Steep is an extreme sports game set in the Alps, an open world free for players to explore. The game can be played from either a first-person or third-person perspective, which can be switched instantly at players' will. The game also utilizes the GoPro camera during races. The four main activities available in the game include skiing, wingsuit flying, snowboarding, and paragliding. Players can switch between these activities by using the game's menu wheel.
Steep is a very online-focused game, in which all players share the same game world, engaging in various sports activities simultaneously.Players can also collide with each other if they enable the collide feature. To navigate the world quickly, players can use the mountain mode, which shows different "drop zones" in the game. These drop zones serve as fast travel points that allow players to reach different parts of the game's world without having to actually interactively move that distance. There are various hidden races and challenges and secret areas, which can be discovered and unlocked through exploring the world.
Players are also equipped with a pair of binoculars, which can be used to discover new locations.