Funselektor Labs Inc., led by founder Dune Casu, is returning with a new direction for its driving games. Known for Art of Rally and Absolute Drift, the studio is stepping away from competition-focused design with Over the Hill, an off-road exploration game coming to Xbox Series X|S and PC in 2026. Developed alongside Strelka Games, the project focuses less on speed and more on navigation, terrain, and the relationship between vehicle and environment.
Instead of chasing lap times, players are encouraged to move deliberately through large wilderness spaces, discovering routes and landmarks at their own pace. Over the Hill positions driving as a journey rather than a race, building a framework around exploration, light simulation, and environmental storytelling.
A Change in Direction for Funselektor
Where previous Funselektor titles highlighted drifting precision and rally discipline, Over the Hill shifts toward open-ended travel. The goal is not to master corners at speed, but to read the land and adapt to it. Vehicles react to surface types, weather, and elevation, asking players to think about how they approach each path rather than memorizing a course.
This design change gives the game a calmer rhythm. Players are not pushed forward by timers or rigid objectives. Instead, progress comes from discovering portals to new areas, completing optional tasks, and unlocking vehicles, upgrades, and customization options that support longer journeys into the wilderness.
Regional Design Focused on Learning Terrain
One of the featured launch locations is Canada, divided into three connected regions that scale in complexity. Each area teaches different aspects of off-road driving while maintaining an open structure.
The opening valley area acts as a soft introduction. It features gentler slopes, rivers, and winding paths that help players understand how vehicles behave across uneven ground. Navigation is subtly guided by natural landmarks rather than explicit markers, easing players toward their first major transition point.
From there, the experience opens up in the wetlands. Inspired by Canadian lowlands, this region drops players near the center of the map and encourages free exploration. Swamps, muddy bogs, rock-crawling routes, and pockets of snow at higher elevations create varied challenges. Instead of following a single route, players improvise, discovering hidden areas and alternative paths through trial and error.
The final section shifts into mountainous terrain. Steep ascents, icy surfaces, and narrow passages define this space, with a visible summit acting as a long-term goal. Reaching higher ground requires careful navigation and smart use of what players have learned in earlier regions, turning the climb into a methodical puzzle rather than a straight sprint.
Environmental Storytelling and Seasonal Atmosphere
Over the Hill uses its environments to communicate history rather than traditional narrative sequences. Inspired by real-world locations such as British Columbia’s Kootenay Mountains, the game blends wilderness with remnants of human activity. Fire-watch towers, abandoned logging equipment, mining structures, cabins, and frozen fishing shacks appear naturally along routes, suggesting past use without direct exposition.
The entire experience is set during autumn, giving the world a restrained, muted look. Yellowing grass, amber-colored trees, and soft seasonal lighting establish contrast between calmer lowlands and harsher mountain climbs where snow becomes more common. This approach supports immersion without leaning on dramatic presentation.
Weather and Terrain That Shape Driving
Driving in Over the Hill is closely tied to its dynamic systems. Weather and time-of-day cycles affect visibility and handling. Rain lowers grip on most surfaces, while snow changes how tires interact with the ground and can obscure familiar paths over time.
The game features more than ten terrain types based on real Canadian environments. Mud slows vehicles down, rocks demand careful line choices, and snow buildup can make previously simple routes harder to read. These systems ensure that revisiting areas still requires attention, reinforcing the idea that the land itself is part of the challenge.
Player Freedom, Camping, and Multiplayer
While technical moments exist, Over the Hill is designed around player-controlled pacing. Camping plays a key role in that structure. Players can stop, recover, and even skip undesirable weather before continuing, turning preparation into part of the experience rather than an afterthought.
The game supports both solo play and multiplayer with up to four players. Cooperative exploration allows groups to tackle routes together, but the design also supports quieter, single-player sessions for those who prefer slower, uninterrupted travel through the environment.
Customization and Long-Term Progression
Progression in Over the Hill comes from exploration and objectives rather than traditional racing progression. Unlockable vehicles, upgrades, and cosmetics allow players to shape how their cars function and look. Add-ons like extra lights, roof racks, spare tires, and paint jobs are more than visual flair, helping improve visibility and utility during longer trips.
Merchants act as hubs for tuning vehicles between expeditions, and a built-in photo mode lets players capture landscapes as they move through valleys, wetlands, and mountains.
A Different Take on the Driving Genre
Rather than chasing competition, Over the Hill leans into atmosphere, terrain interaction, and discovery. Funselektor and Strelka Games are aiming for an off-road experience where the appeal comes from learning the land, adapting to conditions, and appreciating the journey itself.
Set to release on Xbox Series X|S and PC in 2026, Over the Hill continues Funselektor’s minimalist philosophy while expanding into broader, more open environments. For players interested in off-road driving that values exploration over speed, it offers a more deliberate alternative within the genre.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is Over the Hill?
Over the Hill is an off-road exploration driving game by Funselektor Labs Inc. and Strelka Games that focuses on navigation, terrain interaction, and environmental discovery rather than competitive racing.
When is Over the Hill coming out?
The game is scheduled to release in 2026.
What platforms will Over the Hill be on?
Over the Hill is coming to Xbox Series X|S and PC (Windows).
Is Over the Hill multiplayer?
Yes. Players can explore solo or team up with up to three friends in multiplayer.
What makes Over the Hill different from Art of Rally?
Unlike Art of Rally, which focuses on timed racing, Over the Hill emphasizes slow-paced exploration, realistic terrain, and player-controlled progression without constant pressure.
Does Over the Hill have dynamic weather?
Yes. The game features dynamic weather and day-night cycles that affect visibility, traction, and navigation across different terrain types.
Can players customize vehicles in Over the Hill?
Players can unlock and customize vehicles with upgrades, paint, lights, roof racks, spare tires, and other accessories to improve both style and functionality.
What type of environments are in Over the Hill?
The game includes valleys, wetlands, and mountainous regions inspired by real Canadian landscapes, with mud, rock, snow, and other surface types influencing how vehicles handle.
