The Complete List of Tony Hawk Games in Chronological & Release Order

The skateboarding phenomenon of Tony Hawk has its roots planted in video games since the ’90s. The early editions of the franchise are seen as some of the best games of all time. Through its ups and downs, the franchise remains beloved by fans and has only grown since the newly released Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 received critical acclaim.

Pro Skater (1999)

The first Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater game was massively successful due to the popularity of Tony Hawk and the X Games. Players control their favorite skateboarders in 3D environments, performing tricks to punk rock music. While the game consists of objectives and character attributes, free-play is the most popular game mode. In free-play, players skate around without any missions or constraints, which is almost therapeutic. 

The game received critical acclaim for its environments, gameplay, and physics upon release. Fans noted how addictive the gameplay felt. The release on the Gameboy Color had mixed reviews as it was a watered-down 2D version of the title. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater ranked as one of the best-selling games of 1999 and sold 3.5 million copies. While newer games expand and improve the skateboarding formula, Pro Skater was ahead of its time and set the foundation for the series.     

Pro Skater 2 (2000)

Fans highly anticipated the release of Pro Skater 2 and were met with a better sequel in almost every way. Although the game is built with the same game engine as its predecessor, the graphics and the mechanics improved. Players still had career mode, free-play, multiplayer, and single session but could now use level editor. The editor had over 100 models and pieces for players to place on an empty map. This added a new level to replayability, as players could create the skatepark of their dreams. 

The game also included more playable famous skateboarders, increasing the total number from eight to thirteen. Depending on the version Spider-Man and the South Korean girl group Fin.K.L were also included in the character rotation. It was also the first game in the series to add character customization.

Its release was more successful than its predecessor and is the best-reviewed PlayStation game ever. The game pushed the limits of what was possible at that time. It sold over 5 million copies in its lifetime and won multiple awards.         

Pro Skater 3 (2001)

While it’s difficult for a sequel to live up to the expectations of the original while also improving upon almost every feature, it’s even rarer for the third game in a series to do the same. Pro Skater 3 was the first title in the series to add online multiplayer with the release on the PlayStation 2. Along with its updated graphics, the game kept Manuals, a trick add in Pro Skater 2, and added in the revert. The revert allowed for longer combos and tricks strung together by manuals. Once refined and polished, hidden tricks would also be added to the fourth game. 

The game keeps the thirteen skateboarders, adding more original character models, Darth Maul, Wolverine, Doomguy, Kelly Slater, and several famous Asian skateboarders. It had the largest selection of playable characters at the time. 

The release was met with critical praise and is considered one of the greatest video games ever made. The game won multiple awards and is the highest-rated game on the PlayStation 2.

Pro Skater 2x (2001)

Pro Skater 2x was a launch title explicitly made for the Xbox. The game is a remastered version of Pro Skater 1 and 2, featuring every level and a few more made specifically for 2x. It takes features and mechanics from Pro Skater 3. The game added female customizable characters, a balance meter, and motion blur. The release was met with positive reception, although not on the level of the previous three games. It was a welcomed surprise to fans who loved the first two games and got a remastered version with quality-of-life improvements.  

Pro Skater 4 (2002)

All mechanics and gameplay modes were greatly improved with the release of Pro Skater 4. The maps and parks are bigger, allowing for more exploration and combos. Career mode is changed and is similar to free-play, with players going around the map and completing challenges given by NPCs. This is a big shake-up from the previous games, where career mode gives players a time limit to complete a certain amount of objectives. 

Although Pro Skater 4 didn’t receive the highest ratings in the series, it was still met with critical acclaim. Praise from fans came from its larger maps, updated graphics, and increased difficulty. It was nominated and won multiple awards, including “Best Alternative Sports Game on Xbox and GameCube.”   

Underground (2003)

Tony Hawks Underground is a turning point for the series as a whole. The game keeps the standard formula of completing levels and having fun pulling off tricks and combos while adding new elements. Career mode is replaced with a story mode that tells a linear narrative. The player’s customizable characters and their friend Eric Sparrow dream of becoming famous skateboarders. The storyline features ups, downs, and a hint of betrayal that leads to the thrilling climax.  

Fan-favorite features such as character customization and level editors return. The editor is greatly expanded. Fans regard Underground as having the most freedom in any Tony Hawk game and consider it one of the best in the series. It received multiple awards, sold over 2 million copies on the PlayStation 2 alone, and was praised for its improvements and inclusion of a story.     

Underground 2 (2004)

Underground 2 received mixed reactions from fans and critics after its release. While many people point out that the engine and mechanics of the game are great and are one of the best in the franchise, the storylines lack. The game still has combos, tricks, and everything you’d expect in a Tony Hawk game. One of the most notable new features is the Focus ability, which allows players to slow down time. Slow motion makes it easier to keep combos alive. 

A classic mode is also added, bringing back levels from the first three games with the standard two-minute timer and objectives. Adding in fan-favorite levels with updated graphics is one of the best parts of the game. However, its story mode is often ridiculed for its ridiculous plot. Players also criticized the addition of wheelchairs and scooters, taking away from the skateboards. Underground 2 is remembered as having very strong mechanics but filled with questionable choices that take away from the gameplay.     

