The landscape of video games has undergone a remarkable transformation over the years. From the early days of pixelated characters and simple graphics to today’s 4K resolution and lifelike simulations that faithfully copy body movements, environments, and weather patterns, technology has come a long way. As gaming technology has improved, the best skateboarding games have changed along with it, adding features like photorealism and virtual reality.
In just 30 years, we’ve gone from simple digital skateboarding on flat surfaces to flying through virtual indoor skateparks. Today, skateboarding games are available on a wide range of platforms, such as PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo, PC, Mac, iOS, and Android. This gives us the freedom to play these games from the comfort of our couches or on the go with our smartphones.
Even though the genre is not as popular as it was in the late ’90s and early ’00s, when games like the Tony Hawk’s series were popular, fans still love both the older games and the new ones. Even though there haven’t been many skateboarding games lately, fans kept asking for more, so EA finally announced that there will be a fourth game in the popular Skate series. Below, we have mentioned the best skateboarding games.
Best Skateboarding Games Comparison Table
| Games | Platform | Key Features | Price | Visit Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Skate 3 | Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 | Create and share skate parks, multiplayer mode | $19.99 | Visit Website |
| OlliOlli World | Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One/Series X | Unique art style, challenging levels, multiplayer mode | $29.99 | Visit Website |
| Skater XL | PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One/Series X | Realistic skateboarding physics, user-created content, mod support | $39.99 | Visit Website |
| Tony Hawk’s Underground | GameCube, PlayStation 2, Xbox | Story-driven career mode, iconic skaters, classic soundtrack | $49.99 | Visit Website |
| Skate City | iOS, Android, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox One/Series X | Intuitive touch controls, stylish visuals, global leaderboards | $4.99 (mobile), $9.99 (console) | Visit Website |
Skate 3
Features
- Open-world skateboarding game
- Cooperative and competitive multiplayer modes
- Create and share custom skate parks and challenges
- Realistic physics and controls
- Extensive trick and combo system
- Career mode with various challenges and objectives
If you ask a fan of skateboarding video games what their favorite is, they will usually say either Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater or Skate. Both games try to go in different directions. Pro Skater tries to look like an arcade game, while Skate tries to be a mix of arcade and realistic. No matter which one you like best, you can’t deny that they are all good. Overall, this is one of the best Skateboarding Games you can suggest you friends.
Skate 3 is a game that will always be popular, and ever since it came out in 2010, fans have been begging EA to make a sequel, which didn’t happen until about ten years later. Even though Skate 3 is now available through Xbox Backwards Compatibility, there are still plenty of reasons to play this great game. Explore each map and try out the different ways you can change it. You could also play in the Hall of Meat mode and try to break as many bones as you can.
Pros
- Offers a realistic and immersive skateboarding experience.
- Features an open-world environment for exploration and various challenges.
- Provides a robust multiplayer mode for cooperative and competitive gameplay.
Cons
- Graphics and visuals may be outdated compared to newer titles.
- Some players may find the controls to be initially difficult to master.
- Limited storyline and single-player campaign compared to other skateboarding games.
OlliOlli World
Features
- Side-scrolling skateboarding game
- Colorful and vibrant environments
- Fluid and responsive controls
- Combo-based gameplay
- Customizable characters and skateboard designs
- Unique tricks and grinds
- Engaging story and quests
OlliOlli World is the next step in Roll7’s popular series. It gives players a bigger sandbox with more characters, side quests, and chances to do sick tricks. Radlandia is ready for both new and experienced skaters to tear it up. There are more than 100 tricks to learn, a Leagues system for players who want to play against each other, and a brand-new sandbox mode that gives you a lot of room to be creative. Overall, this is one of the best Skateboarding Games.
OlliOlli 2 made the game harder, but OlliOlli World is easier for new players to get into. OlliOlli is known for its deep combo system, and that hasn’t changed. Instead of falling down after a failed trick, you’ll now land, but you won’t get as many points. New players can have fun without taking anything away from those who have been playing for a long time.
Pros
- Features a unique and visually striking art style.
- Offers fast-paced and addictive gameplay with a focus on trick combos.
- Provides a diverse range of levels and challenges to keep players engaged.
