.
The game's minimalism is highlighted as its greatest strength, offering a refreshing absence of feature creep and noise. It provides a head-clearing space free from time limits or competition, making it a perfect "cozy" game. Players can watch their vehicle traverse lush wilderness as the sun sets, accompanied by ambient guitar music, fostering a sense of patient immersion.
<em>Over the Hill</em> is available on Windows PC, with console versions planned for 2027. The game was reviewed using a prerelease download code provided by Funselektor.