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Best Tony Hawk Games: From Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 to Tony Hawk’s Underground
Choosing the best Tony Hawk games is not easy because the series has delivered some of the most memorable skateboarding experiences in video game history. Since the original Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater arrived in 1999, the franchise has introduced exciting tricks, creative skate parks, challenging objectives, and soundtracks that became closely associated with skateboarding culture.
Tony Hawk helped bring skateboarding to a much wider audience through his achievements, while developer Neversoft transformed that popularity into an influential gaming franchise. Players could perform spectacular tricks, build enormous combo scores, and explore environments inspired by real-world locations. The games also introduced many players to punk rock and alternative music through their memorable soundtracks.
Over time, the series expanded beyond its original timed challenges. Newer entries introduced character customization, story-driven campaigns, off-board movement, and more opportunities to explore. Although not every release achieved the same level of success, the best entries remain enjoyable because of their responsive controls and satisfying trick systems.
If you’re looking for a place to start, the following ranking explores five standout Tony Hawk games, from the groundbreaking original to the more ambitious Underground titles.
1. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 (2001)
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 is widely regarded as one of the strongest entries in the franchise. It refined the gameplay established by its predecessors and introduced a feature that significantly improved the trick-combination system: the revert.
Before this addition, players could lose their combo after landing from certain transitions, making it harder to maintain a long sequence of tricks. The revert allowed skaters to transition into manuals more effectively, helping them connect tricks and build much higher scores.
This change made the gameplay more flexible and rewarding. Players could link together grinds, aerial tricks, manuals, and other moves to create elaborate combinations. Learning how to maintain momentum and choose the right sequence became an important part of mastering each level.
The game also offered a variety of environments, objectives, and multiplayer options. Its level design encouraged exploration, while the challenge of completing goals and discovering hidden areas gave players reasons to return.
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 received widespread critical acclaim and earned a Metacritic score of 97 for its PlayStation 2 version. Its combination of polished controls, innovative mechanics, and replayability helped establish it as a defining skateboarding game.
For players who enjoy mastering tricks and chasing high scores, this remains one of the best places to experience the classic Tony Hawk formula.
2. Tony Hawk’s Underground (2003)
Tony Hawk’s Underground, often called THUG, changed the direction of the series by placing greater emphasis on storytelling and character progression. Rather than simply completing challenges as an established professional skater, players follow a career that begins with an aspiring skateboarder working toward recognition.
One of the game’s most important innovations was the ability to get off the skateboard. This allowed players to explore environments on foot, interact with their surroundings, and approach certain objectives differently. It also created new opportunities to combine movement and skating in creative ways.
The career mode gave players a stronger sense of progression. Instead of focusing exclusively on timed score challenges, the game included story missions, rivalries, competitions, and opportunities to develop a custom character.
Customization was another major attraction. Players could personalize their skater and experiment with different creative options. The game also built on the series’ established combination system, giving experienced players plenty of opportunities to develop their skills.
Although some features reflected the limitations of online gaming at the time, Tony Hawk’s Underground remains memorable for expanding the franchise beyond its arcade-style roots. Its story-driven structure and greater freedom helped distinguish it from earlier entries.
3. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 (2000)
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 built on the success of the original game and introduced improvements that became essential to the franchise. Among its most significant additions were manuals, which allowed players to connect tricks performed on different parts of a level.
This mechanic created a deeper scoring system. Players could link aerial tricks, grinds, and manuals into extended combinations, rewarding careful planning and precise execution.
The game also expanded customization through features such as a level editor and more options for creating a personalized skater. The ability to build custom skate parks gave players additional creative freedom and increased replay value.
Its levels offered a mix of ramps, rails, gaps, and hidden areas. Learning the layout of each environment was important for completing objectives and achieving high scores. The controls were accessible enough for newcomers while offering plenty of depth for players seeking to master the mechanics.
The soundtrack also helped establish the identity of the franchise. Its selection of punk rock and other alternative tracks complemented the fast-paced action and contributed to the game’s lasting appeal.
Although the revert mechanic introduced in Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 later made combo chaining even more flexible, Pro Skater 2 remains an important milestone. It refined the original formula and helped turn Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater into one of the most influential skateboarding game series.
