When I was sent the trailer for HYPERyuki: Snowboard Syndicate, I knew I had to play it immediately. From the very first glance, you can tell this game is going to be something special.
Moreover, it’s going to scratch an itch that doesn’t seem to be really well attended to in 2026. Arcade/action snowboarding. You could liken HYPERyuki: Snowboard Syndicate to a lot of games, which is fascinating to me.
Parts SSX Tricky, Jet Set Radio, Cool Boarders and even Hi-Fi Rush and Riders Republic. Let’s make this very clear, too. That is a long list of compliments if there ever was one.
HYPERyuki: Snowboard Syndicate isn’t ready yet, that much is clear. But the promise is strong. The current build needs some work (we’ll get to that). But the core of it is solid, and it seems to me that this is the best starting point it could possibly have.
What Steam says about HYPERyuki: Snowboard Syndicate
The Steam page uses the following description for what the developer WabiSabi Games:
HYPERyuki: Snowboard Syndicate drops you into a stylized, high-energy world where speed, style, and creativity define your ride. Choose from a cast of wildly different anime-inspired riders and carve your path through dynamic slopes built for racing, trick mastery, and exploration. This is the modern SSX, arcade snowboarding experience fans have been waiting for.
Compete for the highest score, push your limits in fast-paced races, or take it slow and discover hidden secrets across the mountain. Every run is a chance to unlock new customization and define your personal style.
Endlessly replayable and built for solo play, 4-player split-screen chaos, and full online multiplayer, this is freestyle snowboarding on PC done right.
Race. Trick. Explore.
Speed down hand-crafted slopes built for both fierce competition and open discovery. Find the fastest line, nail the perfect trick, or hunt for secrets hidden across every mountain. Every track rewards skill and curiosity in equal measure.
Compete for style and speed
Take on challenge modes built around high scores and leaderboard dominance. Chain tricks, collect pickups, and optimize your runs to reach the top. Every move matters. Every second counts.
Your riders. Your boards.
Discover and unlock 11 wildly unique riders and 47 boards, each with their own style, stats, and personality. The more you shred, the more you earn — and there’s always something new worth chasing.
Chill or go all in
Step off the podium and explore at your own pace in endless mode. Roam freely across the mountain, discover hidden areas, and experiment with each rider’s unique movement and abilities. No timer. No pressure. Just you and the slope.
Shred the world
Race and trick across iconic slopes inspired by real-world destinations. From the neon-lit streets of Tokyo and the powder-perfect peaks of Hokkaido to the misty forests of Canada and the sun-scorched mountains of Mexico. Every location brings a completely different vibe, challenge, and atmosphere to the mountain.
Multiplayer mayhem
Gather your crew for 4-player local split-screen or connect with up to seven other players online. Race, battle, and out-trick each other across high-energy multiplayer modes built for chaos. The mountain is more fun when someone else is eating snow.
Our preview
Ok, so how close are we getting to arcadey snowboard fun? Really close.
The game plays and handles as smoothly as butter. Tricks, getting air, grinding. It all feels tight and where you want it to be, when compared to its peers. The handling is spot-on, and any mistakes that are made are generally yours (mine).
Landing feels a little off, but that’s more down to practice than anything else, I think.
HYPERyuki: Snowboard Syndicate also absolutely looks the part. The work done here to bring this anime-style, cel-shaded world. It smacks of JetSet Radio in the best ways.
In terms of how it plays and how it looks. I’m really confident that HYPERyuki: Snowboard Syndicate is going to stick the landing.
The issues
The main issues I’ve had during this preview phase have been how clunky the UI can feel. How basic it can look (no style on the moves list, for instance). Granted, that’s polish and probably some of the final steps, but the full package needs to share that flashy style and presentation.
My biggest bump in the road was getting stuck. HYPERyuki: Snowboard Syndicate is about freedom and speed. Which works wonderfully. But if you land in the wrong spot, or slip into a mountain or tree, your run may as well be over. There’s no auto-reset or intelligent means of getting loose.
None of the customisation or other characters seemed to be available. Which is fine. But it’ll be really interesting to see how that pans out. I suspect, very well.
Keeping eyes peeled on HYPERyuki: Snowboard Syndicate
Frankly speaking, it seems to me that a preview build is going to be stuck with issues like I’ve mentioned. So they’re not red flags, really.
I think, nay, I feel like HYPERyuki: Sowboard Syndicate is going to be something special. Hitting all the right notes to create that classic arcade snowboarding that just doesn’t seem to exist these days.
I’m personally very excited for future builds or the final release. It has all the hard parts nailed already (movement, controls, aesthetic). So now it’s polish and spit-shine time.
Mark my words: HYPERyuki: Snowboard Syndicate is going to be something special. I highly recommend that you wishlist it now.
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