Screenshots & trailers
Review sentiment over time
Weekly positive-review rate (green) and review volume (bars). Dashed lines mark significant patches; the amber line is the start of the current scoring window. Hover the dots to see what drove a dip or a jump.
How this score was computed
The VGC Score is a weighted blend on a press-comparable 0-100 quality scale. Steam approval rates are first calibrated (95% positive on Steam ≈ 89.5 quality, since Steam approval skews high). Press and tracked creator reviews each count ~2x a player review and share one cap against player evidence (creator buy/skip calls pool into an approval rate, calibrated like Steam approval); all-time sentiment is capped and halved (it's context, not verdict); reviews of the current build carry the most weight when a fresh patch anchors the window; and a 'typical game' prior keeps small samples from pegging the scale. Because press reviews and Metacritic user aggregates describe the launch build, their weight decays as the game ages (3-year half-life after a 1-year grace). That's how a game that launched rough can outgrow its old reception once updates win players over. Reviews under 2h playtime (the refund window), non-Steam activations, and free copies are downweighted.
| Component | Positive | Quality (0-100) | Weight (pseudo-reviews) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Press reviews (OpenCritic) | – | 84 | 166 |
| All-time Steam reviews | 96% | 92 | 1000 |
| Metacritic user ratings | – | 72 | 30 |
| Post-patch Steam reviews (trust-weighted) | 99% | 95 | 30 |
| Calibration prior (typical game) | – | 72 | 50 |
Acclaim gate: the raw blend lands at 89.5, but scores above 88 must be earned in front of a mass audience; this verdict rests on 3,103 player reviews, a largely self-selected fanbase. As more players weigh in, the ceiling rises (full scale unlocks at 100,000 reviews).
Scoring window: last 30 days (no significant patch detected) · 77 reviews sampled · 85 total reviews in window · weighted 53.6 up / 0.4 down · computed 1h ago · full methodology →
Press & Creators reviews (93)
Individual verdicts from outlets we track: scored reviews first, most trusted outlets first among them. The small badge is each outlet's trust score: how well its scoring history aligns with players.
- 100
“Sam Eng’s work is an extravagant, psychedelic, and unique experience where all you have to do is let yourself be carried away by a board and four wheels spinning at full speed. It’s a one-of-a-kind experience, surreal and psychedelic, brimming with ingenuity and originality. Skating through hell to the tune of an ethereal soundtrack is simply enchanting.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“There are moments of gameplay during the climax of Skate Story that are some of the most visceral, original, and downright impressive that I've experienced for a very long time. Its great-feeling skating isn't always pushed to its limits, but the sheer craft, personality, and audiovisual flair throughout largely compensate.Overall, Skate Story is an enjoyable, offbeat adventure game with a striking, unique identity. It might not be difficult, but if its tone speaks to you, you'll find plenty to appreciate for its relatively short duration: sliding at speed around corners, landing shove-its, jumping across crevices, grinding through crystalline underworlds, and, yes, eating moons, all to a superb soundtrack.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Skate Story is a surreal, visually striking skateboarding experience that blends precise mechanics with a poetic journey through the underworld. Its intentionally cryptic narrative is elevated by a powerful atmosphere and an exceptional soundtrack. Far removed from traditional skate games, it stands out as one of the most distinctive releases of 2025.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Even though Skate Story may look like a game from another world entirely, its surprisingly fluid skateboarding gameplay is very much rooted in the real world sport it tries so ardently to emulate. It's a wonderful experience bursting with color, flavor, and character, and is arguably one of the most authentic-feeling skateboarding games yet.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“There are some who won’t enjoy Skate Story's blend of semi-realistic skateboarding controls with a completely bonkers narrative, but I found it compelling and would recommend it to anyone who has even a passing interest in skateboarding.”
read full review ↗ - 70
“Skate Story balances laidback hub exploration with intense, high-stakes objectives. Boss battles and key challenges deliver thrilling highs, while poetic narration and quirky characters offer welcomed moments to breathe. Don't expect to fully understand the story because it's more abstract than a David Lynch film. Grinding for collectables or top scores can get a bit repetitive, but the game’s short runtime keeps it feeling fresh even if there is no incentive to come back. In the end, it captures skating as therapy, rebellion, and art; equal parts painful and exhilarating, fragile yet liberating, with mechanics that perfectly complement its unique atmosphere.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“Running with skateboarding action more akin to the likes of Tony Hawk, and then turning it into an adventure through an odd version of hell, this is a unique experience for sure”
read full review ↗ - 71
“The game combines poetry, a surreal setting, precise mechanics, and a unique art direction, delivering an adventure that completely breaks away from the conventional.”
read full review ↗ - 95
“Skate Story is a spellbinding work of art that enchants with its impossibly beautiful world, jaw-dropping visuals, and high-stakes story, all while handling mature themes with care and sincerity. Beneath its glassy exterior lies a robust and deep skating system that will push enthusiasts to perform sick combos, but it does not expect you to master it on your first try, either. It is a journey through the Underworld well worth taking and a deeply personal experience unique to the interactive medium of video games.”
read full review ↗ - 80
“While it lasts, this is quite easily the most strikingly unique and visually interesting skating game you can play, and we can't help but respect its relentless effort to go against the grain.”
read full review ↗ - 90
“Skate Story isn't played, it's felt: every trick is a cry of freedom and every fall a reminder of the pain that runs through it. With its hypnotic aesthetic and atmosphere heavy with symbolism, it turns skateboarding into a dark and fascinating ritual. Beyond a few minor details, what remains is a brutally immersive experience, capable of leaving its mark like few others.”
read full review ↗ - 85
“It is filled with love and passion, but frustration and despair, often stretching at the seams. I do not know Sam Eng, but I have a feeling that I got an insight into what he loves about making games. I may never be a skating game diehard, but Skate Story is a story worth sharing.”
read full review ↗
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NintendoWorldReport…and 81 more tracked reviews.
Patch history
- Skate Story | The Devil's PatchJan 23, 2026