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Status:
Complete and Play Tested
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Developer: Ubisoft Annecy
Publisher: Ubisoft
Genre: Sports / Extreme Sports
Release: 2016
Steep is an ambitious open-world winter sports game that brings skiing, snowboarding, wingsuit flying, and paragliding into one mountain playground. On PS4, it delivers a unique sense of freedom and exhilarating speed, but its lack of structure, inconsistent mechanics, and repetition prevent it from reaching the top of the mountain.
Steep focuses on freedom, exploration, and skill-based traversal, letting players switch seamlessly between four disciplines:
Skiing
Snowboarding
Wingsuit flying
Paragliding
The core gameplay shines when you're carving down slopes or flying at high speeds the sense of speed and risk is excellent, often making you feel on the edge of losing control ().
Controls are generally smooth and responsive, especially for skiing and snowboarding. Wingsuit sections are thrilling and require precision, while paragliding is slower and less engaging.
However:
Some mechanics are poorly explained, forcing trial-and-error learning ()
Trick systems can feel inconsistent and difficult to master
Gameplay can become repetitive over time
The game takes place in a massive open-world recreation of the Alps, featuring iconic mountains like Mont Blanc. The world is packed with:
Over 100 challenges and events
Hidden drop zones and fast travel points
Dynamic weather and time-of-day changes
Exploration is one of Steeps biggest strengths. You can freely roam, discover challenges, or simply ride down mountains at your own pace. The game is at its best when it lets you set your own path instead of following strict objectives ().
That said:
Many activities feel similar after a while
The open-world structure can lack direction or motivation
Steep has no traditional narrative, instead focusing on:
Personal progression
Exploration and freedom
Social competition
The absence of a story reinforces the sandbox design, but players looking for narrative depth may find the experience lacking.
On PS4, Steep is visually impressive:
Beautiful snowy landscapes and mountain vistas
Dynamic weather effects (fog, snow, sunlight)
Smooth transitions across the open world
The game creates a strong sense of place, with mountains that feel natural and immersive. ()
Audio design is subtle but effective:
Wind, snow, and environmental sounds enhance immersion
Music takes a backseat to atmosphere
The minimalistic approach works well, especially during high-speed descents where environmental audio takes over.
Steep offers:
Numerous challenges across all sports
Online integration with other players in the world
Leaderboards and score-based competitions
Replay value comes from:
Improving performance in challenges
Exploring new routes
Competing with others
However, multiplayer feels more passive than competitive, and many players end up treating it as a mostly solo experience ().
Excellent sense of speed and freedom
Beautiful open-world mountain environments
Multiple sports with varied gameplay styles
Strong exploration and sandbox design
Smooth controls for core activities
Poorly explained mechanics and systems
Repetitive challenges and progression
Paragliding and some activities feel underdeveloped
Lack of direction or narrative
Multiplayer feels underwhelming
Steep on PS4 is a refreshing and visually stunning extreme sports experience that thrives on freedom and exploration, but is held back by repetition and a lack of structure.
When everything clicks, it delivers exhilarating moments of speed and flow but inconsistent systems and limited long-term depth keep it from becoming a true classic.
Score: 7.5 / 10
