over the hill Steam Demo Review
Verdict: Play
over the hill is a gorgeous off-road drive that won me over with winch rescues and snowy trail runs, though I want more
Over the Hill opens by telling you it is not about the destination, it is about the journey. That worried me.
I like nice scenery, but I still need something to do while I am driving through it. After about one hundred minutes solo, my verdict is Play, with the caveat that I want more active objectives in the full game.
over the hill is a Play, but I want more active objectives. The scenery, driving, winch rescue, and snowy trail run sold me on the demo, while the crate discoveries and unclear reset flow held it back a bit. Try it if you want a chilled off-road game with enough task pressure to keep the journey moving.
Pros
- Beautiful scenery and a strong chilled off-road mood
- Winch rescue objective was the best part of the demo for me
- Trail runs add challenge without needing timers
- Vehicle cosmetics, accessories, and upgrades give enthusiasts something to dig into
- Solo play worked fine, with co-op looking like a natural fit for winch chaos
Cons
- Crate points of interest feel flat compared with active objectives
- River-stranding/reset flow needs a clearer prompt
- Collision damage can feel inconsistent
- I want more rescue and trail-style objectives to really sell the loop
Objectives and the map
The pitch is golden age off-roading: old 4x4s from the sixties to eighties, challenging trails, and beautiful landscapes. The first relief was opening the map and seeing objective points. As a driving game, Over the Hill would not work for me if it was only about wandering around and admiring trees.
Some points are light. You drive to a crate, it opens, and you unlock cosmetics to buy from the merchant running a shop out of a camper van. Those were a bit flat for me. The route can still be fun because you are finding a line, using the winch, and trying not to wedge yourself in mud, but the reward is not much of a moment.
Winches, trails, and tension
The active objectives are where it clicked. My favourite mission was rescuing another 4x4 stuck in a puddle. You hook your winch to it, drag it out, then take it to a point. I missed the signposting and assumed I should take it back to the last cabin. The return point was nearby, but the rescue itself was exactly the kind of job I wanted more of.
Trail runs worked for the same reason. They are not timed, but you still have to drive between points through rougher terrain. I failed one, restarted, then it started snowing and made the second attempt harder. That is where the Adventure side lands for me: still calm, still scenic, but I was paying attention.
Vehicles and visuals
The fire tower viewpoint is where the game looks best. The minimal Funselektor style, autumn forests, snowy edges, valleys, and sunset colours make it easy to stop for screenshots. I cleared a decent chunk of the map, did not find any meteorites, then found a ship and got the demo-complete message.
There is more vehicle depth than I can properly appreciate. I found a new vehicle halfway through and switched to it. You can customise paint, cosmetics, and random accessories, then upgrade engine, suspension, and tyres. I put in a better engine, went much faster, and started crashing constantly. Vehicle enthusiasts will probably get more from that side than I did.
The store lists co-op, and I played solo, so I cannot review that side properly. I can see the appeal though. Dragging friends out of puddles with winches sounds like the kind of mess this game is built for.
Where it needs help
The Simulation side is forgiving in odd places. I bumped a tree and lost health, then bounced around rocks and survived more than expected. I also drove off a cliff near the fire tower to see what happened, took a lot of damage, and still made it down.
The bigger issue was clarity. I tried to jump a river, landed in the middle, broke my engine, and could not winch myself out. I just sat there. The answer was fast travelling back to one of the cabins, but I had to go to Discord to find that out. A pop-up there would help.
Developer: Funselektor Labs Inc., Strelka Games
View on Steam
Watch the video review: YouTube
Tags: Driving, Adventure, Simulation, Co-op, Indie, Multiplayer, Racing, Sports, Relaxing, Exploration, Casual
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