Polish indie studio Above the Desk have revealed new gameplay details for Above the Snow, a narrative management sim that the developers describe as “a snowy mountain Two Point Hospital with Grand Budapest Hotel aesthetics”. Players are tasked with managing a quirky hotel during a 30-day avalanche countdown.
Above the Snow begins with the restoration and expansion of a mountain shelter, allowing players to customise their building’s footprint with 1960s-inspired furniture and decor styles. Later on, players will need to design climbing routes for their visitors, categorized into eight distinct groups based on experience level, objectives, and risk tolerance. Players must tailor route intensity and equipment to each group’s capabilities, or risk losing visitors to weather emergencies.
The game integrates professional outdoor knowledge into its mechanics, allowing players to appreciate the charm of mountain exploration while respecting its lethal dangers. Success depends on following real-world outdoor logic: prepping professional gear to mitigate risks and coordinating limited rescue resources during crises, ultimately demanding a high-stakes balance between cost control, response efficiency, and human safety.
Above the Snow was recently nominated for Best Narrative at the Taipei Game Show’s Indie Game Award, highlighting how its storytelling is embedded within its management systems. Unlike traditional narrative games driven solely by text, the game’s story unfolds through player choices and consequences. As the hotel’s manager, players must constantly weigh survival pressure and profitability against professional responsibility, with these crucial decisions forming the narrative backbone of the game.
The game is currently making its first public appearance at Taipei Game Show, with more updates expected to be revealed over the course of the event. You can also wishlist Above the Snow and its fellow Indie Game Award nominees on Steam.
