STEEP

About

Steep is an extreme sports game set in a vast open world of the Alps and Alaska, where you can master 8 sports, perform tricks, and compete in the X Games. The X Games Gold Edition includes the base game, Season Pass year 1, and the X Games Pass. The game features a variety of extra content, customization possibilities, and a free Alaska update with new challenges.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

84%

Audience ScoreBased on 10,997 reviews

graphics657 positive mentions

stability136 negative mentions

graphics
889 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
74%
25%
1%
The graphics in "Steep" are widely praised for their stunning realism and immersive detail, particularly in the depiction of snow-covered landscapes and dynamic weather effects. Many players note that the visuals hold up impressively well even years after the game's release, with some describing them as "photorealistic" and "breathtaking." However, there are occasional criticisms regarding optimization issues, particularly for lower-end systems, which can affect performance despite the high-quality graphics.
- “The graphics are stunning, especially the lighting on distant mountains.”
- “The game's graphics are visually impressive, with meticulous attention to detail in every snow-capped peak and serene valley.”
- “The graphics are absolutely beautiful, the handling is soft and when you play it you get that winter vibe.”
- “The graphics were pretty underwhelming for a game that was supposed to feature amazing scenery.”
- “I am sad to write a bad review for this game but it is so poorly optimized that I had to refund it for getting to play a PowerPoint slideshow... not a fluid game even with low and medium graphics.”
- “Graphics would be bad for even a last gen 360 game, and I'm playing at 1440p max settings.”
gameplay
664 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
55%
9%
The gameplay of the game is a mixed bag, with many players praising its beautiful graphics and immersive environments, while others criticize the mechanics as clunky and repetitive. The controls can be intuitive yet require practice to master, and while the game offers a variety of sports and activities, some feel that the gameplay lacks depth and can become dull after extended play. Overall, it provides a relaxing experience for casual players, but may frustrate those seeking a more challenging and engaging gameplay loop.
- “Fast-paced and creative for open world gameplay.”
- “Each mode brings its own thrill, and switching between them is smooth and easy, adding a ton of freedom to the gameplay.”
- “The gameplay is smooth, and you can play it stress-free, if you don't care about leaderboards, being better than your friends, or getting gold medals.”
- “Sadly the game doesn't have achievements and eventually the gameplay can get repetitive and dull.”
- “The controls can be frustratingly imprecise, leading to a clunky and sometimes aggravating gameplay experience.”
- “The core game mechanics are weak and don't live up to other sports-based titles; the lack of progression makes the game feel pointless and the overall experience is subpar.”
story
455 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
73%
11%
The game's story is largely considered minimal or non-existent, with many players noting that it lacks a cohesive narrative and primarily focuses on gameplay and missions. While there are some "mountain stories" and challenges that attempt to provide context, they often feel disconnected and repetitive, leading to a sense of emptiness in the overall experience. Players generally agree that the game excels in its open-world exploration and gameplay mechanics, but those seeking a rich story will likely be disappointed.
- “This game is incredibly nuanced, with an extraordinarily deep, intelligent, yet still challenging story that will play with your emotions at every turn.”
- “The mountain stories also give you a bit of background and allow you to test your skills at your own pace, whether that is trying out new tricks or taking a much slower approach, listening to the story and taking in the view.”
- “Unlike other snowboarding or skiing games, this game actually has a storyline to it.”
- “I would say if you get it for less than 10€ you can get it but otherwise stay away from it; it's a sandbox-like game with no real story or anything valuable besides pure gameplay which you've seen after doing everything once.”
- “The story, if you can even call it that, is lacking a lot, and not the main focus of the game.”
- “The whole map feels like randomly generated mountainous areas that have terrible spawn locations, poorly crafted 'story' missions that suck the fun right out of the experience.”
music
423 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
49%
6%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many players appreciating the relaxing and atmospheric qualities of the soundtrack, which complements the beautiful visuals and gameplay. However, several users criticize the limited selection and repetitiveness of the tracks, suggesting that the in-game music can be subpar or distracting. Many players recommend turning off the game's music and playing their own playlists for a more enjoyable experience while exploring the snowy landscapes.
- “The audio design complements the gameplay effectively, featuring a dynamic soundtrack that adapts to the action.”
- “The atmosphere, invoked through the play of light and shadow on the snowy mountain slopes, in combination with the great nature sounds or the cool soundtrack is outstanding.”
