Skate Story Reviews
You wouldn't think a glass being on a quest to eat the moon and finally sleep could be so relatable, but you'd be wrong. Topped off by some fantastic skateboarding and an incredible soundtrack, Skate Story shouldn't be missed.
Skate Story is a spectacular collision of glass and the most grounded skateboarding I’ve felt in-game. It’s an interesting observation of perseverance in the face of brittle fragility that’s undercut by a need to make its journey palatable, and its stubborn hesitance to push the player closer to their breaking point. As an experiential trip, Skate Story remains a must-play.
Skate Story is a sensory feast of crystalline visuals, psychedelic sounds and rapturous movement. Its story may get in its own way a few too many times to be a completely propelling experience, but the audacity of its meditations on vulnerability and drive through both its premise and style nonetheless make Skate Story feel like a love letter to skateboarding as a craft. This is a very special skateboarding game that, in those moments when its style, mechanics and ideas all click into place, shines brighter than a diamond under moonlight.
From its striking wash of chromatic aberration against the glow of the crystaline skater against the forboding hellscape of the skate park, Skate Story is a feast for the eyes and a must-play for skateboarding fans looking for a short but unforgettable indie hit.
Ambitiously creative, Skate Story delivers an offbeat and artistically memorable narrative adventure with some excellent technical skating sequences. It's not without some issues, but its strengths and individuality make it well worth a look.
There are some who won’t enjoy Skate Story's blend of semi-realistic skateboarding controls with a completely bonkers narrative, but I found it compelling and would recommend it to anyone who has even a passing interest in skateboarding.
Here he comes, here comes demon skate racer!
Most skate games take themselves too seriously, sticking rigidly to the demands and image set by the league and its players. Skate Story shows that there was an underlying artistry to extreme sports and brings it to the forefront without compromising on stylish and addictive gameplay.
I can promise you, if you’re the kind of person that sees that trailer, has an interest in skating games, or the indie scene in general? If you’ve got a curious mind and an interest in more underground studies? If you don’t take yourself too seriously.
Despite all its shortcomings and problems in narrative, visuals, and level design, Skate Story ultimately manages to draw the audience into its world and take them into the depths of the philosophy of absurdism from about the middle of the experience. If you love profound works that have something to say, go for this title without delay and be patient with the problems and inconsistencies of its first half.
Review in Persian | Read full review
It's time to destroy the moons to win your freedom...
Skate Story isn't played, it's felt: every trick is a cry of freedom and every fall a reminder of the pain that runs through it. With its hypnotic aesthetic and atmosphere heavy with symbolism, it turns skateboarding into a dark and fascinating ritual. Beyond a few minor details, what remains is a brutally immersive experience, capable of leaving its mark like few others.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
With its ridiculous story, unique visuals and brilliant soundtrack, there's a lot to like about Skate Story. Its gameplay is the weakest link here, though, with fiddly controls and other issues introducing a level of frustration that might push some players away.
Skate Story is a strange game. It's bizarre, obscure, and frequently ridiculous, so the tone and atmosphere might be too off-putting for some. If it works for you, I suspect it is really going to work for you. The gameplay is perfectly serviceable, and while it never quite reaches the heights of excellence, it more than shines for its purposes. Skate Story is a game that shines when taken as a whole, particularly the way the graphics and music work together. If you're even remotely curious about the concept, it's worth giving it a shot.
It is filled with love and passion, but frustration and despair, often stretching at the seams. I do not know Sam Eng, but I have a feeling that I got an insight into what he loves about making games. I may never be a skating game diehard, but Skate Story is a story worth sharing.
In Skate Story, the journey through the Underworld has contrasting highs and lows: the many segments of intense speed, psychedelic scenarios, contagious music, and surreal poetic narrative are interrupted by alternating moments of monotonous exploration, banal eccentric comedy, and the frequent disruption of the flow due to any little stumble by the fragile glass skater.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Don't sleep on Skate Story. It's a weird and wonderful journey through the Underworld on a skateboard, with great gameplay, visuals, and music. Highly recommended.
Skate Story has some very interesting ideas and gorgeous visuals, but some missteps stop it from being a must-have game in my book. I love the aesthetic, the general gameplay mechanics with skating and how easy it is to do tricks, and the wacky story. But the difficulty in controlling our skater, the lack of ways to go back and play through the levels, and the overall feeling of uselessness for the combo system during boss fights keep it from greatness. It’s still a fun game, and I had a good time with it, but there was just too much stopping me from fully immersing myself in it. It is a good time on the Steam Deck, and if you’re going to be getting the game anyway, it is a lot of fun to play on the go. It isn’t as stable as I would’ve liked, but you can still play it with a solid battery life and a smoother feel than 30 FPS. Ultimately, this is a game. I would recommend playing on the go if you’re going to be getting it anyway.
I loved the visuals, loved the music, and the boss battles were a highlight, but its premise and tiresome gameplay loop bored me after a while. Still, if you are looking for something you clearly have never played before, and will probably never play anything similar to it ever again, then Skate Story will be one of the most unconventional games you’ll ever play. Whether you’ll like it or not is a different story.
Skate Story isn’t a game I’d recommend to everyone, but it is a game I’m glad exists. On Nintendo Switch 2, it feels like it’s finally playing the way it was meant to be played. Smooth, focused, and quietly confident in what it’s doing. It’s a game about movement, failure, and finding flow on your own terms. One that lingers in your head longer than you expect. And sometimes, that’s worth more than any perfectly executed trick.