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Whether it’s visual and mechanical realism or over-the-top arcade action that players want, the best snowboarding games of all time have it all and let players descend freezing cold slopes at lightning speeds and pull off crazy tricks from the comfort of their homes.
Updated on January 5th, 2023, by Jack Pursey: The sports genre was once one of the most divisive in all of gaming. Numerous games were released for each major sport, giving players a great range of choices. In modern gaming, the genre is considerably more limited, as franchises like FIFA, Madden, and NBA 2K now dominate the AAA market. Extreme sports fans often have to look back instead of forward for their next game to play, so we’ve decided to help snowboarding fans out by updating this list with some key information about each game, such as what platforms they’re available on and how long they take to beat.
10 SSX On Tour
Release Date: October 11, 2005
Available Platforms: GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox, PSP
Main Story Completion Time: 18 Hours
SSX On Tour is the first of many games on this list from EA’s SSX franchise. SSX On Tour’s core gameplay is similar to SSX 3, though changes were made to other aspects of the franchise, such as the addition of customizable characters.
On Tour was released in 2005 on PlayStation 2, Xbox, GameCube, and PSP. The GameCube version stood out for featuring Mario, Luigi, and Princess Peach as playable characters.
9 Shaun White Snowboarding: Road Trip
Release Date: November 13, 2008
Available Platforms: Nintendo DS, PSP, Wii, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, PC
Main Story Completion Time: 3 Hours
Shaun White Snowboarding was released in 2008 on a plethora of consoles, including PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, and PC. Like many games in the late 2000s, a Nintendo Wii edition was also released but was completely reworked to accommodate for the console’s popular motion controls.
The Wii version is titled Shaun White Snowboarding: Road Trip and does an excellent job of implementing the Wii’s Balance Board, which offers an immersive way to play the game.
8 Steep
Release Date: December 2, 2016
Available Platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Main Story Completion Time: 11 Hours
Steep is the most recent release on this list, having hit stores in December 2016. New sports IPs have been rare in the last decade, as licensed franchises like FIFA and NBA 2K have a stranglehold on the sports genre. Consequently, the announcement of Steep was welcomed by the many sports fans who are desperate for new sports franchises.
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Steep differentiates itself from the other games on this list with its wide range of implemented sports, as along with snowboarding, there is also skiing, wingsuit flying, and paragliding to keep players busy.
7 Amped 2
Release Date: October 28, 2003
Available Platforms: Xbox
Main Story Completion Time: 7 Hours
Amped 2 was developed by Indie Built and released exclusively on Xbox in October 2003.
The game’s career mode has a similar level structure to the aforementioned Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater series, with players having various objectives to complete in each one. Along with high scores to aim for, players are also tasked with doing tricks for photographers and finding hidden snowmen throughout the stages.
6 SSX (2012)
Release Date: February 28, 2012
Available Platforms: PlayStation 3, Xbox 360
Main Story Completion Time: 8 Hours
In February 2012, EA Sports delighted snowboarding fans by releasing a reboot of its classic series. Unlike previous games in the series, SSX (2012) implemented courses from real locations, such as Antarctica and the Himalayas. The rebooted game also reworked the control scheme from previous SSX titles but retained the popular “Tricky” mode from SSX: Tricky (more on that game later).
The game was well-received by critics, scoring 82 and 81 on Metacritic for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3, respectively.
5 SSX (2000)
Release Date: October 26, 2000
Available Platforms: PlayStation 2
Main Story Completion Time: 10 Hours
SSX (2000) was the first entry in the iconic SSX series and was released exclusively on the PlayStation 2. The game was published by EA Sports BIG, a label used by EA throughout the 2000s, which specialized in extreme sports games like FIFA Street and NBA Street.
SSX (2000) was a huge hit with critics upon release, exemplified by its whopping 93 Metascore. However, the game doesn’t feature higher on this list as it hasn’t aged particularly well, and later SSX games improved upon the original formula.
4 1080° Snowboarding
Release Date: February 28, 1998
Available Platforms: Nintendo 64
Main Story Completion Time: 2.5 Hours
1080° Snowboarding is the oldest game on this list, having been released in 1998. 3D video games were still a relatively new concept in the late ’90s, but that didn’t stop Nintendo from developing a game that is still to this day considered to be one of the best snowboarding titles of all time.
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1080° Snowboarding may not look like much by modern standards, but its gameplay is just as enjoyable as it was in 1998.
3 Alto’s Adventure
Release Date: February 19, 2015
Available Platforms: iOS, Android, Kindle Fire, PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch
Main Story Completion Time: 4 Hours
Alto’s Adventure sticks out like a sore thumb on this list for several reasons. Not only was the game originally released exclusively on iOS, but it’s also an endless runner played from a side-scrolling perspective.
The 2015 game was a surprise hit with critics, exemplified by its 92 Metascore. Following the game’s critical acclaim, it was released on numerous other systems, including Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch.
2 SSX 3
Release Date: October 20, 2003
Available Platforms: GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox, Game Boy Advance
Main Story Completion Time: 17.5 Hours
SSX 3 was released in October 2003 on GameCube, Xbox, PlayStation 2, and Game Boy Advance. Among the new additions to the series was the game’s open world, which was ahead of its time in 2003. The game also added a Freeride mode that lets players explore the open world, offering a nice change of pace to the series’ usual over-the-top action.
The PlayStation 2 version of SSX 3 earned a stellar Metascore of 93, while the Game Boy Advance edition scored just 63.
1 SSX Tricky
Release Date: November 5, 2001
Available Platforms: PlayStation 2, GameCube, Xbox, Game Boy Advance
Main Story Completion Time: 11.5 Hours
SSX: Tricky was released in 2001 on the same consoles as SSX 3. While the name may suggest that the game is a spin-off to the SSX series, it was actually just the second entry in the franchise. The game’s name is a reference to the Run-D.M.C. track “It’s Tricky,” which is heavily featured, as well as the game’s trick mechanics.
Although SSX: Tricky lacks the open world of SSX 3, it remains the series’ bestgame to revisit today, thanks to its wonderfully well-balanced gameplay.
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