Skate Story Review — Demon Skateboarding, Glass & Kickflips
Skate Story turns hell into a skate park: you’re a fragile glass demon, skating through nine layers of the Underworld to swallow the Moon. Beautiful, challenging and oddly calming — if you like tight trick physics and moody soundtracks, this one sticks.
Skate Story from Sam Eng is one of those indie gems that mixes Tony Hawk-style trickcraft with a melancholic, Limbo-like world. Released on Dec 8, 2025 for Windows and Mac, it sells a simple but addictive premise: skate through Hell and try to gulp down the Moon.
You play as a glass demon given a skateboard and one impossible quest: skate to the Moon. The core loop is deceptively simple — ollie, kickflip, grind — but the game lives in the physics: weight, momentum and how your board reacts make every trick feel earned. There are over 70 tricks to learn, from basic manuals to disgusting backside tailslides, and progression comes from completing trials and upgrading decks, wheels and trucks. The levels are nine layers of the Underworld, full of waxed ledges, gaps and freeform spots that invite creative lines. Enemies are beatable with stylish tricks, which adds a nice action twist to the skate loop. The soundtrack by Blood Cultures and John Fio is hypnotic and fits the molten, psychedelic streets perfectly. Expect a learning curve — early runs feel fragile and punishing, but nailing a perfect kickflip in a gauntlet? Pure joy. A few camera hiccups and occasional repetition of sections hold it back from being flawless, but the ritualistic beauty of landing combos keeps pulling you back.
Skate Story is a smart, stylish indie that nails the mood and trickfeel even if it stumbles occasionally. It's a must-try for anyone who loves skating sims with a dark, artistic twist.
Pros
- Unique, haunting visual style that turns Hell into a poetic skatepark.
- Satisfying trick physics and a deep trick list — landing combos feels great.
- Hypnotic soundtrack that matches the mood and keeps runs memorable.
Cons
- Can get repetitive in level variety and mission design after a while.
- Occasional camera/technical hiccups and no Linux build at launch.
Player Opinion
Players generally praise the art direction, soundtrack and the tactile feel of the tricks — many say nailing a difficult sequence is incredibly rewarding. Criticism centers on repetition, a sometimes punishing learning curve and minor bugs. If you like games that mix skate mechanics with atmospheric storytelling (think Tony Hawk meets INSIDE), you'll probably enjoy Skate Story.