Fresh Tracks – The Rhythm Roguelike That Blends Skiing, Music & Mythology | PAX Interview
“What if a rhythm game didn’t stop between songs? What if it flowed like skiing down a mountain, always forward, always in motion?”
That question sits at the heart of Fresh Tracks, the new rhythm roguelike from indie studio Buffalo Buffalo. During PAX West in Seattle we had the chance to meet up with Patrick Sean Owens, founder and director as Buffalo Buffalo. We were able to see , hear and get hands on with the game and hear firsthand how this unlikely fusion of skiing, mythology, and music came together. What we learned is that it is more than just another rhythm game, it is an ambitious attempt to redefine the genre and bring new ideas to a wider audience.
It is all about flow state
Most rhythm games follow a simple loop: choose a track, play it, return to a menu, repeat. Patrick refers to this as the “jukebox” style, commonly seen in games such as guitar hero, rock band and others. Fresh Tracks was designed from the start to break free from this mold. Instead of being pulled out of the action between songs, you are placed on a continuous journey through the woods towards a larger goal, skiing downhill as music seamlessly flows from one track to another. The deeper you go, the harder the challenges become. New genres unlock, enemies emerge, and the music itself evolves to keep you on edge.
“We wanted to create a nonstop flow state, like skiing downhill. Once you start, you don’t want to stop.”
Gods of Music and Mythology
Adding to its uniqueness, Fresh Tracks brings lore to the game with story progression involving a pantheon of gods, each tied to a distinct musical genre. Koda brings EDM-pop beats to the opening tutorial. Sogvar embodies heavy metal intensity. Fars & Dram introduces sweeping orchestral tracks. And the melodies of Mar, the final boss, remains shrouded in mystery but Patrick hints at something special. Beating one of these gods in a boss battle does not simply unlock additional tracks, instead it changes them. A song that began with electronic beats might return as a guitar-driven anthem or an orchestral powerhouse, depending on who joins you. And each boss that travels with you as a companion can grant you different boons making replays of previous stages that much more interesting
“It’s not just unlocking music, it’s evolving it. Every run feels different.”
Roguelike Progression on ski's
Though it is perhaps a weird place to find rouge like elements , Fresh Tracks attempts to provide a cohesive experience through the offering of both temporary and permanent progression systems. Along the way you collect Whyspers, a currency spent during runs, and EKKOS, a permanent resource used to unlock long-term upgrades and songs. Patrick admits early roguelikes often frustrate players with brutal difficulty spikes. Fresh Tracks addresses this by letting you adjust difficulty dynamically. Through out your journey in the game you will encounter branching paths labeled easy, medium, or hard, which mirror the split-second decisions skiers face when choosing a slope. You will also find items, power-ups, and keys that grant unique abilities, ensuring even non-rhythm experts can keep progressing. When playing I even noticed some boons can have you make more difficult paths more rare or not available all together.
Inspired by Skiing, Grounded in Flow
When asking about the roots of the game idea and its mechanics, Patrick explains that he draws direct inspiration from skiing and time spent outdoors. The rhythm of carving down slopes, the cadence of steps on a trail, and the pressure of sudden choices all shaped Fresh Tracks’ design. There is no Yeti chasing you down the hill, but Patrick teases another presence: a dragon.
“I wanted that feeling of pressure, like when you’re skiing downhill and you only have a few seconds to choose a path.”
Music at the Core
Fresh Tracks is, above all, a game about music and it was a core principle they would not compromise on. Patrick was adamant that every track needed to stand alone as something you would willingly listen to outside the game. Working with Ictus Audio, the team produced 28 original songs, many with full lyrics designed to guide the player’s experience. Patrick added that these songs do not seem to suffer from getting annoying after multiple replays, he smirks as he mentions that endless playtests have still not ruined the music for him or the team. “Out of 28 songs, maybe two I would skip after years of hearing them. That’s it.” For a rhythm game, that is almost unheard of.
Clean Art Direction, Wide Availability
Despite its nature setting ,to ensure accessibility, Buffalo Buffalo chose a stylized art direction over hyper-detailed realism. This allows Fresh Tracks to run smoothly on a wide range of devices while maintaining visual clarity that complements its music-driven gameplay. This does not mean low poly slop, each piece of art on screen looks to be meticulously thought out and placed within the world,
Why Fresh Tracks Stands Out
Fresh Tracks is a game that seems to want to ask more of its players then simply have fast fingers to keep rhythm. Instead if implores the player to get lost in the moment, embrace momentum, choice, and immersion. It is a roguelike that teaches you to go with the flow, in a rhythm game that refuses to stop, and a skiing-inspired ride through music and fun mythology. If you have ever wanted a rhythm game that feels alive, shifting genres, evolving tracks, and challenging you to ski deeper into the unknown, this is it.
Fresh Tracks is more than a game. It is a ride you do not want to get off.
See the whole interview on our YouTube Channel
FRESH TRACKS
Out now: Steam, PlayStation, and Steam Deck
Coming soon: Xbox
Soundtrack: Available digitally and as a vinyl release
