I Can’t Stop Playing 'Alto’s Odyssey: The Lost City' GA S REGULAR Menu Lifewire Tech for Humans Newsletter! Search Close GO Opinion News > Gaming

I Can’t Stop Playing 'Alto’s Odyssey: The Lost City'

A perfect mix of chill and challenge in the palm of your hand

By Joshua Hawkins Joshua Hawkins Freelance Technology Reporter Full Sail University Josh Hawkins is a freelance writer for Lifewire who loves writing about the latest tech and gadgets that help make people’s lives easier. As an avid gamer and VR enthusiast, he also enjoys diving deep into the technology that helps bring those kinds of experiences to life. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on July 16, 2021 01:26PM EDT Fact checked by Rich Scherr Fact checked by Rich Scherr University of Maryland Baltimore County Rich Scherr is a seasoned technology and financial journalist who spent nearly two decades as the editor of Potomac and Bay Area Tech Wire. lifewire's fact checking process Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Gaming Mobile Phones Internet & Security Computers & Tablets Smart Life Home Theater & Entertainment Software & Apps Social Media Streaming Gaming

Key Takeaways

Alto’s Odyssey: The Lost City brings the 2018 endless runner to Apple Arcade, complete with a brand new area to explore.The Lost City sticks to the core endless nature of Alto’s Odyssey, while also slowly transitioning players from the chill desert sands to the bustling canopy of the city.It’s the perfect mix of simplicity and challenge, which leads to an almost unlimited amount of replayability. Team Alto Alto’s Odyssey: The Lost City is now available on Apple Arcade, and I haven’t wanted to put my iPhone down since I started playing. Sometimes a game releases, and it’s just so good that you find yourself drawn back to it again and again. I’ve had that happen many times throughout the years, but it’s very rare for those games to ever be found on my mobile phone. When the original Alto’s Odyssey released in 2018, it was enjoyable, but I quickly forgot about it amidst the other big titles dropping that year. Going back to the acclaimed endless runner with the release of Alto’s Odyssey: The Lost City on Apple Arcade, I’m reminded of why the simplest games can sometimes be the most enjoyable. It’s a nice sensation that reminds me a lot of the way a character’s world starts to expand when they leave their hometown in a fantasy novel.

Keep it Simple

Right off the bat, the most appealing thing about Alto’s Odyssey: The Lost City is the sheer simplicity of the game. As an endless runner, you’re always on the move, which means you’ll need to look out for obstacles that come up along your path. However, unlike some endless games, Alto’s Odyssey only makes you worry about two controls: jumping and doing tricks. Of course, you’ll need to combine these two controls to hit tornadoes that can lift you or even bounce off hot air balloons to gain extra lift. Despite those additions, though, it all feels smooth and simple to control, as you can do it all with just the press of a single finger. The entire core gameplay is made up of collecting points as you flow through the levels on your snowboard, taking in the beautiful vistas that make up the endless desert. Along the way, you also slowly start to transition from the quiet dunes to the more business-like avenues of villages, and then later to the Lost City, itself. It’s a quaint transition that fits in perfectly with the easy vibes the game gives off.

Begging to See More

One of the most significant changes with The Lost City is the introduction of a bustling town, which adds new elements to the back and foreground. Compared to the sandy dunes of the endless desert, though, it feels a lot different. Because Alto’s Odyssey—and the other Alto’s games before it—is so heavily honed in on providing a chill experience, the developers have come up with a unique way to build out the world and introduce those new elements. As you progress, the game starts to reveal more and more, adding new parts to the background. It’s honestly part of what kept me playing for so long after first booting up the game. The game already does a good job of making you want to continue—throwing goals at you like "collect x amount of points" or "travel x amount of meters" to unlock new levels. Throw in the smooth transition and teases of new areas, and it all comes together in a way that makes it hard to walk away, as you find yourself wondering what lies ahead. Team Alto There’s no real story in Alto’s Odyssey: The Lost City, but it almost feels like the developers are taking you on a journey as you progress. Each section of the world and each run you complete gives way to more and more of the area beyond the screen. It’s a nice sensation that reminds me a lot of the way a character’s world starts to expand when they leave their hometown in a fantasy novel, and it’s something I love to see games explore—especially in such subtle ways. If you’re a fan of mobile games or just looking for a new chill game with a little challenge, Alto’s Odyssey: The Lost City is out now on Apple Arcade. If you aren’t that big of a fan of mobile games or have a hard time justifying the price of Apple Arcade each month, then I recommend picking it up for at least a month or two. This revitalized version of Alto’s Odyssey is more than worth the $4.99. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Cancel Apple Arcade Let’s Go, Pikachu! Review: A Reinvented Classic The 11 Best iPad Games to Keep Kids of All Ages Happy The Best Halloween Apps of 2022 The 16 Best Android TV Games of 2022 10 Best Offline RPGs to Play in 2022 Best Old-School Games on iOS, Windows, and Android The 12 Best Offline iPhone/iOS Games of 2022 The 9 Best Classic Xbox Video Games to Play The 10 Best Games on Google Play Pass in 2022 The 9 Best Handheld Game Systems, Tested by Lifewire The 19 Best RPGs for the iPad 8 Ways You Can Use the Web to Find People Cities: Skylines Review: An Addictive City-Builder The Top 9 WiiWare Games Assassin's Creed: Valhalla Review: An Epic Viking Adventure Across the Medieval World Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies