Thirteen years have passed since Electronic Arts treated us to . Though it was a defining title of the PlayStation 2 era—selling over 12 million copies and launching EA’s of over-the-top arcade sports games—it never fully transitioned to the next generation of consoles.
With SSX leaving a gap in the gaming scene, solo developer Nathan Dearth took initiative. His early-access project, , is a spot-on spiritual successor to EA’s legendary series, and now’s the perfect time to check out this hidden nostalgic gem—it’s on sale for less than a Starbucks coffee.
Like the game that inspired it, Tricky Madness is a game centered on cruising down mountains with style, gaining massive speed and even bigger scores as you select a rider and compete in events that test your slope skills. Tricky Madness isn’t about replicating real-life snowboarding; it’s a hyperactive, cartoonish take that aims to make you chuckle at how ridiculously cool everything is.
Even as a legally distinct successor, Tricky Madness feels and plays just like you remember. Tight turns are made by curving the analog stick, adding a tactile layer to gameplay. Rapid descents are highlighted with the right amount of blur and streak effects, and best of all, the wild trick animations look like they’d fit seamlessly in a modern SSX game.
Each of the game’s four characters has unique grabs and flips for aerial stunts. Landing consecutive moves unlocks “Freaky” moves (this game’s version of SSX’s “Tricky” moves), which ramp up the action—characters detach from their boards to perform somersaults, superrotations, and more. To excel, players need to build as much speed and air as possible to hold these “Freaky” moves longer before landing. It’s a timeless risk-reward balance that’s just as fun today as it was 25 years ago.
The game also sticks to a PlayStation 2 aesthetic, a wise decision. While ultra-realistic games like Riders Republic are impressive, there’s a nostalgic charm to Tricky Madness’s simpler, stylized art direction. The skyboxes are beautiful, the snow looks great, and it runs flawlessly—I played it entirely on a Steam Deck with zero issues.
Though Tricky Madness has a solid core, it’s still in early access. Right now, it has only three of its planned eight levels and half its intended eight characters. Per its Steam page, Dearth plans to add a campaign mode, multiplayer, and an open-world mountain connecting all levels into one continuous slope. It also lacks a soundtrack, making it feel a bit bare compared to its source material’s vibrant presentation.
With another year of development ahead, the game will only get better. At just $6, it’s well worth jumping in now (and supporting its ongoing development) before the full version likely increases in price next year.
If you’re nostalgic for SSX games that offered hours of nail-biting, high-stakes fun, Tricky Madness is one to watch. It runs smoothly on older machines and PC handhelds alike, and plays exactly as you remember. With the sale ending January 5 and regular content updates planned for next year, it’s a no-brainer holiday pick-up.