Skate Story

Somehow, what looks like a vibes-rich self-indulgent arthouse piece turns out to be a game than not only nails the vibes it is chasing, but also manages to keep pretty well balanced on its actual mechanics. Skate Story may appeal to a very specific audience, but they will likely devour it like a cookie in the night sky.

Skate Story is a visually striking and emotionally resonant skateboarding adventure set in a surreal demon realm. Blending expressive gameplay with philosophical storytelling, it challenges players to master a unique trick system while navigating a poetic narrative. Though its structure and controls demand patience, Skate Story rewards persistence with unforgettable style and substance.

Skate Story isn't particularly difficult or demanding of skill, and that works in its favour. Rather than worrying about completing board rotations in time to get the wheels on the ground, the focus is on the path ahead in a way that feels like our demon skater was something of an expert in their past life. This helps make the animations look tight, the gameplay flows through levels, and the initially-scary timing mechanic becomes second-nature. At a certain point the feel of those trick patterns overtakes the visuals, but even without hitting the sweet spot you're still skating like the best of them. I just wanted more to do with all of it. The existing levels are great, but without the ability to play any one of them on-demand it means sitting through dialogue that goes a tiny bit slower than I would like, pushing and Ollie-ing tutorials, and all the other first-timer experiences again and again. But still I do it. Perhaps as I go through more of the story will continue to break through the obscurity it's baked in, and maybe I'll find those missing collectables, but all of that is supplemental, because Skate Story's unique approach to skateboarding feels, looks, and sounds great.

Skate Story masterfully blends disparate themes like philosophy, demons, and skateboarding into a unique artistic experience. By prioritizing literary storytelling and psychedelic visuals over complex trick mechanics, it offers an intense and accessible journey that appeals even to those unfamiliar with the sport.

Learning to skate can be hell, and Skate Story proves this by taking us to what’s probably the weirdest vision of the underworld you’ll see without a belly full of Guatemalan Insanity Peppers. Fusing a solid foundation of satisfyingly grounded skate tricks with a bizarre, abstract world bathed in neon and starlight, Skate Story is a wild trip. I question its replayability and the limited nature of some of its objectives (and I did lose focus occasionally while tapping through its regular text-based conversations) but there’s no doubt it’s one of the most distinctive skateboarding games of the decade.