- Primary Subject: Over the Hill (Steam Next Fest Demo / PC Version)
- Key Update: Funselektor Labs Inc. and Strelka Games released their highly anticipated off-road exploration demo, capturing massive community praise for its sandbox design in Emerald Lake.
- Status: Confirmed
- Last Verified: June 15, 2026
- Quick Answer: The Over the Hill demo is an exploration-focused driving game that trades traditional racing speeds for methodical vehicle customization, co-op winching, and wildlife photography.
Over the hill is one of the most anticipated racing games of 2026, and it has been on my wishlist for quite some time.
So, when I got the chance to try out the Over the hill Demo earlier, I was ecstatic.
I have high expectations for this game. One of the main reasons for that is the involvement of Funselektor Labs Inc, the creators of art of rally, a game I hold in high regard.
Without further ado, let's dive into the review of over the hill demo, a game developed by Funselektor Labs Inc. and Strelka Games.
Reviewed on PC.
An Exploration Masterpiece
Different from your traditional racing games, over the hill is an exploration game first, allowing you to explore the map as you see fit.
The demo takes place in the beautiful Emerald Lake, a Canadian Alpine region. Whether you decide to make your way to the closest point of interest, explore the forest and beautiful lakes, or search for animals to photograph, it's up to you.
You can get into the game and just drive around to destress, while you appreciate the fantastic art style and the vibrant colors that make the landscapes feel alive.
Exploration is rewarded by finding upgrades for your vehicles, completing your photography collection, and finding some truly astonishing places.
There are locations on the map that are harder to access, and you will have to carefully choose your routes to be able to access them, or ask your friends to pull you using the winch; that also seems to do the trick.
You always feel incentivized to continue to explore, as when you discover something, such as a new location, there is always something else that will catch your attention.
With the map being quite big, there is always a new place to find, a new bird to photograph, and upgrades waiting to be found.
Making the players feel a genuine will to explore for hours on end was perhaps the biggest challenge of over the hill, and it was one they passed with flying colors.
There are many customization options, with mechanical upgrades really changing how the car feels and behaves. Upgrading your car will make exploration feel even better, and also makes certain routes more accessible.
I also want to highlight the tutorial mode, as it does a great job of introducing the controls and other mechanics of the game. It does so in an easy-to-understand way, making the already intuitive controls even easier to grasp.
You don't need to be a racing games veteran to play over the hill; it can be your first game of the genre, and you will still have a fantastic time.
Performance-wise, the game runs smoothly. I never faced any problems while playing the demo, which is also a big positive for the title.
Over the hill more than exceeded my expectations, and I'm now more excited than before to get my hands on the full release.
The game has the chance to redefine the racing games exploration genre, and from what I experienced in the demo, I think it might actually do it.
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