Lonely Mountains: Downhill review – adrenaline-pumping adventures in nature

PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch (version reviewed); Megagon Industries
Hurling yourself down a mountain on a bike has rarely been as much fun as in this pared-down sports game, which pairs serene scenery with thrilling challenge

Newly released on Nintendo Switch, Lonely Mountains: Downhill has been catching attention on other consoles and PCs since last October. But it is now, stuck indoors in an urban flat, that I have really needed this game about solitary mountain bike adventures in nature. It is an intriguing hybrid of serene exploration and reflex-challenging speed-chasing, and is engrossing from the first moment - each thrilling downhill run begins with a moment of pure stillness at the peak, one foot on the ground, the wind whistling in your ears.

With minute adjustments to the bike's trajectory, you plummet down serene mountains, either following dirt paths or veering off-road to cut trails between rocks and trees. It's like Trials, the motocross puzzler masquerading as a racing game, except instead of roaring engines and screaming guitars on the soundtrack, you hear rustling leaves, birdsong and the quiet clicking of gears. On the verdant Mount Graterhorn, butterflies flit around conifers; the more treacherous Sierra Rivera is devoid of anything but windblown dust, jutting rocks and the occasional cactus.