Skateboarding games have been popular for decades, appearing on most video game consoles in one form or another over the years. Most gamers will have played the Tony Hawk games at one point in their lives, however, there is a range of other, less well-known skateboarding games that have received critical acclaim, some of which are also listed here. If you’re interested in finding out more about some of the best skateboarding games to play right now, then take a look at these awesome suggestions below!
Skate 3
With the Tony Hawk series becoming less popular over the last couple of decades (until Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 was released), the Skate series emerged to fill the gap as one of the best skateboarding games. Skate 3 is the third iteration in the series (released in 2010), usually considered to be the best. It focuses more on realism than the Tony Hawk series, with the aim of the game being to build a successful skateboarding team. Whether you’re playing your first skateboarding game or your fifth, there’s lots of gaming fun to be had when playing Skate 3.
Skate 3 features a range of different tricks and is set in an open world environment for the main game. The game also features an extensive park building section, as well as several online multiplayer options, making it the perfect skateboarding game for those wanting to play with their friends. Skate 4 is set to be released at some point in the future, although no release date details have emerged yet. Will it make the cut as yet another great skate title in the list of best skateboarding games to play?
OlliOlli World
OlliOlli World is actually the third game in the Olli Olli series. The previous two games (Olli Olli & Olli Olli 2) are worth playing, but OlliOlli World is generally considered to be the best game in the series. It’s a 2D platforming skateboarding game, featuring colorful graphics, designed in a hand-drawn art style. The game was released this year and has had a great reception across the board, due to its unique style and gameplay. Players can travel around the world of Radlandia doing tricks, or they can choose to complete side quests instead, making OlliOlli World a rather diverse game.
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2
This wouldn’t be a list of the best skateboarding games ever released without mentioning Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2, officially released in 2020. This game is actually a remake of two much older Tony Hawk games – Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater & Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2, respectfully released in 1999 and 2000. Both games have remained popular with fans of the series, with the nostalgia for the older iterations of the Tony Hawk series giving way to the creation of the remastered Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2.
These games were phenomenal when they were first released, featuring a fantastic skate punk soundtrack and multiple areas, characters and tricks for gamers to utilise whilst playing. The remastered version became the top-selling Tony Hawk game of all time and was received fantastically by critics and gamers alike, for good reason. Like many other great skating games, this title also features some of the best skateboard brands in the world, such as Birdhouse and Baker. The game features many other awesome board and apparel brands for gamers to use in the game from the likes of iconic names such as Vans, Autonomy, Vision, and Protec.
The graphics have had a rehaul and most of the original song choices are still in the game, as well as a range of new tracks that suit the skateboarding genre well. New features have also been added, such as new tricks, new skaters and some fantastic creation tools, so that gamers can create their own parks and skaters, making it more than just a simple remaster. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 is the definitive skateboarding game on the market at the moment, appealing to old fans and newer gamers who didn’t have the chance to play the original games the first time around. It’s also available on all current consoles, so there is no reason for current gamers not to give it a chance!
Tony Hawk’s Underground
Tony Hawk’s Underground is a slightly older game than the others mentioned here, but it’s still worth checking out if you can find a copy. It was originally released in 2003 and changed the Tony Hawk series slightly, adding a lot of customization aspects based on the individuality of the player. Whilst it is similar at times to the original Tony Hawk games, the slight differences in gameplay allowed the Tony Hawk series to evolve and change, rather than stagnating within itself. It’s by no means the best Tony Hawk game on the market, but it’s well worth a go for any skateboarding fans with a Playstation 2.
The games listed above are some of the best skateboarding games ever released, but there are also many others worth playing. Current gamers with modern consoles should definitely get a copy of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 – it may also be worth keeping an eye out for Skate 4 when it inevitably appears.
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