If there’s one thing I’ve learnt from covering major App Store releases over the past two years, it’s that you can never trust release dates. Alto’s Odyssey ($4.99), the eagerly-awaited follow-up to 2015’s universally acclaimed and adored endless runner Alto’s Adventure ($4.99), was scheduled to launch on iOS tomorrow, but here we are. I’m not sure why I’m complaining about being blindsided by release dates, as five minutes with Alto’s Odyssey confirms everything you’d expect from a pseudo-sequel to one of the most beloved mobile releases of recent times – Snowman have yet again created a game that is aesthetically stunning, while also varied and accessible enough to be a lot of fun to play. Alto’s Odyssey is available to download on the App Store for $4.99 right now, and while we’ll have a review out very soon, I’m sure most ardent iOS advocates have already downloaded it by this point in the article.

For anyone who may have missed the pre-release excitement surrounding the game – especially with the repeated delays of its release date over the past few months – Alto’s Odyssey takes the core concept of its predecessor to numerous different places, both literally and figuratively. As the name implies, Odyssey visits a number of luscious biomes across the game’s universe, from nostalgic kingdoms illuminated by a vibrant rose sunset, to jungles, deserts and much more. I really cannot emphasise enough how these environments are really brought to life with the dynamic lighting and weather effects within the title – yet these fine details do not come at the expense of the fantastic minimalist aesthetic that the series is renowned for. Alto’s Odyssey doesn’t simply change the backdrop, however, as new tricks like wall riding and balloon bouncing help mix up the mechanics beyond the trick-filled descent you may be familiar with. A one-time premium cost of $4.99, and an abundance of content like unlockable characters and multiple modes, only help sweeten the deal.

Snowman are quick to emphasise how Alto’s Odyssey is a standalone experience, despite being thematically linked to Alto’s Adventure, and as a result this is a perfect place to dive into the series if you somehow managed to avoid the developer’s first effort. Hopefully the game can create an identity of its own in time, but either way, Alto’s Odyssey is still another game that champions the creativity of the App Store ecosystem, and I cannot wait to dive into its world. Download Alto’s Odyssey on iPhone and iPad now, and let us know your impressions on our forum thread.