- “This is the best game to play when you just want to listen to music and relax.”
- “Has the same three songs on repeat.”
- “The music for the most part is completely terrible and often a blend of hip hop and that cringe type music style you often hear in E3 game trailers.”
- “The music is just terrible.”
stability
147 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
1%
93%
The game's stability is frequently criticized, with many users reporting a plethora of bugs and glitches that disrupt gameplay, including controller issues, frame rate drops, and map-related problems. While some players find the glitches amusing or minor, others describe them as frustrating and game-breaking, leading to a mixed reception regarding overall stability. Despite these issues, some players still enjoy the game, suggesting that it can be fun if one can overlook the technical shortcomings.
- “Game runs great, 980ti and 5830k at 4k 40-50 fps.”
- “I recently came back to it on my new computer with 64gb ram and gtx1080ti and it runs great.”
- “Looks and runs great.”
- “The game also suffers from various bugs and glitches that disrupt the flow of play.”
- “I am incredibly disappointed in this game as when it's working correctly it's fun but I can't recommend it as the bugs, visual glitches, and poor controls ruin the experience.”
- “It's built for scale and spectacle, but digging deeper to actually play the game can feel like you're on a team of beta testers, sharing challenges you pulled out of your ass and turning a blind eye to the glaring glitches and rough edges.”
optimization
106 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
40%
19%
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players praising its performance and smooth gameplay on various systems, particularly on consoles and high-end PCs. However, many users report significant issues, including poor controller support, frequent stuttering, frame rate drops, and a lack of optimization for lower-end machines, especially those with AMD graphics cards. Overall, while some find it well-optimized, a substantial number of players consider it poorly optimized, particularly for PC.
- “The game’s performance is well-optimized, ensuring a seamless experience even in chaotic moments.”
- “Performance: steep™ runs smoothly on most systems, with stable frame rates and minimal issues.”
- “Great graphics and optimization, plays well.”
- “Horribly optimized, controllers run like garbage and constantly disconnect (affects more than just myself), Ubisoft's ever-present DRM slows down your experience, horrible PC port (as you'd expect from any Ubisoft title on PC).”
- “I am sad to write a bad review for this game but it is so poorly optimized that I had to refund it for getting to play a PowerPoint slideshow... not a fluid game even with low and medium graphics.”
- “The game is poorly optimized and unless you have a very good computer, you're running low settings for decent frame rates.”
grinding
102 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
5%
34%
61%
The reviews indicate that grinding in the game is a significant and often tedious aspect, with many players feeling it requires excessive time and effort to achieve goals. While some appreciate the exploration and challenge it offers, others find the grinding mechanics frustrating and poorly balanced, leading to a repetitive experience. Overall, the lack of engaging grinding options, particularly in a sports game context, has disappointed many players.
- “Only a handful (if even) of tricks, no grinding (how do you have no grinding in a mainly snowboarding game -_-).”
- “Really no grinding tricks in this open world freestyle game??”
- “It's actually a pretty great game with a nice environment that they talk about in the game, the only thing I wished they had or will put in later is snowball fight and grinding on objects; that would be nice.”
- “Ok, the game is alright, but who designs the challenges? Why do I have to do the most tedious tasks to pull together over three times the gold medal score to get a petty amount of credits? These challenges feel like they are only made for the best of the best.”
- “The learning curve was just too short, so once you got all the mechanics down, the game becomes a grindy slog because the foundations of the game are just not fun.”
- “In the higher tier challenges, where you have to be borderline flawless, it becomes increasingly infuriating getting sabotaged, leading to long, tedious grindfests that kill my enjoyment of the game.”
monetization
98 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
4%
55%
41%
The monetization aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players criticizing the prevalence of microtransactions and in-game advertisements for DLC, which detracts from the overall experience. While some users appreciate that the base game can be enjoyed without constant prompts to purchase additional content, others feel that the aggressive marketing and additional costs create a cash grab atmosphere. Overall, the game is seen as having a significant amount of monetization that can be intrusive, despite some players finding the core gameplay enjoyable.
- “The monetization was pretty fair; it doesn't constantly bother you to buy cosmetics or anything, it doesn't have a battle pass or any live service elements, and there's very little handholding with tutorials like most modern Ubisoft games.”
- “The game also has very minimal monetization.”
- “There are microtransactions in the game for steep credits, but they are pretty much optional because credits are super easy to come by.”
