Toppluva | Free [$8/£8 full game unlock]
- Ski or snowboard freely across four mountains
- Beautiful snow modelling
- Simple but nuanced controls
It’s been six years since the original Grand Mountain Adventure brought its oddly serene brand of winter sports to mobile. This sequel hasn’t changed the formula up all that much, but it arguably didn’t need to.
There’s still nothing else on the App Store that plays quite like Grand Mountain Adventure, nor that looks as handsome. If Grand Mountain Adventure 2 doesn’t exactly double down on those attributes, it certainly enhances them.
Snow looks and feels real here
The key, as before, is developer Toppluva’s deep understanding of snow – both how it looks and its beguiling material properties. There’s a tangible sense here of your little skiier carving their way through the white powder, as you slip and slide from point to point dash to stunt run to long jump challenge in semi-open-world fashion.
It’s possible to choose between skiing and snowboarding from the off, and there’s a pleasing distinctiveness to the two handling models. It’s also possible to unlock different sets of equipment, each with their own subtly distinct way of moving.
Taking a trip on a new lift is like a mini-reward
For example, one type of ski opens up the ability to ski backwards, which helps a lot when you’re trying to squeeze in another half-spin without wiping out.
There are even special events such as paragliding and ziplining, should you wish to try out something a little different.
It’s easy to be distracted along the way
Each course on each of the four provided mountains (the first being free to access) is criss-crossed by ski lifts, which are discovered and unlocked as you progress through the challenges. These grant a scenic view of the current mountain when ridden, while tapping on the lift from the map menu serves as a handy quick-travel option, teleporting you instantly to the top of the run.
All this is negotiated with an intuitive set of touch controls. It’s amazing what can be extracted from straightforward left and right inputs, with various taps and swipes controlling speed, direction, spins and flips.
It’s possible to capture major air
As hinted at the outset, the presentation really is top notch, and there’s a lovely soundtrack that alternates between sparse piano arrangements and jaunty motivational numbers.
It’s all typical of a game that demonstrates a cool sense of taste and refinement at every turn.