Over the Hill Drives Onto Steam October 15
The game's strong demo performance and wishlist count suggest it is a major indie release for the season, and its console ports arriving a year later indicate a staggered rollout that could extend its reach.
Key Facts
- 'over the hill' releases on Steam on October 15, 2026.
- Console versions for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2 are scheduled for 2027.
- The demo, released June 12, 2026, was downloaded over 200,000 times and peaked at 5,954 concurrent players.
- Wishlist registrations have exceeded 1.2 million.
- The game supports up to 4 players in co-op.
Reporting from 4 sources: 4Gamer.net, Automaton, Denfaminicogamer, Game Spark.
Funselektor Labs announced on August 11 that its off-road exploration game 'over the hill' will launch on Steam on October 15. Console versions for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2 are scheduled for 2027. The game puts players in four-wheel-drive vehicles styled after 1960s to 1980s classics, traversing valleys, mountains, forests, and lakeshores. It supports solo play and co-op for up to four players, with a focus on leisurely driving rather than competition. Players use boards to cross road cracks and winches to rescue stuck vehicles, and can set up camp at day's end. The world shifts with weather and day-night cycles, and portals open new areas. An in-game camera lets players photograph wildlife and scenic spots, building a wildlife database. Vehicle customization includes colors, accessories, and decorative items found across the field. The demo, released June 12 during Steam Next Fest, drew over 200,000 downloads and peaked at 5,954 concurrent players, according to SteamDB. The publisher, Strelka Games, calls it one of the most anticipated indie titles of the year, with wishlists exceeding 1.2 million.
Funselektor is the studio behind the drift racing game "Absolute Drift" and the rally racing game "art of rally." Its founder and creative director, Dune Casu, spent a period traveling across North America in a self-built camper while developing games, an experience that may be reflected in "over the hill."
Japanese display is planned for the Steam release. The game also includes a photo mode that feeds a wildlife database, and players can stop by shops and cabins to customize vehicles with colors, accessories, and decorative items found in the field. Remote huts, scenic spots, natural landmarks, and fallen meteorites are among the discoveries during exploration.
Game Spark's demo play report is available on its site, covering the game's content and appeal. The demo released during Steam Next Fest drew over 500,000 players according to Game Spark, a higher figure than the 200,000 downloads reported by Automaton based on Casu's post on X.
The publisher, Strelka Games, describes the title as "one of the most anticipated indie titles of the year." The game's stated purpose is "not competing," with the focus on taking time to enjoy the drive and finding your own route. "The best stories are born not at the goal, but in the process," reads the official feature list.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 4 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.
Sources
- 4Gamer.net 広大な自然をオフロード車で探検。最大4人協力ドライビングゲーム「over the hill」，10月14日にリリース決定
- Automaton 最大4人協力・オープンワールド荒野探索ゲーム『over the hill』10月15日に発売へ。大自然をのんびり四駆オフロード旅、”悪路”もウインチで切り拓く
- Denfaminicogamer 【最大4人マルチ】過酷なオフロードを乗り越えて大自然をドライブするゲーム『over the hill』がSteamにて10月15日発売へ。野生動物や絶景スポットを写真に撮って記録するのも旅の醍醐味
- Game Spark 最大4人で友達と一緒にチルい体験できるオフロード・ドライブシム『over the hill』Steam10月15日リリース！ウィッシュリスト120万の注目作