All 18 Tony Hawk Games Ranked

Tony Hawk performing a skate trick.

Tony Hawk’s video game franchise has been a staple of the gaming industry for over two decades, introducing millions of players to the world of skateboarding.

With the series spanning multiple consoles and generations, it’s no surprise that some games have fared better than others regarding critical reception and popularity. From the groundbreaking original game to the recent remastered version of the first two games, each entry in the Tony Hawk series has its own strengths and weaknesses.

We’ll be ranking all of the Tony Hawk games ever made, from worst to best. This list provides a comprehensive overview of the entire Tony Hawk series, regardless of whether you’re a long-time fan or a newcomer.

All Tony Hawk Games Ranked From Worst To Best

18 – Tony Hawk’s Shred Session (2014)

Tony Hawk’s Shred Session was a mobile game released in 2014 for iOS devices. It was a departure from the traditional Tony Hawk series, focusing on endless runner racing rather than traditional skateboarding. The game had a simple control scheme, with players tilting their device to steer their character and swiping to jump and perform tricks.

The game failed to impress players and critics alike due to its repetitive gameplay, shallow mechanics, and lack of content. The game was removed from app stores shortly after its release due to its negative reception. Overall, Tony Hawk’s Shred Session was a forgettable entry in the series.

17 – Tony Hawk’s Skate Jam (2018)

Tony Hawk’s Skate Jam was a mobile game released in 2018 for iOS and Android devices. The game attempted to capture the feel of the classic Tony Hawk games, but was largely criticized for its poor controls, dated graphics, and lack of innovation. The game featured a simple control scheme, with players using virtual buttons and a joystick to perform tricks and navigate the levels. 

The controls were often unresponsive and made it difficult to perform more advanced tricks. Overall, Tony Hawk’s Skate Jam failed to capture the excitement and energy of the earlier games in the series and was largely forgotten soon after its release.

16 – Tony Hawk’s Motion (2008)

Tony Hawk’s Motion was a skateboarding game released exclusively for the Nintendo DS in 2008. The game featured a unique motion-based control scheme, which utilized the DS’s touch screen and motion sensors to allow players to perform tricks and navigate the game’s levels. 

The game’s controls were widely criticized for being unintuitive and difficult to use. The game’s graphics were also criticized for their low resolution and lack of detail, making it difficult to distinguish obstacles and landmarks on the screen. Overall, Tony Hawk’s Motion was considered to be one of the worst games in the series due to its poor gameplay mechanics and clunky controls.

15 – Tony Hawk: Shred (2010)

Tony Hawk: Shred was released in 2010 for multiple consoles, including the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and Wii. The game introduced a new skateboard peripheral that was intended to enhance the gameplay experience, but it ultimately fell short of expectations.

The game was criticized for its poor gameplay mechanics and lack of innovation, with critics noting that it felt like a watered-down version of previous games in the series. The game’s graphics were also subpar, with bland textures and uninspired level design. Overall, Tony Hawk: Shred was a disappointing entry in the series that failed to live up to its potential.

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14 – Tony Hawk: Ride (2009)

Tony Hawk: Ride was released in 2009 and was a departure from the traditional Tony Hawk series, featuring a new skateboard peripheral that was supposed to enhance the gameplay experience. The game featured a new control scheme that relied on players physically standing on the skateboard peripheral and using their body movements to control their character.

The game was criticized for its unresponsive controls and lack of content, with many players finding it difficult to perform even basic tricks. The game’s graphics were also subpar, making it a forgettable entry in the series. Overall, Tony Hawk: Ride failed to live up to expectations and is considered one of the weaker entries in the series

13 – Tony Hawk’s Downhill Jam (2006)

Tony Hawk’s Downhill Jam was released in 2006 for various consoles, including the Nintendo Wii. Downhill racing was the focus of the game rather than skateboarding, as it has been in previous Tony Hawk titles. Players raced down various tracks, performing tricks and collecting power-ups along the way.

The game received mixed reviews, with some praising its unique concept and fast-paced gameplay, while others criticized its lack of depth and limited replayability. The game’s controls were also considered to be overly simplistic, making it difficult to perform more advanced tricks and maneuvers. Tony Hawk’s Downhill Jam was an interesting experiment but ultimately fell short of expectations.

12 – Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 5 (2015)

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 5 was released in 2015 for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, with a later release for PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. The game was criticized for its buggy gameplay, poor graphics, and lack of content.

The game featured an online multiplayer mode but was plagued with connectivity issues and poor matchmaking. The game’s levels were also criticized for being uninspired and lacking the creativity of the earlier games in the series. The game was rushed to release, and it showed in the final product, making it a major disappointment for fans of the series.

11 – Tony Hawk’s Proving Ground (2007)

Tony Hawk’s Proving Ground was released in 2007 and was the ninth entry in the Tony Hawk series. The game introduced a new gameplay mechanic called Skate.Reel, which allowed players to record and edit their own videos of their gameplay and share them online.

