Tony Hawk has become a household name due to his legendary skateboarding skills. As such, it stands to reason that it would have its own video game franchise. His video games let players skate like him and perform some of his most iconic tricks. Here are the best Tony Hawk games of all time:
Related: The Best Skateboarding Games, Ranked
10: Tony Hawk’s American Desert (2005)
Image via Neversoft
Tony Hawk’s American Wasteland is set in an open-world environment based in Los Angeles, California. The player can skate, explore the environment or complete missions to advance the story. The game received mixed reviews from critics, with some praising the open-world design and others finding it too repetitive. However, it was a commercial success, selling millions of copies worldwide.
9: Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater (1999)
Image via Neversoft
In sixth place is the game that started it all, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater. It was released in 1999 on PlayStation and quickly became a fan favorite. The game features eight professional skaters at the time, including Tony Hawk himself, Rodney Mullen, Rune Glifberg, Chad Muska, Andrew Reynolds, Bob Burnquist, Geoff Rowley, and Elissa Steamer. You can skate on two levels: a school and a shopping center. There are a total of 10 objectives to complete in each one.
8: Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 (2020)
Image via Neversoft
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 is a high definition remaster of the first two installments in the Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater series, originally developed by Neversoft and published by Activision in 1999 and 2000, respectively. It includes the original base games and their respective levels, skaters, and cheats, while adding new features such as improved graphics, new cheats, and a create skater mode. It was developed by Vicarious Visions and released by Activision in September 2020.
7: Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 (2000)
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Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 is often considered one of the best video games ever made and is credited with popularizing the extreme sports genre. It featured realistic graphics for the time, a full career mode, and combo-based gameplay that would become a series staple.
6: Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 (2001)
Image via Neversoft
Tony Hawk’s best game is undoubtedly Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3. The third installment in the series took everything that was good from the first two games and made it better. The levels were bigger, the cheats more varied, and the soundtrack better than ever.
What made Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 so great was its accessibility. Unlike previous entries in the series, which could be quite challenging, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 was fairly easy to understand and enjoy for newcomers. But it also had enough depth to keep experienced players hooked for hours. It’s the complete game, offering an incredible balance of accessibility and depth in a beautiful package.
5: Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4 (2002)
Image via Neversoft
Pro Skater 4 is the first game in the series to be released on the sixth generation of consoles and was developed by Neversoft. The game featured an improved career mode, bigger levels, and more stunts. It’s also the first game in the series that lets you create your own skater. Players can also choose from multiple playstyles, including “Classic Mode”, similar to the first two games in the series.
4: Tony Hawk Project 8 (2006)
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Tony Hawk’s Project 8 was the first game in the series to be developed by Neversoft after Activision bought the franchise and returned to its arcade roots. The game featured an open-world environment for players to explore, with various secondary objectives to complete. The focus on exploration and discovery made Project 8 one of the most unique entries in the series, one that fans still fondly remember.
3: Tony Hawk’s Proving Grounds (2007)
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Tony Hawk’s Proving Ground has an excellent career mode that allows you to climb the ranks of a professional skater and create your own skater to compete against friends online. There are also some fantastic levels to skate on, including San Francisco and Washington DC. Plus, the soundtrack is one of the best in the series, with a mix of classic and modern songs.
2: Tony Hawk’s Underground (2003)
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Tony Hawk’s Underground takes third place. This game was the first in the series to place players in a story and provide customization options for their skaters. It also featured some of the series’ most memorable levels, such as the New Orleans Swamp and President John F. Kennedy’s Secret Service Training Camp.
1: Tony Hawk’s Metro 2 (2004)
Image via Neversoft
It’s hard to top the original Tony Hawk’s Underground, but Neversoft did it with ease when they released the sequel in 2004. Players started the game as rookies who quickly rose to fame by winning competitions and by befriending some of the biggest names in skating, including Bam. Margera and Steve-O.
The story was light and completely ridiculous, but it fits the over-the-top gameplay perfectly. Players could again create their own skaters, but now they could also create their own skateparks. The level design was amazing, with each stage feeling unique and full of secret areas to discover. The soundtrack was also excellent, with a mix of classic rock, punk and hip-hop tracks.
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