American Wasteland (2005)

Similar to Underground 2, American Wasteland features the addition of BMX tricks and combos with bicycles. Although it has a story mode, the game is advertised as one giant level. There are no loading times between areas as players explore and complete objectives and challenges.

Upon release, it received positive reviews but was criticized for its claim to be one large map with no load times. While technically true, the load times are masked in an uncreative way, with players running through long hallways to reach the next level. It is also seen as one of the easiest games, with very little challenge in each level. It lacks innovation and holds the player’s hand to a frustrating degree.     

Downhill Jam (2006)

Downhill Jam is the first departure from the original Tony Hawk formula. Instead of a game that focuses on skateboarding in parks or open areas, Downhill Jam is a racing game. The title comes from the fan-favorite map of the same name, featured in Pro Skater. Its release was mainly on Nintendo platforms and received mixed reviews. For fans of the series, the game strays too far away from what made it successful and popular while being a subpar racing game for fans of that genre.  

Project 8 (2006)

The release of Project 8 overshadowed Downhill Jam as it stays in line with what fans love and expect from the series. It was released on PlayStation and Xbox. The game utilizes a new Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 engine that improved its graphics and gameplay. Nail the Trick is the most notable feature added to the game, with the camera zooming in on the character’s feet. Players can control their legs with the analog sticks, making their own moves and techniques in the process. 

Project 8 received generally positive reviews on the Xbox 360 version. The PlayStation release garnered criticism for its lack of online functionality and framerate drops. 

Proving Ground (2007)

The last Tony Hawk game to be developed by Neversoft, Proving Ground sought to return to the franchise’s roots. The game added features similar to Nail the Trick from its predecessor, including Nail the Manual and Grab. It is also the first game in the series that allows online features on the PlayStation Network.

However, it lacks innovation and keeps gameplay and mechanics relatively the same from past releases. This led to mixed reviews at launch, with fans saying the game was too dull in both gameplay and graphics. The world had a grey hue to it that made the image look flat and uninspired. After this game, Robomodo took over developments, leading to more questionable decisions for the franchise.

Motion (2008)

The second spin-off game in the series, Tony Hawk’s Motion, is generally considered the worst in the franchise. The game was released on the Nintendo DS exclusively and uses motion controls as its primary means of control. While also having skate parks, it also features snowboarding levels with mountainsides filled with obstacles. Critics and fans criticize the motion controls as unresponsive and confusing. The game is seen as broken, making the movement hard to follow and comprehend.   

Ride (2009)

Similar to how Motion made use of the DS motion controls, Ride requires the use of a novelty skateboard. Players purchase a real skateboard equipped with sensors that they use to move around in-game. Although the concept is interesting, the execution and functionality leaves much to desire. The skateboard doesn’t work as intended and provides an awkward gameplay experience.

While previous games are revolutionary and the highest-rated games on their platforms, Ride was named Worst Game of the Year. Those who got their skateboard mechanics down felt that the gameplay wasn’t fun or worth the time and money.   

Shred (2010)

Tony Hawk’s Shred is the sequel to Ride and utilizes the same motion-controlled skateboard. The game received the same criticism as its predecessor and only sold 3,000 copies in its first week. The failure of these two games led to the franchise being put on hold, as fans weren’t receptive to the new direction of the games.  

Pro Skater HD (2012)

Despite being a remastered version of Pro Skater 1, which was highly acclaimed, Pro Skater HD somehow fails in its adaptation. While it’s generally considered to be a fantastic idea, the execution is poor. Critics point out that the mechanics can lag or stutter when performing tricks, and the game lacks features from the original game. The HD remaster provides better graphics but worse gameplay in every facet for fans who have never played the original game.   

Pro Skater 5 (2015)

Following the failed launches of Ride and Shred, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 5 brought the series back to its root (in name only). This was the first Pro Skater game in 13 years and the first main series title in 8 years. However, the game wasn’t created to get the franchise back on track after the commercial failures of Ride and Shred. Instead, it was created due to the licensing deal expiring in 2015, rushing development.   

While the game does incorporate old game modes and classic gameplay mechanics, it was heavily criticized at launch. The game was released with broken mechanics, bugs, glitches, and game-breaking features. While these were eventually fixed with updates, the damage had been done. What’s left is a boring game with bad mechanics. It’s a mark on the franchise as a whole and the last mainline game for five years.    

Skate Jam (2018)

Skate Jam is the first mobile-specific title and the first game not to be published by Activision. It received mixed reviews and is cited as having difficult and awkward controls. While it tries incorporating classic mechanics from Pro Skater, it lacks intuitive and easy functionality.   

Pro Skater 1+2 (2020)

After the downward spiral, the franchise was left in after continual commercial failures, Pro Skater 1+2 turns the series around. The title is a remastered version of the first two games and the fast-selling game in the franchise. Its gameplay perfectly captures what made Pro Skater great and gives new fans of the series a blast from the past. Its reviews were highly acclaimed, mostly on the PlayStation 5 release, which is seen as the peak of skating games.