Cons
- May not appeal to players looking for a more realistic skateboarding experience.
- Controls may be challenging for newcomers to the series.
Skater XL
Features
- Authentic skateboarding experience
- Realistic physics and controls
- Open-ended gameplay with no goals or timers
- Sandbox environments to explore and perform tricks
- Modding support for custom content
- Skater-created challenges and maps
- Replay editor to capture and share gameplay footage
Skater XL has been in Early Access on Steam since 2018, but its full 1.0 version just came out recently. Before Skate 4 was announced, Skater XL pretty much did what it was meant to do. Skater XL is not like the Tony Hawk games because it is a skateboarding simulator. This means that even the simplest tricks take some work to pull off. In fact, the game doesn’t have any tricks built into it.
Instead, each thumbstick controls one foot, and when you move them, the board will automatically respond. Skater XL puts the focus back on individual tricks instead of stringing together wild combos, which still have their place. Because the game gives you a lot of freedom, you can even make your own tricks. Skater XL is only available on PC right now, but it should be coming to Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and Switch later this year. Currently, this is one of the best Skateboarding Games.
Pros
- Offers a highly realistic and physics-based skateboarding simulation.
- Provides an open-world sandbox environment for creative freedom.
- Supports modding and community-created content for endless replayability.
Cons
- Lack of structured objectives or goals may not appeal to all players.
- Limited variety in locations and levels compared to other skateboarding games.
Tony Hawk’s Underground
Features
- Classic skateboarding game series
- Story-driven gameplay with a career mode
- Varied locations and skate spots
- Extensive trick library and combo system
- Create-a-Skater feature for customization
- Multiplayer modes for competitive play
- Soundtrack featuring popular music
The most popular skating game is the Tony Hawk series. The series was the most popular on consoles in the late 1990s and early 2000s because it was like no other arcade game. The games were very different. Some were simple skateboarding games, while others were a bit more silly.
Still, Tony Hawk’s Underground is a popular game that embraces its strangeness. It’s still great for sports fans, and it doesn’t try too hard to be weird. Instead, it has a cool story, some weird characters, and great customization options that can keep you busy for hours. For now, this is the best Skateboarding Games.
Pros
- Classic skateboarding game with a rich history and fanbase.
- Features a compelling story-driven campaign mode.
- Offers a wide variety of tricks, levels, and multiplayer options.
Cons
- Some players may find the controls to be less intuitive or responsive.
- Limited customization options compared to more recent titles.
Skate City
Features
- Casual skateboarding game
- Stylish and minimalist visuals
- Intuitive touch controls
- Realistic skateboarding tricks and movements
- Multiple cities with unique skate spots
- Challenges and objectives to complete
- Relaxing and immersive atmosphere
Skate City is one of the most chill games on this list. It takes players on a skate session through Oslo, Barcelona, and Los Angeles. In this 2.5D skateboarding game, players can skate through each city for hours while listening to lo-fi beats. Skate City was originally made for the iPhone, but doing tricks with a flick of your joystick feels perfect for a game like this. For now, this is one of the best Skateboarding Games that you can install now.
Everyone agrees that showing off your best skateboarding moves is the best part of skateboarding. Skate City lets you record your best moments right in the game. You can control the speed of clips, zoom in with the camera, or even use the classic fisheye lens to get the best view of the action. Skate City gives you the freedom to enjoy the basics of skateboarding, whether you want to do challenges or just chill out in the “free skate” mode.
Pros
- Offers a stylish and minimalist art style.
- Provides a relaxing and casual skateboarding experience.
- Features real-world locations inspired by iconic skate spots.
Cons
- Controls may be simplified and less realistic compared to other titles.
- Limited progression system and variety of challenges or modes.
FAQs
Skater XL definitely has better physics, but Session has a better lighting engine (usually…. it depends on who is using it of course, but when it comes to lighting, Unreal is usually better than Unity). if u want an arcade skater, go for xl. if u want realism, go for Session.
The highly acclaimed skateboarding game comes to PC! Complete over 100 challenges and countless combos in real-world, iconic locations, or relax and ride at your own pace with Endless Skate.
