After years of absence, the Skate franchise is back, this time reimagined as a live-service title that essentially works as a reboot. Released as a free early access game, this new installment preserves some of its predecessors’ DNA, focusing on realistic trick execution.
One of the highlights is the ability to share the city with other players in real time. However, interactions are minimal: there’s no chat or meaningful way to communicate, which makes the social aspect feel underdeveloped. At the start, you can create your character, though customization is very limited. There’s also no traditional story mode or long-term motivation beyond the pure fun of skateboarding.
The game begins with a surprisingly long tutorial —around 2 hours— that covers the basics. While comprehensive, it quickly becomes tedious, mainly due to the AI-generated voice that guides you, which ends up being more annoying than helpful. Skate is not the simplified Tony Hawk experience: here, the mechanics revolve around analog sticks, with the right stick controlling tricks and the left handling balance and direction. Some actions, like grinding, are automatic, while others require manual input with the triggers.
The trick list feels limited and often overly complex to execute. Still, the game lets you freely explore the city, walk, climb, launch yourself from rooftops with amusing ragdoll physics, and complete challenges to earn in-game currency. This can be spent on loot boxes offering underwhelming cosmetics, or you can use real money to buy gear from brand-name shops with slightly more appealing designs.
Challenges refresh constantly, growing in difficulty and increasing your reputation across different areas. On the technical side, the Frostbite Engine provides stable performance, though the cartoonish character models clash with the realism the series was once known for. On the brighter side, the soundtrack perfectly fits the skater vibe, reminiscent of old skate shops. The game also includes tools to build ramps, edit your best clips, and share them with the community.
In conclusion, Skate in early access offers plenty of content but suffers from uneven design. Fans of the genre may find it entertaining, but its focus on social play and microtransactions could alienate those who hoped for a more faithful return to the franchise’s roots.
Score: 3/5
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