After more than a decade since the last major entry in the series, the new free-to-play game skate. is now live in Early Access — bringing back the beloved “Flick-It” trick system, a sprawling open-world city, deep customization, and online multiplayer for up to 150 players. But does it capture the old skateboarding magic, or is it a watered-down shadow of its past? Here’s what you should know before dropping in.
skate. — Full Review & First Impressions
What Is skate.?
skate. is the newest entry in the iconic Skate series, redesigned as a live-service experience with an ever-evolving open world, seasonal content, cosmetic customization, and social multiplayer. Built around the signature Flick-It trick system, it blends realistic physics with accessible controls, making it approachable for newcomers and rewarding for long-time fans.
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Genre: Open-world skateboarding sandbox
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Model: Free-to-play, live-service, Early Access
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Core Audience: Players who enjoy trick-based gameplay, creativity, and social multiplayer
The developers position skate. as an endlessly expanding playground — one that grows alongside player feedback.
Gameplay & Key Features
🎯 Refined Trick System (Flick-It 2.0)
The heart of skate. remains its physics-based control scheme. The new version of the Flick-It system is smoother, more responsive, and more intuitive than ever. Every ollie, flip, grind, and manual has weight and momentum, capturing the distinctive feel that made the franchise famous.
🏙️ San Vansterdam — A Massive Open World
The game takes place in a vibrant city packed with parks, plazas, abandoned buildings, rooftops, alley spots, and more. You can hop off the board, climb structures, explore vertical spaces, and discover unique skate lines in unexpected places.
The world encourages creativity:
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Custom obstacles
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Buildable skate spots
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Player-made challenges
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Freeroam exploration
It’s a playground designed for expression rather than strict progression.
👕 Deep Customization
skate. includes extensive character and board customization. Players can mix clothing styles, streetwear aesthetics, deck art, wheels, trucks, and stickers to craft a unique identity.
🌐 Online Multiplayer for up to 150 Players
This is the most socially driven Skate game ever. Large-scale sessions let players skate together, build together, attempt challenges, or simply hang out around the city.
📅 Live-Service Future
New events, challenges, content drops, and seasonal updates are planned to evolve the world over time. As an Early Access title, skate. aims to grow based on community input.
What Needs Improvement
⚠️ Early Access Limitations
Because skate. is still in development, certain features feel unfinished or absent. Some modes and systems promised for the full version are still under construction, making the game feel somewhat incomplete for players expecting a fully fleshed-out release.
😕 Lack of Classic Skate Elements
Long-time fans may miss:
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A full single-player career
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Story-driven challenges
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Deeper offline content
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The chaotic fun of old-school crash modes
The shift toward a multiplayer-heavy experience gives skate. a different tone — more communal, but less structured.
🧩 Aesthetic Too “Clean” for Some Fans
Some players feel the presentation lacks the gritty street energy that defined earlier entries. The city is polished, bright, and modern — which won’t appeal to everyone.
Community Sentiment
👍 Players Praise
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Smooth, addictive skating mechanics
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Large, detailed open world
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Excellent customization
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Fun multiplayer social sessions
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Strong potential for future growth
👎 Players Criticize
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Thin content in Early Access
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Missing classic modes
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Repetitive gameplay for solo players
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Live-service direction not appealing to everyone
The current version is enjoyable but still incomplete.
Who Should Play skate.?
Great For:
Players who love free-roam skating and creative playgrounds
Fans of physics-based trick systems
Friends who want to skate socially in a shared online world
Anyone who enjoys character customization and building skate spots
Maybe Wait If:
You prefer offline or story-driven content
You want old-school Skate features right away
You dislike Early Access or live-service models
You want a fully polished, feature-complete game now
Verdict — A Promising Return With Room to Grow
skate. successfully captures the fluid, satisfying feel of skateboarding through its refined control system and physics. Its open-world city and social multiplayer offer endless creative potential, especially for players who enjoy community-driven experiences.
However, as an Early Access title, it currently lacks depth and some of the beloved features that defined the older games. The foundations are strong — but the full experience depends on how well the game evolves over time.
If you love pure skating and creative expression, skate. is already worth trying.
If you want a complete Skate sequel, you may want to wait for more updates.
User Reviews
