3D Skateboard Games

Street Sk8er (PlayStation 1999)

• Skating through city environments against a clock and trying to reach checkpoints, all while pulling off skateboarding moves, is a blast in this PlayStation title from Electronic Arts. The game has a long list of moves you can pull off and a "free skate" mode for when you just want to skate around without any pressure from a ticking clock. The game achieved a pretty decent score of 7.0 out of 10 on IGN and while it's not the most flashy 3D skateboarding game out there it's still pretty good. A sequel, Street Sk8er 2, came out a year later with tightened controls and improved graphics. The sequel was also more of an arcade experience than the original.

Trasher: Skate &Destroy (PlayStation 1999)

• If you are looking for a 3D skateboarding game that is so technical that it is almost a simulation of the sport, then "Trasher: Skate &Destroy" is the one to get. Endorsed by "Trasher" magazine, a very prestigious skateboarding publication, this game is a very authentic recreation of the sport. As such you won't be able to pull off all the cool moves without some practice, which might put off people who want the immediate action that games like Tony Hawk's provides. If you are willing to stick with it, though, and learn to master the controls you'll find "Trasher: Skate &Destroy" to be a very rewarding game. The game landed a IGN score of 8.5 out of 10 although it cites it as maybe being a bit "too hard" for its own good.

Tony Hawk's Pro Skater (PlayStation 1999)

• Tony Hawk is a veteran in the skateboarding culture and one of the most well known skaters, so any game that bears his moniker has a high level of expectation attached to it. Pro Skater did not disappoint, and the arcade-like gameplay meant anybody could jump in and just start having fun with this title. Spend some time to learn the ins and outs of every level and you'll start to realize just how deep the gameplay goes and how well crafted everything is. The physics aren't exactly realistic but being able to launch yourself high into the air and pull off some amazing tricks is definitely fun and the series has become so popular that it received a multitude of sequels across all formats. Four games were released in the "Pro Skater" franchise before titles like "Underground" 1 and 2, "Wasteland," "Project 8," "Downhill Jam," "Proving Ground," "Motion," "Ride" and "Shred" all came out bearing Tony Hawk's logo but each with its own unique playing style and new additions. The original game is still considered to be one of the best and has a GameSpot score of 9.3 out of 10 as well as the "Editors Choice" award.

MTV Sports: Skateboarding (PlayStation 2000)

• Unfortunately not all 3D skateboard games are good, and this attempt featuring the MTV sports brand is widely considered to be just a cheap cash-in on the popularity of the genre. Poor collision detection and unresponsive controls spoil this game and not even the inclusion of famous skaters like Andy Macdonald or the different official clothing brands can save this one. The game received almost all around bad review scores and out of a total of 17 critic reviews managed a average of 4.8 out of 10.

Grind Session (PlayStation 2000)

• With a GameRankings average score of 77 percent based on the reviews of 23 critics, Grind Session is one of the better 3D skateboarding games. While it doesn't quite manage to beat Tony Hawk's games it's still a good game that is well worth checking out. The game looks and plays almost exactly like Tony Hawk's Pro Skater but adds some interesting new features like being able to look around the areas in first person view and "tech lines" which uses colored lines to show you exactly what objects you can perform trick combos between. If you are a fan of the Tony Hawk's series and want something similar, Grind Session will do the trick.

Skate (PS3 2007)

• Skate was one of the first 3D skateboard games to really challenge the Tony Hawk's series in popularity by eschewing nearly impossible tricks and other gimmicks for some plain skateboarding. Much more of a simulation than Tony Hawk's games, this game features solid controls, stylish visuals and slick presentation. It will take a little longer to master the controls and become really good at this game but the payoff is worth it and the deep gameplay makes for a more engaging challenge. The series has since given us two sequels which both improve on the basic concepts of the original. Skate received a Metascore of 85 out of a 100 on Metacritic based on the reviews of 31 critics. The series is also available on Xbox 360.