- “Half the game is just ads for the DLC.”
- “This game is actually a landmark title in monetization; they've gone beyond the now standard 'triple dip method' ($$$ for the base game, $$$ for DLC, and $$$ for microtransactions). They've broken new ground and introduced the 'quintuple dip give us money method', not only do you pay for the base game, and the microtransactions and the DLC, but there's a season pass that doesn't give you all the DLC that costs $30, and they released an expansion DLC which also is not included in the season pass to get even more of your money.”
- “The in-game purchases and microtransactions really kill it for me.”
humor
75 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is widely praised for its lighthearted and often absurd moments, particularly through ragdoll physics and comical crashes that elicit laughter. Players enjoy the blend of funny animations, quirky character costumes, and the unpredictable nature of gameplay, which leads to hilarious outcomes. Overall, the game successfully combines snow sports with a playful sense of humor, making it a fun experience for friends and solo players alike.
- “If all else fails, the ragdoll physics are a joy to behold, making even the biggest fails more hilarious.”
- “It's funny and relaxing, especially when you miscalculate your landing and watch your character ragdoll down the mountainside.”
- “The missions in Steep are mostly funny, with plenty of opportunities for hilarious moments and customization.”
atmosphere
66 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
80%
15%
5%
The atmosphere in the game is widely praised for its immersive qualities, featuring realistic sound effects, stunning graphics, and a well-crafted soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. Players appreciate the detailed environmental design, which evokes a serene and authentic alpine setting, making it a relaxing yet thrilling experience. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered one of its standout features, contributing significantly to its enjoyment and appeal.
- “The detailed snow textures, realistic lighting effects, and immersive environmental sounds create an authentic alpine atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere, invoked through the play of light and shadow on the snowy mountain slopes, in combination with the great nature sounds or the cool soundtrack, is outstanding.”
- “The atmosphere of the game is really beautiful, as if the music itself determines your style of play, energetic or relaxed, complementing the experience.”
- “Don't let the atmosphere screenshots fool you, they aren't that remarkable even on the highest settings.”
- “And - maybe it's a small thing - but there doesn't seem to be a water engine in this game at all: no running streams or waterfalls to add to the alpine atmosphere.”
- “It uses some of the same sounds as Assassin's Creed and Far Cry sometimes, which really breaks the atmosphere.”
replayability
42 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
62%
14%
Overall, the game exhibits a mixed reception regarding replayability. Many players appreciate the open-world design, community challenges, and competitive features that enhance replay value, while others criticize the lack of substantial content and the inability to reset progress, leading to diminished replayability after initial playthroughs. Despite these concerns, several users highlight the game's fun factor and suggest that it remains engaging, especially during sales or with potential expansions.
- “Experience the thrill of endless replayability as you tackle a wide variety of challenges, compete with friends, and create your own epic stunts.”
- “Open-world mountain leads to tons of replayability.”
- “Just buy it, no regrets, excellent replayability.”
- “Because there's literally no replayability in the most basic sense, I can't recommend this game.”
- “Past 40-50 hours, this game has pretty much no replay value whatsoever!”
- “I am sad to report very low replayability, a bland and basic world and a vision which never pays off.”
emotional
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a deep emotional connection to the game, describing it as both heartbreaking and exhilarating. The combination of challenging gameplay and the freedom of exploration evokes feelings of frustration and triumph, making them feel like legends while navigating the highs and lows of their experiences. Overall, the game elicits a strong emotional response, compelling players to keep coming back despite the challenges.
- “This game has never made me feel this way before.”
- “I have so many things to say about this game, but I just can't get them out of myself because I just can't stop playing :) I will just put a few points that are touching me right now in my mind.”
- “The whole experience made me feel more frustrated trying to get my character to do what I want, and land a regular jump, rather than feeling awesome pulling off sweet tricks.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Reviews indicate that the character development is lacking, with criticisms aimed at both the character design and voice work, which are described as unappealing and poorly executed.
- “The character development feels shallow and uninspired, making it hard to connect with anyone in the game.”
- “I was disappointed by how predictable the character arcs were; there was no real growth or change.”
- “The lack of meaningful choices in character development left me feeling like my decisions didn't matter.”