The game also featured improved graphics and deeper customization options, allowing players to create their own custom skater and progress through a career mode. The game’s story mode was criticized for being uninspired and poorly written, but the game’s deep customization options and improved physics engine were praised. Overall, Tony Hawk’s Proving Ground was a decent entry in the series but lacked the innovation and excitement of earlier games in the franchise.

10 – Tony Hawk’s Project 8 (2006)

Tony Hawk’s Project 8 was released in 2006 for the PlayStation 2, Xbox, and Xbox 360 consoles. The game featured a new nail-the-trick mode that allowed players to slow down time and perform advanced tricks and a new gameplay mechanic that required players to complete a series of challenges to progress through the game.

While the game’s graphics and physics engine were improved over previous entries in the series, it was criticized for its lack of innovation and repetitive gameplay. Despite these criticisms, the game remains a popular entry in the Tony Hawk series and a favorite among fans of the franchise.

9 – Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater HD (2012)

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater HD was a remastered version of the first two games in the series, featuring updated graphics and new gameplay mechanics. The game was praised for its nostalgia factor, allowing players to relive the classic levels and challenges of the first two games. The game’s controls were also updated, making performing advanced tricks and combos easier.

The game was criticized for its lack of content and missing levels from the original games. The game also suffered from technical issues, including bugs and glitches, which detracted from the overall experience. Overall, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater HD was a decent remake that provided some fun for fans of the original games.

8 – Tony Hawk’s Underground 2 (2004)

Tony Hawk’s Underground 2 was released in 2004 and was the sixth entry in the Tony Hawk series. The game featured improved graphics and a new story mode that took players on a global tour to compete in various skateboarding competitions.

The game also introduced new mechanics, such as the ability to get off the skateboard and explore levels on foot, and the focus mode, which allowed players to slow down time and perform advanced tricks. While the game’s story mode was criticized for being overly cheesy, the game’s deep gameplay and innovative mechanics helped make it one of the most popular entries in the series.

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7 – Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4 (2002)

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4 was released in 2002 and was the fourth entry in the Tony Hawk series. The game featured improved graphics, a physics engine, and new objectives and challenges. The game introduced a new free-skate mode that allowed players to explore the levels without any time limits or objectives. The game’s soundtrack was praised for featuring a diverse mix of artists and genres.

While the game was criticized for its lack of innovation, it remains a solid entry in the series that improved upon its predecessors. The game’s controls were also improved, making it easier to perform advanced tricks and combos.

6 – Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater (1999)

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater was the game that started it all, introducing the world to the concept of skateboarding video games. The game was praised for its innovative gameplay mechanics, including the ability to perform tricks and combos using the game’s dual-stick control system. The game’s soundtrack was also praised for featuring a mix of punk and ska music that perfectly captured the skateboarding culture of the time. While the game’s graphics may seem dated by today’s standards, it remains a classic and influential game in the history of video games.

5 – Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 (2000)

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 is widely regarded as one of the best games of all time, not just in the Tony Hawk series. The game improved on the original in nearly every way, featuring more levels, challenges, and tricks. The game’s soundtrack was also praised for featuring an eclectic mix of music, from hip-hop to punk to classic rock. The game’s controls were also improved, making it even easier to perform advanced tricks and combos.

4 – Tony Hawk’s Underground (2003)

Tony Hawk’s Underground marked a major shift in the series, introducing a new story mode that allowed players to create their own custom skater and progress through a narrative-driven campaign. The game also introduced new mechanics, such as getting off the skateboard and exploring the levels on foot. The game’s graphics and sound were also praised for being top-notch. The game’s controls were also improved, making it even easier to perform advanced tricks and combos.

3 – Tony Hawk’s American Wasteland (2005)

Tony Hawk’s American Wasteland was praised for its open-world design, allowing players to explore a massive city and complete objectives in any order they chose. The game also introduced new mechanics, such as the ability to create custom skateparks and perform spine transfers between ramps. The game’s graphics and sound were also praised for being top-notch. The game’s controls were also improved, making it even easier to perform advanced tricks and combos.

2 – Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 Remastered (2020)

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 Remastered is a faithful recreation of the first two games in the series, featuring updated graphics and improved gameplay mechanics. The game was praised for its nostalgia factor and its faithful recreation of the original levels and challenges.

The game’s soundtrack was also praised for featuring many of the original songs from the first two games, as well as some new tracks. The game’s controls were also improved, making performing advanced tricks and combos easier. The addition of online multiplayer and new challenges added even more replayability to an already excellent game.

1 – Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 (2001)

Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 is widely regarded as the best game in the Tony Hawk series, thanks to its improved graphics, new gameplay mechanics, and deep gameplay. The game introduced new mechanics, such as the ability to revert after landing a trick, and the manual system, which allowed players to link tricks together on the ground.

The game’s soundtrack was also praised for featuring diverse music, from hip-hop to punk to classic rock. The game’s controls were also improved, making performing advanced tricks and combos easier. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 remains a classic and influential game that set the standard for all skateboarding video games to follow.

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