A skateboarding game like no other will soon become available for gamers on the Sony Group Corp (NYSE: SONY) (FRA: SON1) PlayStation 5, Nintendo Co Ltd (OTCMKTS: NTDOF) (FRA: NTO) Switch, and Steam PC gaming platform.
Skate Story, a psychedelic four-wheeled adventure envisioned by creator Sam Eng, is making its debut on Dec. 8. It’s sort of like a bizarre combination of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater and Skate from Electronic Arts Inc (NASDAQ: EA).
In the storyline, the main character is a demon made of glass and pain that has made a deal with the devil to escape the underworld. This “EmptyLands” realm is comprised of the nine layers of hell.
To break free, the demon must ride its skateboard to the moon and swallow the lunar orb to win its freedom from the darkness. In the process, the demonic entity learns over 70 skateboard tricks and encounters various mythical creatures. These condemned souls include a forgetful frog and a pillow demon that runs a laundromat.
“Ollie, kickflip, and grind your way through the ash and smoke of The Emptylands as you take on a seemingly impossible quest,” said Skate Story publisher Devolver Digital.
Thankfully for the demon, the underworld is equipped with a subway system for convenient transportation in the cursed urban environment.
“As you skate through hell, you’ll master your board, trick over vicious demons, grind some ledges, and destroy bosses,” said New York City-based Eng, the game’s sole developer.
Doing the best tricks is the only way to do enough damage to the moon to be able to gobble it up.
“When demons from the Department of Death terrorize the Skater, sick tricks and fresh lines will be the only way out,” he explained.
Read more: VR provides benefits of psychedelics without risks, ‘Cyberdelics’ study finds
Creator drew inspiration from Manhattan’s urban landscape
Eng says Skate Story has multiple references to Seinfeld – a classic long-running sitcom set in his home city. The visionary behind the video game stated that New York has been an inspiration for him during the creative process.
“There are many depictions of the city,” Eng highlighted in an interview, “but because Skate Story takes place in the Underworld, I wanted to focus on a city vibe of nighttime.”
The unusual game’s development was first announced in 2022, and its release has been delayed until this month. Eng aims to appeal to adventure-seeking gamers, not just skateboarding enthusiasts.
A psychedelic soundtrack by Blood Cultures complements Skate Story’s trippy visuals.
“That was really awesome, I’m definitely playing this again in my free time,” commented one gamer who tried out the demo last month. “I know I’m going to play all the other chapters when it comes out.”
Indie game Skate Story answers the age-old question: what if Tony Hawk's games were set in the underworld, and you were made of glass? pic.twitter.com/QKfgAOXXg8
— Dexerto (@Dexerto) December 2, 2025
Read more: BC boosts digital tax credit for video game and VR developers to 25%
Follow Rowan Dunne on LinkedIn
rowan@mugglehead.com
