Top 10 Skateboarding Games of ALL TIME!
- Retro Maggie
- May 28
- 5 min read
Updated: 14 minutes ago
Growing up in the 90's Skateboarding and Skating games were at its peak! Here are my favourite Skateboarding games of all time. What are your Top 10 Skateboarding games? Let me know in the comments!
10- SKATE 2
Skate 2 is the 2009 sequel to EA’s acclaimed skateboarding sim, set in a sprawling, partly ruined cityscape inspired by Philadelphia. Picking up right after the first game’s finale, you play a pro skater released from jail into a city where skating is outlawed—and must rebuild your reputation by pulling off jaw‑dropping tricks, forging a crew, and challenging a corrupt developer who’s trying to gentrify the streets. The game introduces manuals and reverts for chaining combos across varied urban terrains, a deep creation suite for custom parks and tricks, and seamless drop‑in/drop‑out multiplayer. With its signature “flick it” control system, dynamic challenges, and a gritty but vibrant open world, Skate 2 expanded both the series’ freedom of expression and its street‑culture authenticity.
9- Tony Hawk's American Wasteland
Tony Hawk’s American Wasteland is a 2005 skateboarding video game that follows a young skater who moves to Los Angeles to escape his small-town life and become a legend. After being robbed upon arrival, he teams up with local skaters to build a massive, graffiti-covered DIY skate park called the “American Wasteland” by collecting pieces from iconic skate spots around the city. The game features a seamless open-world environment, allowing players to skate through various parts of L.A. without loading screens, and includes new tricks, BMX gameplay, and a punk-inspired soundtrack. It’s known for combining fast-paced skating action with a rebellious storyline and urban style.
8- Tony Hawk's Underground 2
Tony Hawk’s Underground 2 is a skateboarding video game that follows a chaotic, globe-trotting storyline where the player teams up with either Tony Hawk or Bam Margera for the “World Destruction Tour,” a wild, prank-filled competition between two teams of skaters. Unlike its predecessor, which focused on a personal rise to skateboarding fame, this installment leans into a more comedic and irreverent tone, blending skate challenges with destructive antics across various international locations. Players complete objectives, unlock new areas, and perform tricks in creatively exaggerated environments, with a mix of pro skaters and eccentric characters rounding out the cast.
7- Skate 3
Skate 3 is a skateboarding simulation game that shifts focus from individual progression to team-based play, set in the fictional city of Port Carverton. Unlike its grittier predecessors, the game embraces a more positive and welcoming skate culture. Players create their own skate team and work to build a brand by completing challenges, performing tricks, and selling boards. With improved controls, a robust trick system, and expanded multiplayer options, Skate 3 emphasizes creativity, collaboration, and community-driven content, allowing players to build parks, share videos, and compete online.
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 is a modern remaster of the first two iconic games in the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater series, combining classic levels, skaters, and gameplay with updated graphics, smoother controls, and new features. It retains the fast-paced, arcade-style trick system that made the originals beloved, while adding modern touches like online multiplayer, a detailed Create-a-Park mode, and additional challenges. The game appeals to both longtime fans and newcomers by preserving the nostalgic feel of the originals while enhancing them with contemporary polish and expanded content.
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 builds on the success of its predecessors by introducing new levels, improved graphics, and the groundbreaking revert trick, which allows players to link vert tricks into longer combos. Released in 2001, it was the first in the series to feature online play (on PS2) and brought a larger, more interactive world with dynamic environments. Players skate as iconic pros or custom characters, completing objectives, discovering hidden areas, and unlocking new gear. With its tight controls, memorable soundtrack, and expanded trick system, THPS 3 is often regarded as one of the best entries in the franchise.
4- Skate
Skate is a skateboarding game that introduced a more realistic and physics-based approach to the genre, contrasting sharply with the arcade style of the Tony Hawk series. Set in the open-world city of San Vanelona, the game features a unique “Flick-It” control system that uses the analog sticks to perform tricks, emphasizing precision and timing. Players take on the role of a rising skater aiming to make a name in the local scene by filming footage, completing challenges, and earning sponsorships. With its grounded style, immersive environment, and authentic skate culture vibe, Skate redefined what a skateboarding game could be.
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater is the groundbreaking first entry in the series that revolutionized skateboarding games with its fast-paced, arcade-style gameplay and tight controls. Released in 1999, it features real-life pro skaters like Tony Hawk, Chad Muska, and Bob Burnquist, and takes players through a series of timed levels where they complete objectives, find hidden tapes, and perform high-scoring trick combos. The game introduced a fluid trick system and iconic level design, backed by a high-energy soundtrack. Its blend of accessible gameplay and depth made it a cultural touchstone and laid the foundation for a legendary franchise.
Thrasher Presents Skate and Destroy is a skateboarding game released in 1999 for the PlayStation, offering a more realistic and technical alternative to the more arcade-like Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, which debuted the same year. The game emphasizes precise timing and control, requiring players to carefully execute tricks and combos in a slower, more deliberate style. Set in gritty urban environments, it features a distinct visual aesthetic, a strong hip-hop soundtrack, and a scoring system that rewards style and authenticity. While less commercially successful, Skate and Destroy gained a cult following for its challenging gameplay and dedication to real street skating culture.
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 expanded and refined everything that made the original a hit, adding new tricks like the manual, which allowed players to link combos across flat ground and significantly deepen gameplay. Released in 2000, it introduced a robust Create-a-Skater and Create-a-Park mode, giving players more creative freedom than ever before. With a larger roster of pro skaters, diverse new levels, and an iconic punk and hip-hop soundtrack, THPS 2 delivered a near-perfect blend of accessibility and depth. It’s widely regarded as one of the greatest video games of all time for its innovation, replay value, and cultural impact.
Comments