iOS game developer Snowman today announced that "Alto's Odyssey" will launch on the iOS and tvOS App Stores on Thursday, February 22. With the confirmation of a release date, Apple today shared a new card on the iOS App Store noting the launch, along with snippets of an interview with the game's developers (via TouchArcade). The game was originally set to debut in the summer of 2017 but got delayed because "it takes longer to build things right."

altos odyssey ios release
Alto's Odyssey is a sequel to the original 2015 game "Alto's Adventure," and will introduce a few new pieces of gameplay into the endless runner formula from the first game, like wall jumping, balloon bouncing, and more. Characters can be unlocked and each will have their own abilities, and players will be able to relax a bit with a "Zen Mode" that removes all coins, power ups, and scores to focus on exploration.

"We want to make sure both games feel connected," says Harry Nesbitt, lead artist and programmer for the eight-person Team Alto. "They're part of the same world, so they need to feel like they're painted with the same brush. But we also want to celebrate the new desert environment and explore everything it has to offer."

Instead of a snowy location, Alto's Odyssey takes place in a desert and players will control Alto through the franchise's "one-touch trick system" to chain combos and complete level goals. The sequel also has a Photo Mode, where players can pause the game and take pictures of their trips through the desert to share online with friends and family.


Alto's Odyssey is a universal iOS app, and supports the iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV, syncing progress across all devices. The game is up for pre-order today [Direct Link] ahead of its February 22 launch date, priced at $4.99 "with no ads or in-app purchases."

Top Rated Comments

HobeSoundDarryl Avatar
99 months ago
What??? Holding back a software release in the interests of getting it right? What universe are these devs from? Don't they know modern app business is release at first working beta or alpha, and then (maybe) perfect over countless bug fix updates?

Kudos to them for at least aiming at putting quality first! I wish others would at least try that kind of approach too.

And the first "chapter" (Adventure) of this game was/is quite great IMO!
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
639051 Avatar
99 months ago
I've spent many an hour on the original. Looking forward to this!
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ipedro Avatar
99 months ago
Instant buy for me. I didn’t even care about the price. I still play Alto’s Adventure, years after I finished all the challenges. It just kept getting better, even after they clearly didn’t have to. The tvOS version and the Zen Mode came as free updates gave the game an entire new life.

Odyssey looks gorgeous. I’ll spend many hours on this game for years to come.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bradkrischel Avatar
99 months ago
I didn't realize the software was going to sellout on the app store
Pre-orders are not just for products that have a likelihood of selling out...(e.g. dvd & blu ray movies, console video games, etc.) Many of those do not sell out on release date either, but customers still pre-order because they want the item as soon as it becomes available. Pay ahead of time for a product you know you want, so you get it on release day without having to do anything else.

In this case, pre-ordering makes it so you don't have to remember to come back to the app store on the day it's released - it will be automatically downloaded to your phone when it becomes available on the app store. Same concept as the non-app store example described above - pay ahead, get it when it becomes available.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Aluminum213 Avatar
99 months ago
Pre ordering an app? Haha
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
macduke Avatar
99 months ago
I'm still looking forward to Sky being released—you know, that cool looking game that was on display at the iPhone event in September? I looked up their Twitter and it looks like there was a limited release in New Zealand about two weeks ago. Anyone from NZ played it yet?
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Popular Stories

iPhone 17 Pro Iridescent Feature 2

iPhone 17 Pro Clear Case Leak Reveals Three Key Changes

Sunday August 31, 2025 1:26 pm PDT by
Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 series on Tuesday, September 9, and last-minute rumors about the devices continue to surface. The latest info comes from a leaker known as Majin Bu, who has shared alleged images of Apple's Clear Case for the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, or at least replicas. Image Credit: @MajinBuOfficial The images show three alleged changes compared to Apple's iP...
iPhone 17 Pro Dark Blue and Orange

iPhone 17 Release Date, Pre-Orders, and What to Expect

Thursday August 28, 2025 4:08 am PDT by
An iPhone 17 announcement is a dead cert for September 2025 – Apple has already sent out invites for an "Awe dropping" event on Tuesday, September 9 at the Apple Park campus in Cupertino, California. The timing follows Apple's trend of introducing new iPhone models annually in the fall. At the event, Apple is expected to unveil its new-generation iPhone 17, an all-new ultra-thin iPhone 17...
iphone 16 pro ghost hand

iPhone 17 Pro: 5 Reasons Not to Upgrade This Year

Monday September 1, 2025 4:35 am PDT by
Apple will launch its new iPhone 17 series this month, and the iPhone 17 Pro models are expected to get a new design for the rear casing and the camera area. But more significant changes to the lineup are not expected until next year, when the iPhone 18 models arrive. If you're thinking of trading in your iPhone for this year's latest, consider the following features rumored to be coming to...
xiaomi apple ad india

Apple and Samsung Push Back Against Xiaomi's Bold India Ads

Friday August 29, 2025 4:54 am PDT by
Apple and Samsung have reportedly issued cease-and-desist notices to Xiaomi in India for an ad campaign that directly compares the rivals' devices to Xiaomi's products. The two companies have threatened the Chinese vendor with legal action, calling the ads "disparaging." Ads have appeared in local print media and on social media that take pot shots at the competitors' premium offerings. One...
iOS 18 on iPhone Arrow Down

Apple Preparing iOS 18.7 for iPhones as iOS 26 Release Date Nears

Sunday August 31, 2025 4:35 pm PDT by
Apple is preparing to release iOS 18.7 for compatible iPhone models, according to evidence of the update in the MacRumors visitor logs. We expect iOS 18.7 to be released in September, alongside iOS 26. The update will likely include fixes for security vulnerabilities, but little else. iOS 18.7 will be one of the final updates ever released for the iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone XR,...
iPhone 17 Pro Iridescent Feature 2

iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro Prices Estimated Ahead of Apple Event Next Week

Tuesday September 2, 2025 1:50 pm PDT by
Just one week before Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 series, an analyst has shared new price estimates for the devices. Here are J.P. Morgan analyst Samik Chatterjee's price estimates for the iPhone 17 series in the United States, according to 9to5Mac: Model Starting Price Model Starting Price Change iPhone 16 $799 iPhone 17 ...