Above the Snow

Every day, Steam "rewards" us with new games that have the potential to become the next hit or fade into oblivion. In the last few years, we've been lucky with new releases of small games, and Above the Snow is one of those games. Wandering Wizard Studio has "graced" us with their code for their new simulation/management game where the player must build the perfect cabin in the snowy mountains that would make even American Aspen blush. A relaxing game that, unfortunately, was a bit boring at times.

Development studio: Above the Desk

Publisher: Wandering Wizard

Platforms: PC

Release date: April 23, 2026

Platform on which the game was tested: PC

Starting price: 24.50 euros

Official website

Presentation - a beautiful game with excellent style

At first glance, Above the Snow is a stunning game, especially considering that it is a simulation/management game where graphics or design are not the most important factors. The setting of the game is in a beautiful snowy mountain landscape reminiscent of the world's most beautiful ski resorts. Even the dilapidated cabin that the player must renovate for future guests looks very nice.

Besides the cabin itself, the player has access to the entire map, meaning places where they can send their workers to expand the business, sell groceries and equipment, or simply perform tasks for the mountain lodge and cabin. All in all, Above the Snow is a very well-designed and structured game that shows the developers truly worked on this project with love, and such things are always important to mention.

Gameplay - a typical simulation with management elements

There isn't much philosophy around a game like Above the Snow. At the beginning of the game, the player is introduced to the story of the game itself. Namely, such games generally lack a story with characters, but Above the Snow has managed to create a dimension in this genre. The story begins simply; a disappointed wealthy father decides to "discipline" his son by sending him to a neglected cabin in the mountains that has been abandoned for years. The son must prove himself to his father by renovating and "reviving" the once-popular ski resort, or mountain getaway. Along with the main character, the player gets two collaborators and one adorable St. Bernard that the player must pet to receive a special "buff" for continuing the workday.

But aside from the story; the game slowly introduces us to the world of Above the Snow through this short introduction, where the player learns how to revive this once-famous cabin. The tutorial is very well structured, not overwhelming, and does not force the player to skip steps, and here the game really makes an effort to show the player all the mechanics for starting to play. Of course, it should be mentioned that the player does not have everything available right away; with the money you earn, you must unlock new items, furniture, rooms, and spaces where the player must build the foundations of the lodge itself. Additionally, the player can deliver resources to other towns and to the lodge itself, thus earning money or supplying the entire ski resort.

Steam has labeled Above the Snow as “cozy” and it truly is. Within a few hours, the player learns how to manage their resort, and after the renovation that resembles SimCity and The Sims, the cottage opens to the public and the player must welcome new guests. Of course, beginnings are always tough, which means not every guest will leave the cottage happy, but the game is not merciless in that regard. It should be noted that the player can choose the difficulty of the game before gameplay begins, and since I set mine to the easiest difficulty, the game did not “punish” me for my mistakes. Some players have complained that this happens even at higher difficulties, and another criticism is the quite complicated UI that sometimes looks like a mathematical algorithm. On Steam, many people love this game, giving it a positive rating, but unfortunately, it did not particularly impress me.

Conclusion - A “cozy” game that becomes boring after a while

Above the Snow is not just an ordinary simulation; it has management and strategic elements that enrich the game in a special way. The tutorial is not rigorous, the game is relaxing, and you can really “kill” a lot of time in it. Nice design, pleasant atmosphere, and good characters really elevate the atmosphere of this game. The gameplay is not difficult, but the game is not particularly merciless towards the mistakes you can make. The UI itself is a bit problematic, which slowed down the gameplay for me. Now comes the subjective part of the review; after a few hours of play, Above the Snow becomes a bit boring. The game does not punish unhappy guests of the cottage, whether due to the chosen difficulty or not, the game does not punish even the silliest mistakes. The game is relaxing, but there is a large margin for error, and sometimes monotonous gameplay becomes quite boring after a few hours.

This is not a major criticism as many people enjoy such games, but I missed excitement and dynamism. All in all, Above the Snow is a game that has potential and has its audience, and people who love such simulations will adore it. I recommend it to everyone even though it did not particularly resonate with me.

A copy of the game for review purposes was provided by the distributor and publisher Wandering Wizard