As someone who still skates in their late twenties, skateboarding is more than just a fun hobby; it’s a borderline obsession for me.
Session: Skate Sim: All DLC Maps, Ranked
NYC, Philly & San Fran are great, but we know you want more!
This obsession has naturally crossed the realms of reality and led to many hours spent doing virtual kickflips, 50-50s, and melon grabs, because even when I’m off the board, I just can’t get enough.
It’s a gaming sub-genre that has been around since the primitive days of Skate or Die! But it has blossomed over time into one of the most beloved subsections of sports gaming.
So, in a bid to showcase just how amazing these games have been over the years, we intend to rank all the finest skating games out there, so that you can hop on a board and drop in knowing that you’ll have a gnarly time.
For the sake of clarity, we will allow for multiple games from a particular franchise but will refrain from including multiple entries from different franchise eras. For example, we will only be including one THPS game and one THUG game to represent each strand of titles.
15Skatebird
Become The Bird(Man)
We begin with a rather comical entry, and one that, despite some very clear flaws, is actually quite a lot of fun. Skatebird is your typical THPS clone, but with the added charm of having you play as a bird in various suburban settings.
You’ll have a handful of quests to complete in a similar fashion toTHPS4, which means no constant timer ticking down, but considering how blocky the controls are, it would have been pretty cruel to have it any other way.
The writing is rather comical and irrelevant, making each interaction with your avian brethren enjoyable, and naturally, there’s a whole bunch of cute cosmetic items, too.
If you’re looking for a polished game, this is not it, but if you just want a fun arcade skater that doesn’t take itself too seriously, this is a blast.
14Thirsty Suitors
Skate & Date
Thirsty Suitors
If you’re in the market for a wildcard entry, you’ve found it. Thirsty Suitors is a skating game in the sense that skating is how you get from A to B.
However, at its core, this is a typically Annapurna-backed narrative-driven epic focusing on all your player character’s failed relationships in her quaint little hometown. You’ll need to repair all the bridges you burned, and being a top-tier skater will only do so much.
From a skating point of view, Thirsty Suitors offers slick, very accessible mechanics, but pushes your mastery of these mechanics to the test with bespoke challenges at the local skatepark.
But the game isalso a turn-based RPG, a cooking game, a dating sim, and so much more. So, if you want a game with variety, this is just the ticket.
13Tanuki Sunset
A Radical Raccoon
Every skater dreams of making the cover of a big magazine like Thrasher, and as it turns out, this level of ambition translates to the animal kingdom too.
In Tanuki Sunset, you take control of a downhill skating Tanuki with a need for speed and a dream of making the big time. Which will only happen if you move fast, get big air, and avoid becoming roadkill along the way.
Aesthetically, it’s a neon vaporwave, crystalline daydream with an 80s soundtrack to match, making each run feel exhilarating.
While the gameplay is like an endless runner, which couldn’t be easier to pick up and play. So, if you want something that is quick, easy and addictive, then this is the one for you.
12Helskate
Hell. L.A. Same Thing
We are bending the rules ever so slightly to include a game currently in early access. But considering the game has a few creative minds that helped forge THUG’s success on board, it would be criminal not to mention this one.
Helskate is essentially what happens if you tweak the THPS formula slightly to become a hack-and-slash Roguelike set in hell. That’s right, like skateboarding Hades. Sounds cool, right?
Seems like quite a leap, and it is. But this feels so seamless because the tricks you perform act as your attacks and combos. So, to beat demons, your best course of action is to stoke the crowd and nail trick after trick.
Even the best skaters eventually bail, anddeath is a natural part of this Roguelike. But, if you can survive the heat long enough, you just might become the Beelzebub Birdman.
The Start of Something Special
It might feel a little strange to see theSkateseries so low on this list, but as some may remember, the original title hadn’t quite nailed the format just yet.
Skate was a proof of concept, and a good one, too. It allowed players to enjoy a more grounded and realistic skating experience, complete with a revolutionary control system that allowed you to control each foot on the board and flick your tricks in real-time.
This was a game changer, and the inclusion of so many modern skaters and a staggeringly satisfying semi-open world to skate only added to the authenticity.
