skate.

skate. is a free-to-play skateboarding game currently in early access, delivering a gameplay experience that captures the core feel of the classic Skate series. Players appreciate the responsive controls, satisfying trick execution, and smooth skating mechanics that pay homage to the originals, although some note a slightly more arcade-like approach. The game offers an open-world MMO vibe with progression through challenges and cosmetic unlocks. However, many players report significant technical issues such as frequent crashes, long queue times, and optimization problems even on high-end PCs. The current content is limited, lacking offline modes, story elements, and several beloved features from previous titles like Hall of Meat and pro challenges. Microtransactions and loot boxes are present, which some players find intrusive or overpriced. Despite these shortcomings, the community sees potential for growth with future updates and appreciates that the game is free and evolving. Overall, it is a promising but rough early access title that appeals mostly to fans of the series willing to tolerate bugs and missing features. The skating gameplay is widely praised for its authenticity, but the game's technical stability and content depth need significant improvement.

Highlights

Players consistently praise the core skating mechanics, highlighting the smooth controls and satisfying trick system that evoke the classic Skate experience. The free-to-play model is appreciated, making the game accessible to many. The art style, while divisive, is noted as clean and distinct. The open-world design encourages exploration and creative lines, keeping sessions engaging. Many enjoy the potential for customization and the community-driven aspects like board setups and challenges. Early access status is recognized, and players are hopeful about future content additions such as story mode, offline play, and more classic features. The game successfully captures the essence of skateboarding fun and progression despite its current limitations.

Criticisms

Common criticisms include frequent crashes, poor optimization, and long login queues that hinder the overall experience. Many players find the lack of offline mode, story, and classic game modes disappointing. The art style and character models receive mixed reactions, with some feeling it lacks the gritty, rebellious skate culture vibe of earlier titles. Microtransactions and loot boxes are seen as intrusive and overpriced by a portion of the community. Several players report bugs that block progression, and the online-only model frustrates those who prefer solo play. The tutorial and UI have been described as clunky, and some miss the deeper customization and content variety of previous Skate games.