From art of rally to over the hill: How Funselektor Changed Its Driving Formula

Funselektor has never made the same game twice. The Vancouver-based indie studio, led by founder Dune Casu, started with top-down drifting, moved on to rally racing, took a detour into racing team management, and has now left the track entirely. Its newest game, over the hill, launched on Steam on October 14, 2026, and it asks players to slow down, pick a direction, and drive.

This guide looks at how the studio’s approach has changed from Absolute Drift to Art of Rally to Over the Hill, what has stayed the same, and what to know before you buy.

A Short History of Funselektor’s Driving Games

Game	Year	What it is
Absolute Drift	2015	Top-down drifting game, minimalist style
Art of Rally	2020	Top-down rally game set in the golden era of the sport
Golden Lap	2024	Racing team management game, co-developed with Strelka Games
Over the Hill	2026	Free-roaming off-road exploration game, co-developed with Strelka Games

Absolute Drift: Where It Began

Funselektor was founded in 2014, when Dune Casu built a prototype at a game jam that became the studio’s debut, Absolute Drift, released in 2015. It set the template: a stylized, stripped-down look, a focus on car feel, and a single motorsport idea explored deeply.

Art of Rally: Rally Racing as Art

Art of Rally arrived on PC on September 23, 2020, and was a homage to the golden era of rally. It added a career mode and a free roam mode, and it carried the studio’s minimalist visual approach into a more ambitious game. Casu has said the project built on what worked in Absolute Drift, with refined controls and a bigger scope. It is the game that made Funselektor’s name.

Golden Lap: A Step Sideways

In 2024, the studio surprised fans with Golden Lap, a management game set in the golden era of open-wheel racing, made with the Italian studio Strelka Games. It was Funselektor’s first management game and its first co-development with Strelka. Casu has said the idea dates back to a 2017 prototype, so it was less a break than a long-held side project.

Over the Hill: Leaving the Race Behind

Over the hill is where the formula changes most. According to the game’s Steam page, it’s “a driving game, not a racing game.” There are no lap times and no races. Instead you drive vintage-style 4x4 vehicles from the 1960s to the 1980s across open landscapes, on your own or with friends.

What Changed in the Formula

From Competition to Exploration

Earlier Funselektor games were built around a motorsport discipline, such as drifting, rally, or Formula-style racing. When Over the Hill was announced, Casu said the studio wanted to go off-track and offer players a vast world to lose themselves in at a slower pace. He compared the idea to his own travels across North America in a camper van.

Open Worlds Instead of Courses

In place of stages and tracks, the game offers large open maps. One review counted five maps, filled with hidden objectives and landmarks. Another described the basic setup as a vehicle, a map, a compass, and a winch, with progress coming from finding landmarks, challenges, and collectibles. The first area is modeled on the Valhalla mountain range in Canada, a region the founder knows well.

Cooperative Play

Earlier games were single-player experiences. Over the Hill supports online co-op, and reviews describe it as a game for one to four players. Playing with friends is presented as a core part of the experience, not an add-on.

Weather, Biomes, and Gear

The game was announced with a day-and-night cycle, a weather system, and multiple biomes. Portals link different environments, and there is a gear system for outfitting vehicles. The Steam page also says you can find upgrades and equipment in the world, and stop at merchants and cabins to customize your vehicle with colors, accessories, and cosmetics.

What Stayed the Same

Not everything changed. Three Funselektor trademarks carry over:

• The minimalist art style. The studio’s announcement described Over the Hill as using the minimalist look perfected in Art of Rally.
• A love of vintage vehicles. Instead of rally cars from the 1980s, you now drive off-roaders from the 1960s to the 1980s.
• Tactile handling. One reviewer said the studio had translated Art of Rally’s weighty, toy-like handling into off-roading, with chunky physics as you move through mud, sand, rocks, and water.

How Has It Been Received?

Early reception has been positive, though not unanimous. Shortly after launch, Steam showed a “Very Positive” user rating, with about 94% of roughly 2,200 reviews positive. Critics have been warm too: Polygon’s review praised it as a standout cozy driving game, and Rock Paper Shotgun described it as a more laid-back alternative to the heavier off-road simulators.

Not every review is glowing. Checkpoint Gaming gave it a 6.5 out of 10, praising the scenery and relaxing moments but finding itself in frequent conflict with the gameplay. Another review noted that the stripped-down approach to off-roading is both the game’s greatest strength and its greatest weakness.

That split is useful. If you want a calm, scenic drive with friends, the early signals are encouraging. If you want a deep simulation or high-stakes challenge, you may find it too gentle.

Is It Worth Buying?

It looks like a good fit if you:

• Enjoyed the feel of Art of Rally but don’t want to race
• Like slow-paced exploration and scenery
• Want a relaxed co-op game to play with friends

You may want to wait if you:

• Prefer deep, punishing off-road simulation
• Want structured goals and competition
• Want to see player feedback and patches settle first

How to Find the Best Steam Key Price

Over the Hill is listed on Steam at $24.99, and the store page showed a 20% launch discount at the time of writing. Discounts like that don’t last, so it’s worth checking the market before you pay.

Gamepriceradar is a game key price comparison website. It isn’t a store and it doesn’t sell game keys. It lets you compare Steam key prices from different sellers in one place and find the best deals, and you complete your purchase on the seller’s own site.

Here’s how to use it for this game:

1. Compare current offers. Use Gamepriceradar to compare Over the Hill Steam key price listings across sellers and see which is lowest right now.
2. Check the trend. The Over the Hill price history shows how the price has moved over time, which helps you tell whether a launch deal is worth taking or whether waiting makes sense.
3. Look at the full picture. Check the current Over the Hill price against the Steam store price to see how much you could save.
4. Read the seller’s terms. Check region restrictions, delivery details, and refund policy on the seller’s page before you pay.

If you’re also curious about the studio’s earlier games, Steam lists a bundle that includes Art of Rally, Absolute Drift, Golden Lap, and Over the Hill.

Frequently Asked Questions

When did Over the Hill release?

October 14, 2026, on Steam for PC.

Is it coming to consoles?

Funselektor has said console versions are planned for 2027.

Is it a racing game?

No. Its Steam page calls it a driving game, not a racing game, with no races or lap times.

Can I play it with friends?

Yes. It supports online co-op, and reviews describe it as a one-to-four-player game.

Is Gamepriceradar a store?

No. It’s a price comparison website that helps you compare Steam key prices from different sellers and find the best deals.

Conclusion

Funselektor’s path from Absolute Drift to Art of Rally to Over the Hill shows a studio that keeps its style but not its rules. Each game takes the same minimalist look and love of cars somewhere new. Over the Hill goes the furthest, trading competition for calm exploration and adding co-op along the way.