There have been decades worth of skateboarding video games that allow real-life skate pros and amateurs alike to partake in exciting skateboard adventures while landing ollies and mastering the art of the kickflip. Although Tony Hawk revolutionized the skateboarding-turned-video game phenomenon back in 1999 with Pro Skater, there are several other skateboard video games that have been well-admired since the early 80s. Even more exciting, there are a few new additions to this niche of video games that take our favorite skateboard narratives of days past and transform them into a modern, life-like experience.
Here are the best skateboarding games of all time from the 1980s all the way to 2020:
720
(Available on Atari System 2 and Nintendo NES for $2.99+)
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One of the first extreme sports games ever, 720 was an arcade game from Atari that was eventually released on a bunch of home systems, including NES and Commodore 64. Players had to visit a number of skate parks and take part in various contests, constantly pulling off tricks and stunts in order to keep an in-game timer replenished. If you stopped doing tricks and let the timer tick down to zero, your skater would be attacked by a swarm of man-eating bees and you'd be stung to bits. A very real threat that all skaters have had to encounter at some point in their lives, we're sure you'll agree.
Skate or Die!
(Available on Nintendo NES, Virtual Console (EU and AUS), C64, MS-DOS, Apple IIGS, Amstrad CPC, and Sinclair ZX Spectrum for $4.49+)
EA's first attempt at a skating game came in 1988. Skate Or Die consisted of five different events, each focusing on a different kind of skateboard skill. As well as the obvious trick-based halfpipe shenanigans in the Freestyle Ramp event, players also took part in a High Jump event, two downhill races against a rival (one in a park, the other in a street) and a Pool Joust event, in which two players skate towards each other and try to knock the other off their board. Skate Or Die was successful enough to warrant a sequel called Ski Or Die. Guess what that one was about?
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3
(Available on Mac OS, Game Boy Advance, Game Boy Color, GameCube, PlayStation, PlayStation 2, Nintendo 64, Microsoft Windows, and Xbox for $31.75+)
The Tony Hawk games were so successful that not only were they the best skateboarding games ever made, they were regarded as some of the finest games of that era in general. The first PlayStation Tony Hawk game laid the foundation, introducing jumping, grinding, and combo runs, before the second game added the crucial Manual trick to enable much longer combos to be strung together. When Pro Skater 3 threw in the Revert trick to enable players to keep combos going after vertical jumps, the game's mechanics were complete. This was the highpoint of the series.
Tony Hawk's Underground
(Available on Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 2, Mobile, GameCube, Xbox, and Gameboy Advance for $62.99+)
In Tony Hawk's Underground, you create your own character before embarking on a rocky friendship with another skater, Eric Sparrow. However, your friendship falls apart after you both start professional skateboarding careers. All in all, it has 27 chapters, and you can set goals to direct the game. Each level resembles a part of the United States for added interest as you skateboard through competitions.
Disney's Extreme Skate Adventure
(Available on PlayStation 2, GameCube, Xbox, and GBA for $33.14 +)
This choice might seem like a weird one to be on the list. After all, it is a skateboarding game starring the likes of Tarzan, Buzz Lightyear, and a selection of real-life children who appeared in the game after winning an "Extreme Skate Crew" competition. Yet, Disney's Extreme Skate Adventure was developed by Neversoft and used the same game engine as Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4. Grinding along vines in Pride Rock as Simba, or popping Ollies in Andy's Bedroom as Woody and Zurg is genuinely great fun. A hidden gem.
Backyard Skateboarding
(Available on PC and Game Boy Advance for $13.49 +)
Backyard Skateboarding was first released in 2004 and was such a hit that it won Children's Game of the Year in 2005, with a second edition released in 2006. Although it was meant for kids, anyone can enjoy this skateboarding video game. In Backyard Skateboarding, you can choose from several different skateboarders to compete in the Backyard Ultimate Skatepark alongside the pro, Andy Macdonald. As you advance through different skate environments, like the urban backyard, rooftops, boardwalks, and even a medieval castle, you can gain sponsorships and upgrade your board and player's clothing. The ultimate challenge is to unlock the refurbished skate park environment for even more fun.
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Thrasher Presents Skate and Destroy
(Available on PlayStation for $39.99+)
Thrasher Presents Skate and Destroy, released in 1999, was said to have rivaled the Tony Hawk series, technologically speaking. Even though it didn't receive as much recognition, it's still worth making it on the list. As the player, you get to choose from six different characters before you skate through 12 levels, gaining fame and popularity in the skating community until you finally get to pose for the cover of Thrasher Magazine.
Skate
(Available on Xbox 360, PS3 for $21.47 +)
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Noticing the success Activision was having with the Tony Hawk games, EA decided to get back into the skateboarding scene with the simplistically titled Skate. It boasted a unique flick-based control method in which players had to physically turn the board with their skater's feet using the analog sticks, plus realistic "ragdoll physics," which meant that if you messed up your trick and bailed out, your skater's fall would change based on the environment around them. Skate was so hyped, it outsold the Tony Hawk game of that era — Proving Ground — by two to one, and to this day it has a cult following from those who believe it was better than Mr. Hawk's series.
Skate 2
(Available on Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 for $9.99+)
Skate 2, released in 2009, follows the previous plot of the first edition, Skate, released in 2007. In this game, you come out of prison to find that your city, San Vanelona, has suffered an earthquake and a new authoritative company is running the place. Your job is to create a skateboarding community again by skateboarding through the city and making sure the company's security guards don't see you.
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OlliOlli
(Available on PS Vita, and PC for $9.95 +)
It looked like skateboarding was dead on games consoles, but then came along an unassuming little Vita game called OlliOlli. It looks simple — it's a side-scrolling game, and all you can do is jump, grind, and perform a few basic tricks — but its difficulty is so punishing that it can quickly consume your life. The key is in the way it makes players not only pull off tricks but also perfectly time their landings, meaning a massive points-scoring run can quickly become a disaster with just one mistimed landing. This increased focus on risk and reward makes OlliOlli knuckle-bitingly frustrating when it goes wrong, but one of the most satisfying games around today when it goes so beautifully right.
OlliOlli 2: Welcome to Olliwood
(Available on Steam, PlayStation Vita, and PlayStation 4 for $14.99+)
In OlliOlli 2: Welcome to Olliwood, released in 2015, your character skateboards through Olliwood (Hollywood) and movie sets performing tricks and avoiding crashing into movie equipment. This game is expected to come out with a second edition with even more features and levels.
Session: Upcoming
(Available on Xbox One and Microsoft Windows)
Session, currently available for early release and set to fully release sometime in 2020, is a skateboarding game that allows you to create your own tricks. Each thumbstick is attached to your character's feet, so you have more control over what they do. What's more, the animation is extremely realistic, making players feel like they are actually skating through business parks and skating locations.
Skater XL: Upcoming
(Available on Steam, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox One)
Skater XL is an up and coming skateboarding game that is expected to be released in July 2020. In this game, players skateboard through the animated versions of real-life skating locations. You can also choose between playing as a professional skateboarder or creating your own character. What makes this game unique is the fact that there are no programmed tricks or maneuvers. You simply use the thumbstick on your controller and you can create your own moves!
What’s your favorite skateboarding game ever?