However, due to the lower-quality visuals that haven’t aged particularly well, the lack of decent park builder and multiplayer options, and the simplistic story progression, it’s only been able to rise so far on this list.
10Skater XL
A Push For Realism
For the longest time, there had been a vacant space in the skating game scene left behind by the dormant Skate and THPS franchises.
A space that a handful of plucky titles have tried to occupy, and one that did this with a reasonable level of success is Skater XL.Skater XL is a game that tries it’s best to offer a skating simulator experiencerather than that of an arcade skater.
It does this reasonably well, providing a sandbox format for skating, recording parts, and generally freestyleing however you like. Plus, there is a wealth of maps, both curated by the developer and courtesy of mods, which makes this a game that keeps on giving.
However, thanks to a lack of custom physics options, and no story mode of any description, it is a game where mileage can vary for most.
9Tony Hawk’s Project 8
Tony’s Swansong
Here comes the first Tony Hawk title to grace this list, and it pains me to say it’s the last unique entry in the franchise worth acknowledging. But it still stands strong as a decent send-off, if that’s what it will always be.
10 Co-op Games That Will Ruin Friendships
Let the blame game commence!
Project 8 is a title that sees you start as a zero when Tony comes to town, but upon hearing the news that he’s putting together a skating bomb squad of sorts, you need to skate your little butt off to make a name for yourself.
It’s a title with interesting new tweaks to the tried-and-tested THPS formula, with the focus mode for slow-motion technical tricks being the standout addition.
But it still has all the staples of the series we have come to love over the years. It definitely caters to the THUG era rather than the THPS purists. But all in all, it’s one well worth revisiting if you missed out.
8OlliOlli World
High Octane Arcade Bliss
OlliOlli World
You would be forgiven for thinking that the THPS series is the pinnacle of arcade skating action, but in truth, there are few studios that get arcade action like Roll7.
So, it’s hardly a surprise that OlliOlli is a series that holds a place in so many skater’s hearts. Unlike most skating titles, OlliOlli is a side-scrolling 2D affair, playing a little like a Sonic title where doing tricks as you move through stages at blistering speeds is essential.
There’s something devilishly addictive about OlliOlli and this is very much the case with the latest entry which offers the finest showcase of what the series has to offer.
It’s a high-score-chasing, high-octane, all-thrills experience, and one that you need to dive into if you haven’t had the pleasure.
While it’s not a skating game on account of the two rollerskates attached to your feet, but I would also suggest OlliOlli and THPS fans check out Rollerdrome as well. Thank me later.
7Bomb Rush Cyberfunk
Jet Set Radio, Eat Your Heart Out
Bomb Rush Cyberfunk
While you can technically rollerblade and BMX your way around in Bomb Rush Cyberfunk, we are going to turn a blind eye and allow this one to grace this list.
Mainly because this spiritual successor to Jet Set Radio is a wonderful, fluid title that plays like a skating game, even if you are cycling or booting around the place.
This title offers a stellar soundtrack and urban visuals reminiscent of the early PS2 era. But thankfully the gameplay has a modern edge that makes every moment deeply satisfying.
It’s a game that is more about keeping a line going than similar titles, and flow is everything. But if you’re someone who enjoys viewing every ledge, wall, or rail as a part of your urban playground, then Bomb Rush Cyberfunk has plenty to offer you.
6Tony Hawks American Wasteland
Skating is PUNK!
It will seem unthinkable to all the younger generations of gamers in the chat who have grown up with a steady stream of games with open-world formats.
But back in the 2000s,the notion of creating an open-world gamewas so unattainable for most developers, and aside from the GTA series and a handful of others, it was rarely ever attempted.
However, it wasn’t a challenge that Neversoft would shy away from.
This punk-fueled iteration of the series would offer a fully open and connected world with no loading screens whatsoever. Offering a fluid, flowing world to shred with no limits.
Not to mention, the game also offered a compelling story, a park you would slowly build into a skating utopia over the course of the game, and much more.
It’s a cult classic and perhaps one that doesn’t get the love it deserves, so do yourself a favor and revisit this forgotten gem.
