Skiing Games

Skiing games send you down the slope to go fast, dodge obstacles and, in some, jump off the ramp. There are around 35, all free and with nothing to download, with simulators and much more arcade-style versions.

Three disciplines, three ways to play

Downhill is about getting down as fast as you can. Downhill Ski, Ski Rush Game and Ski Rush 3D lean on that idea of speed. Slalom adds gates, little flags you have to pass between. Slalom Ski Simulator and GP Ski Slalom go that way: passing on the right side of each gate matters more than speed. And the jumps, like Ski Jump Challenge, Ski Jump DX and KOGAMA: Ski Jumping!!, are all about the takeoff: you go down the ramp and jump as far as you can.

In real ski jumping, style is judged too, not just distance. In the games on the list, it's usually enough to hit the takeoff at the right moment and keep your balance in the air.

More adventure than sport

Some mix skiing with other ideas. Ski Safari is an adventure run, Ski Hero, Ski King and Ski Master 3D are closer to arcade competition, and Solipskier has a different feel from the rest. For the holiday season, Santa Ski, Ski Xmas and Avalanche Santa Ski Xmas take Santa to the slopes. Baby Hazel Winter Fun is aimed at the little ones.

How to ski better

• Hold your line. Correcting all at once costs you speed.
• In slalom, go through the middle of the gates to leave yourself room for the next one.
• In the jumps, the timing of the takeoff counts more than anything else.
• If the game has obstacles that come at you fast, look far ahead, not just at your skis.

To start, Ski Safari or Downhill Ski let you get the basics without too many rules. For something more technical, Slalom Ski Simulator.

Controls change with the discipline, too. In many downhill games, left and right are enough to move the skier, and in the jumps the key is a single action at the right moment. That's why the jumping games are usually good for anyone who doesn't want to complicate things, and slalom for those who like to fine-tune their line.