When Ski Lifts Go Wrong

When Ski Lifts Go Wrong is a 2019 construction and management simulation video game developed by British indie developer Hugecalf Studios and published by Curve Digital. When Ski Lifts Go Wrong was released in early access on 4 October 2017^[1] and fully released on 23 January 2019 on Windows, macOS and Nintendo Switch.^[2][3]

When Ski Lifts Go Wrong
Developer(s)	Hugecalf Studios
Publisher(s)	Curve Digital
Platform(s)	Windows, macOS, Nintendo Switch
Release	WW: 23 January 2019
Genre(s)	Construction and management simulation
Mode(s)	Single-player

Gameplay

When Ski Lifts Go Wrong is a low-poly physics-based construction simulation game in which the player must construct chairlifts, gondolas, jumps and bridges to get non-playable character skiers through a snowy mountain setting.^[4]

The goal is to achieve success in attempts to build strong structures within a budget.^[5] Each stage begins with a landscape over a paper background, where the materials can be placed and a cable is attached to these structures.^[6] The game visualises the amount of stress on each attached structure using colours so that the player knows which aspects of their construction they should improve on.^[7]

Each level is completed when the player creates a working structure to carry a set number of controllable non-player character riders to the other side of the map.^[8][9] In over 100 levels, riders have to be carried across safely and the map has to remain intact.^[10] There are other factors in each level, such as a star rating which counts the number of stars the riders collect during the level, and a price limit which the player should stay under. A level editor is available, where players can create their own maps to play on.^[11]

Development

When Ski Lift Go Wrong was released in early access under the name Carried Away on 4 October 2017.^[1][12] A downloadable content pack, titled Carried Away: Winter Sports, was released on 9 February 2018, which features new modes and enables the player to compete in different sports.^[13] When Ski Lift Go Wrong was fully released on 23 January 2019 for Windows, macOS and Nintendo Switch.^[3]

Reception

When Ski Lifts Go Wrong has been described as a game that is "easy to pick up, but hard to master."^[7] The game has been compared to Happy Wheels and Bridge Constructor.^{[by whom?]}