Carve down an endless snowy slope, dodging trees and rocks and launching off ramps to go as far as you can.
Downhill Ski drops you at the top of a hill that has no bottom, seen from above. You guide the skier with the mouse, and the goal is simple: travel as far as possible before you slam into something. Pine trees and gray rocks are scattered all over the snow, and they only get harder to avoid as you speed up.
Your best distance is saved, so every run is a chance to beat it.
How you steer
Move the pointer below the skier and they turn to face it. The skier can only face somewhere downhill, never back up the slope. Light grid lines in the snow give you a sense of your speed.
Speed is all about direction. Facing straight down the hill makes you faster and faster. Turning across the slope bleeds speed off quickly, so a wide turn is also your brake. Keeping the pointer well ahead of the skier gives smoother turns than small moves close to them.
What is on the slope
The hill is filled in as you go. About half of the obstacles are trees and about a quarter are rocks, and touching either one ends the run. The good news is that their hitboxes are smaller than the drawings, so close calls often work out.
Not everything is a hazard. Small snow bumps give a little hop. Rare rainbow-striped ramps fling you into a long jump that carries you over whatever lies below. You can also jump whenever you like with a left click. Once in the air, though, you cannot steer, so the skier holds the speed and direction from the moment of take-off.
The panel in the top left shows your distance in meters, your speed and the time so far.
Strategy notes
- Slow down before a crowded patch by angling across the hill, then point down again once you spot a gap.
- Take off a bit early. A jump always lasts the same amount of time, so jumping late often lands you in the tree.
- Line up before a ramp. Whatever direction you have at take-off is the one you keep.
- Head for ramps when you see them, since they skip a whole section of trouble.
- Check both edges of the screen. Obstacles come from either side, and at high speed you have little time to react.
Who it suits
Downhill Ski is a good pick for a quick break. A single run can be over in seconds or stretch on for a long time, and the controls make sense right away.
Controls
| Action | Keyboard | Mouse | Touch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steer | — | Move the pointer; the skier turns to face it | Hold and drag a finger |
| Jump | — | Left click | Tap |
| Retry after a crash | Space, Enter or R | — | — |
| Pause or restart | Esc | Menu button in the top corner | Menu button in the top corner |
Downhill Ski FAQ
Does Downhill Ski work on a phone?
Partly. The skier follows your finger as you drag, but every fresh tap makes the skier jump, and after a crash you use the menu button to retry. It is playable on a phone, just less precise than with a mouse on a laptop or Chromebook.
Can I use a gamepad?
The game lists a gamepad among its supported inputs alongside mouse, keyboard and touch. The mouse is the most direct option, though, because the skier turns to face the pointer wherever it goes.
Is my best run saved?
Yes. Your longest distance is kept as your best, so you always have a number to chase. After each crash a summary shows how far you went and how long the run lasted.
How do I restart after a crash?
Press Space, Enter or R to start a new run. On a touch screen, use the menu button in the top corner. Esc pauses the game or lets you restart at any point.
