Skate Story [REVIEW] – Skating Through Hell in Style

Skate Story is one of those games that immediately catches your attention, because it simply looks and feels unlike anything else in the skateboarding genre. We’ve been spoilt for skating games this year, but none of them ever asked you to kick-flip through Hell as a demon made of glass who’s hungry for the moon… yeah, you read that right. That alone proves that Skate Story deserves your attention, but the real praise for the game comes in how damn good it manages to be whilst committing to that bizarre premise.

Check out some screenshots down below:

Skate Story puts players in the role of fragile, a shimmering demon who makes a pretty big deal with the Devil: devour the moons that light Hell’s many layers, and maybe, just maybe, you’ll get your soul back. It’s a ridiculous setup, especially when paired with the skateboarding genre, but by god does it work – especially with the slick presentation that absolutely sells the unique nature of the premise. The underworld here isn’t the usual fire-and-brimstone pit where you expect to burn for eternity, but a cosmic fever dream filled with twisting corridors, corporate departments, and tortured souls who need your help with everything from tracking down strange artefacts to finishing manuscripts… yeah, about right really. The imagery really does hit hard, and even when the writing gets a little on the cryptic and bizarre side, the world is so striking that you’re happy to let it wash over you.

One thing that is worth noting is that Skate Story isn’t a traditional arcade skater or even a full-blown sim… it grinds somewhere in the middle. Tricks rely mostly on timing-based inputs with the shoulder buttons, and yeah, getting a feel for them takes patience. Early on, the controls feel a bit fussy, like your thumbs and the game are getting to know each other, but once the rhythm clicks, that slight awkwardness feels more natural and you’ll start pulling off flips, tricks, and grinds with a smooth and satisfying motion. The game purposefully eases you in with simple tricks before layering on new moves, and that slow build helps keep the challenge fair and the gameplay engaging.

You spend a lot of time in open hub areas that function like small skate parks scattered throughout Hell’s departments, with each a decent space to chain together combos, collect souls or collectibles, and pick up quests from the realm’s weirder inhabitants. They’re also where you can tweak your board setup or just practice lines at your own pace, with each a nice little sanctuary where you can kick(flip) back and relax a little.

“Skate Story dazzles with a style and confidence that set it apart from ANYTHING else in the skateboarding genre.”

Where Skate Story really finds its groove is in the corridor sequences, with these letting pushing that sense of speed and danger (and occasional bailing) that’s so commonly associated with the world of skating. Bombing through a twisting underworld tunnel, dodging hazards, and snapping into tricks to squeeze out more speed is offers a real rush, with these runs have an archaic energy and chaos that really help make for some of Skate Story’s finest moments. They’re f*****g exhilarating, but more importantly, a ton of fun.

Boss battles also stand out as a high point, with these showdowns seeing your skating combos translate directly into damage. It’s a clever way to blend skating with combat, turning the core gameplay mechanics into a pulsating surge of momentum where pulling off varied (and cleanly landed) tricks is the secret to success. Best of all, the bosses themselves keep you on your toes with their own attacks, forcing to keep the momentum going just to stay alive. Much like other aspects of Skate Story, it feels unlike anything else I’ve experienced in the skateboarding genre and helps elevate the game into something special.

Still, for all of the beauty and satisfaction of the skating experience, Skate Story does stumble in places. The controls can be a little fiddle in places, some collision quirks occasionally arise that throw the physics into disarray, whilst there are some moments in the late game that could feel a little tedious. You can’t revisit old areas without starting over entirely after the credits roll either, which feels like a missed opportunity – especially for a game built around exploration and style. Not big issues, sure, but just small things that prevent Skate Story from hitting Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 levels of greatness.

Check out some screenshots down below:

But still, it’s hard to stay frustrated for long, with Skate Story just having a staggeringly slick vibe that carries it through even some of its more fiddly moments. The psychedelic visuals, shifting colours, reflective surfaces, gorgeous sparks, lens flares… everything feels handcrafted to be both overwhelming weird, but in a manner that simply pulsates with a hypnotic sense of stylish flair. And, perhaps more importantly, Skate Story captures the feeling of skating with a sense of motion, uncertainty, and reward that’s not always seen in the genre… you know… that moment where you’re flying a little faster than you can control, but you trust yourself anyway. It’s sublime and helps go a long way in showing that 2025 is a year where skateboarding in gaming can really, really shine.

Developer: Sam Eng
Publisher: Devolver Digital
Platform(s): PC (Reviewed), PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 2
Website: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1263240/Skate_Story/