During the late '90s and into the 2000s, snowboarding games was a popular subgenre. Sadly, upon the launch of 7th generation consoles, the genre fizzled out and hasn't seen too much attention since. However, with the 2022 Winter Olympics and the upcoming release of the high-profile Xbox-exclusive, Shredders, snowboarding games have recently started getting rediscovered.
Helping this trend is also the rise in retro gaming and the ability to download older games, from places like Steam and the Microsoft Store. It seems as though the snowboarding genre might be heading for a much-deserved renaissance. But for those who are just discovering the genre, they might want to try out some of the best games in the genre first.
Dark Summit - 71
Possibly one of the best-forgotten games in the sporting franchise, 2001's Dark Summit was an ambitious and interesting concept. It wanted to combine a snowboarding game with elements from action and adventure ones (which is why this appealed to a lot of fans). In Dark Summit, a popular ski resort mysteriously becomes off-limits when a new ranger takes charge. A group of rebellious snowboarders then set out to see what's up.
Along the way, players must make their way down the mountain doing tricks, racing against the clock, and sometimes even trying to escape the ski patrol. The concept was interesting, but Dark Dummit ultimately played out too much like a standard snowboarding game (which kept it from becoming as awesome as it could have been).
Steep - 72
Released in 2016, Steep is one of the most recent and new snowboarding game IPs. Like Dark Summit, it tried to take the genre and switch it up. This time, Ubisoft wanted to make a game that blended the snowboarding genre with an open-world adventure. Players could ski, snowboard, paraglide, and even wingsuit down various mountain slopes.
While the game was praised for being visually stunning and, at times, lots of fun, it was also noted for being barren and empty. Without a plot or epic soundtrack, the large open world felt desolate. For some, this might be fun because it's realistic of backcountry skiing but for a video game, it just felt incomplete.
Cool Boarders 2001 - 78
Cool Boarders was one of the original snowboarding franchises from the '90s. Releasing visually impressive games on the powerful PlayStation console, Cool Boarders helped make the genre popular.
In 2001, the series launched Cool Boarders 2001 on the next-gen PlayStation 2 console, allowing for better graphics. Despite being an improvement for the Cool Boarders franchise, another snowboarding series, SSX, had just launched and changed the genre forever. Compared to the newly released SSX game, Cool Boarders 2001 ultimately felt old and tired.
Shaun White Snowboarding: Road Trip - 78
One of the most innovative and unique snowboarding games ever was Shaun White Snowboarding: Road Trip. Released for the Nintendo Wii, the game utilized the console's Wii Fit balance board to control the snowboard.
It was a new experience that, until the Wii, seemed like something that could only happen in an arcade. Adding to the game's appeal were Nintendo's signature design touches, like bright colors, an upbeat atmosphere, and friendly character designs.
Amped 2 - 80
The release of SSX in 2000 ignited a new wave of snowboarding games, most notably the Amped series. The original game was met with positive reviews, but it was the sequel, Amped 2, that really put the franchise on the map.
The game was praised for its crisp graphics, excellent controls, and punk rock soundtrack that featured music by alt bands like Bagman, Fury 66, Silverstein, and more.
SSX On Tour - 81
Taking inspiration from the gritty, punk-centric snowboarding and skateboarding games that were popular, SSX took a unique turn with its fourth entry, On Tour. Whereas the rest of the series was loud, bold, and bright, On Tour saught to be more like the snowboarding version of Tony Hawk Pro Skater, gearing more towards a grungy, alternative vibe.
Most notable was the game's soundtrack that featured tons of hit songs, like 'Here It Goes Again' by OK Go, 'Run to the Hills' by Iron Maiden, 'Let it Go' by Def Leopard, and more.
SSX (2012) - 82
12 years after the release of the original SSX game, the franchise rebooted itself for a new generation of consoles. Released just one year before the launch of the Xbox One and PS4, the new SSX wasn't just a snowboarding game, it was something entirely unique.
The game had a proper storyline and came complete with cut scenes and voice acting. It also introduced new features like a wingsuit and showcased vastly superior graphics to the prior games that had all been released during the previous decade.
Alto's Adventure - 92
While not a typical snowboarding game, Alto's Adventure was a sidescrolling endless-runner released for mobile devices that received rave reviews upon its release. In the game, players operate Alto, who speeds through levels that have a gorgeously minimalistic and wintery style.
By tapping the screen, players make Alto jump, do tricks, and collect stars. The game was hailed for its amazing level design and easy pick-up-put-down playability. In 2018 the game received an equally hailed sequel, Alto's Odyssey.
SSX 3 - 92
Much like the original, SSX 3 was universally praised by critics. It built upon the previous games and was noted for its great tracks, unique characters, and challenging obstacles. However, the game also switched up the status quo by adding a game map. Unlike previous SSX titles that featured various, unrelated courses, SSX 3 took place on one mountain, having various levels that all connected to each other.
In fact, it was an early example of an open-world game, allowing players to freely explore the different tracks as they pleased. It was even possible to ski from the very top of the mountain all the way to the bottom while in freeride mode. This level of freedom wasn't something commonly seen in sports games in 2003, making SSX 3 a unique hit.
SSX - 93
The game that really changed everything for the snowboarding genre was 2000's SSX. Though other snowboarding games had come before it, SSX changed up the format, turning a somewhat dull genre into something loud, bold, bright, and full of life.
With funky music playing, an announcer speaking over the stereo, and a unique style, SSX felt new, different, and fresh. It was the Tony Hawk Pro Skater for the snowboarding genre and remains so popular that to this very day, fans still want an SSX reboot.