4. Tony Hawk’s Underground 2 (2004)
Tony Hawk’s Underground 2 expanded the ideas introduced by its predecessor while adopting a much more exaggerated and comedic style. The game features professional skateboarders and personalities associated with the Jackass television series, including Bam Margera.
Its story revolves around a skateboarding tour filled with outrageous challenges, unusual locations, and competitive antics. This approach gave the game a different personality from the more straightforward career progression of earlier entries.
The gameplay retained the trick system and combo mechanics that made the franchise popular. Players could still explore levels, complete objectives, discover hidden areas, and customize their skaters. The game also offered a Classic Mode, allowing players to revisit the timed challenges and scoring objectives associated with the earlier Pro Skater titles.
Tony Hawk’s Underground 2 delivered plenty of variety, but its humor and presentation were not equally appealing to every player. Some fans preferred the more focused skating experience of Pro Skater 3 or the stronger narrative progression of the first Underground.
Nevertheless, its extensive features, creative level design, and energetic presentation make it a notable entry. It demonstrates how the franchise experimented with different tones while retaining its core skateboarding mechanics.
5. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater (1999)
The original Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater deserves recognition for establishing the foundations of the series. Released in 1999, it introduced players to a fast-paced skateboarding experience built around timed objectives, high scores, and the challenge of mastering each environment.
Players could choose from a roster of professional skaters, perform tricks, collect items, and complete goals across a range of skate parks and urban settings. The controls were approachable, but achieving high scores required practice and a strong understanding of each level.
One of the game’s defining strengths was its soundtrack. Tracks such as Goldfinger’s “Superman” became closely associated with the series, helping establish an energetic atmosphere that complemented the gameplay.
The original game also helped introduce a broad audience to skateboarding culture. Players who had never stepped onto a skateboard could experiment with tricks, learn the basics of combo scoring, and discover the personalities and music connected to the sport.
Its influence continued through later releases, which refined the formula and expanded the range of available activities. The modern remake, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2, brought together updated versions of the first two games with improved visuals and modernized gameplay features.
For anyone interested in understanding how the franchise began, the original Pro Skater remains an important piece of gaming history.
What Makes the Best Tony Hawk Games Stand Out?
The strongest entries in the series share several qualities. Responsive controls are essential because players need to perform tricks accurately and maintain momentum throughout a combo. Well-designed levels also matter, giving players multiple routes, hidden objectives, and opportunities to experiment.
Customization and replayability help extend the experience beyond the main career. Level editors, unlockable content, and different challenge types encourage players to return after completing the primary objectives.
Soundtracks are another defining feature. The combination of skateboarding action and carefully selected music helped give the games a distinct identity that many players still remember.
Gaming preferences also vary considerably. Some players prefer arcade-style scoring challenges, while others enjoy story-driven adventures or competitive multiplayer. Readers interested in exploring other popular gaming franchises can also check out our guide to the best Halo games, which ranks notable entries in another long-running series.
Exploring Gaming Platforms and Other Genres
Players looking for gaming-related services beyond traditional console releases may also come across online marketplaces and platforms. Our overview of Eldorado.gg explores a platform associated with gaming transactions and services. As with any online marketplace, users should review the platform’s terms, security practices, and applicable policies before making purchases.
Those who enjoy exploring different genres can also consider action-adventure franchises that focus on storytelling, character development, and exploration. Our guide to Yakuza games covers another series with a distinctive approach to gameplay and narrative.
Exploring different types of games can help players discover new experiences while appreciating what makes each franchise unique.
Conclusion
The best Tony Hawk games combine responsive controls, creative level design, satisfying combo mechanics, and memorable soundtracks. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 stands out for refining the scoring system, while Tony Hawk’s Underground brought storytelling and off-board exploration to the franchise.
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 remains an influential sequel, Underground 2 offers a more comedic and feature-packed experience, and the original Pro Skater deserves credit for establishing the formula.
Ultimately, the best choice depends on what you enjoy most. Whether you prefer chasing high scores, building custom skate parks, following a career story, or revisiting classic levels, the Tony Hawk series offers plenty of reasons to pick up a virtual skateboard and start skating.