The Tony Hawk franchise spans multiple decades and includes a ton of spinoffs that supplement the mainline Pro Skater series. With so many games comes a spectrum of quality that features some of the highest highs and lowest lows in all of gaming. With the release of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 for modern systems, the series has finally come full circle with a faithful remake that dares to add some quality-of-life improvements to help match contemporary expectations.
After playing Tony Hawk Pro Skater 1 + 2 extensively, now is the perfect time to rank every title in the Tony Hawk franchise using everything the industry has taught us since the series’ debut in 1999. We will rank the games from worst to best to build some anticipation while traveling down memory lane. Getting through the stinkers early on will help to enhance the celebration of legendary titles featured near the end of this list.
In this article you will read:
- About the overall quality of the worst and best Tony Hawk games
- The best Tony Hawk games you can play right now
- Whether Pro Skater 1 + 2 is one of the best Tony Hawk games for newcomers
- If the THUG Pro PC mod is actually the best Tony Hawk game
20. Tony Hawk’s Motion
Platforms: DS
Starting off the list is one of the strangest games to include the Tony Hawk name. This handheld spinoff was relegated to the Nintendo DS back in 2008. The game is most notable for the included motion pack that was placed in the GBA slot while playing the DS card. The motion pack added primitive gyro sensor controls that allowed you to tilt the handheld for added control. The feature did not work well, and you can technically play the game without the motion pack. This is smoking gun proof that even the developers had little faith in the gimmick introduced for this title.
19. Tony Hawk: Ride
Platforms: Wii, Xbox 360, PS3
The motion gimmicks did not stop with the failed DS release. Tony Hawk: Ride came bundled in with a skateboard you were meant to stand on. Although Activision was attempting to capture the same popularity of peripheral games such as Guitar Hero, the idea fell flat due to spotty execution all around. The sensors used to pull off tricks were extremely unresponsive, and the on-rails gameplay proved to be an oversimplification of the formula that works so well on a traditional controller. This narrowly surpasses Tony Hawk: Motion simply due to being more ambitious and featuring more staples of the franchise, such as a licensed soundtrack.
18. Tony Hawk: Shred
Platforms: Wii, Xbox 360, PS3
This direct sequel to Tony Hawk: Ride is a slight improvement due to a refined skateboard controller and more robust career offerings. There is also a bonus snowboarding mode that changes the physics and nature of the gameplay for some much-needed variety in what you experience. Still, unless you love to satisfy your morbid curiosity over questionable games, it is best to leave the skateboard controller as a relic of the past. The title will either frustrate or bore you, leaving little room for the entertainment you were seeking when you turned on the console.
17. Tony Hawk’s Skate Jam
Platforms: Android, iOS
Surprisingly, this is the only Tony Hawk game brought to mobile devices. The title is a reskin of the Skateboard Party series, which the developer worked on previously. Skate Jam has many features you would expect from a Pro Skater game. There are multiple levels with career goals to complete and a slew of unlockables to obtain by doing so. Unfortunately, the touch controls hamper the overall enjoyment of planning deliberate lines to skate through. Skate Jam may be suitable for a short distraction while out and about, but it does not replace the classic Tony titles.
16. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 5
Platforms: PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
This sequel proved to be a huge disappointment for many long-term fans. The game launched in a particularly buggy state, and the new snap-down feature that pulls the skater out of the air broke the flow of gameplay considerably. While the repetitive nature of career goals was never addressed, most issues had been ironed out to some degree since launch. Two new levels and a revamped lighting system were also added via patches. The result is a game that is fun in the grand scheme of the industry, but serves as a fairly weak example of the Tony Hawk franchise.
15. Tony Hawk’s American Wasteland
Platforms: PS2, Xbox, Xbox 360, GameCube, PC
American Wasteland has incredibly refined gameplay as a result of the numerous iterations made to reach this point. Skating around an open-world LA is a blast, though the main story mode is a slog to sit through. A majority of the main missions are glorified tutorial sequences, and then the game ends once you start unlocking more traditional objectives. American Wasteland is also notable for introducing a BMX mode you can engage with in every level.
14. Tony Hawk’s Underground 2
Platforms: PS2, Xbox, GameCube, PC
Tony Hawk’s Underground 2 is when series fatigue began to rear its head, especially for those who purchased each yearly release up to that point. To keep things fresh, Neversoft took inspiration from the prankster culture of the time.
Many campaign goals are predicated on destroying something in the environment to alter the level and make it more skateable. Think Viva La Bam in video game form. However, the changes were viewed as unwelcome by fans who wanted skateboarding objectives in their skateboarding video games.
13. Tony Hawk’s American Sk8land
Platforms: Nintendo DS, Game Boy Advance
American Sk8land is a port of American Wasteland for handheld consoles. The game has an impressive amount of the same levels and characters featured in the console counterpart. However, there are enough altered objectives and a new cel-shaded art style that justifies adding a separate ranking to this list. The controls translate well to the portable device thanks to the DS’ four face buttons. The game is overall a bit more enjoyable than American Wasteland due to being on a handheld. The game was extremely ambitious while handling the story mode in a far more engaging way.
12. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater HD
Platforms: PS3, Xbox 360, PC
Pro Skater HD is a quasi-remake that incorporates the best levels from the first two Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater games. A few levels from THPS3 were added as DLC along with the revert. The game featured a ton of new career mode objectives, especially for the THPS1 levels that originally only had five VHS tapes to collect. Where Robomodo went astray was in the game’s skating physics. The feeling of moment-to-moment gameplay betrayed the muscle memory of everyone who grew up traversing classic levels like School II or The Mall. While the game is great fun if you have not played the originals, the altered physics will repel long-term fans right away.
11. Tony Hawk’s Downhill Jam
Platforms: PS2, Wii, Gameboy Advance, Nintendo DS
This spinoff involves a racing format and levels that are exclusively composed of large slopes. Downhill skating was Tony’s original vision for the franchise before Neversoft created its first skatepark level. The trick system is heavily simplified to fit the fast-paced nature of racing. Each version of the game has a unique control scheme due to being on vastly different hardware. The levels and goals are very similar across the board, with a few modifications for handheld devices. Downhill Jam may not be as fun as a traditional Tony Hawk Game, but it serves as a guilty pleasure that is rather enjoyable in short bursts.
10. Tony Hawk’s Proving Ground
Platforms: PS2, PS3, Xbox 360, Wii, Nintendo DS
Proving Ground was Neversoft’s final entry in their yearly run with the series. The career was divided into three branches you could swap between at any time. The professional storyline had goals you would expect from the usual career mode of these titles. Hardcore goals involved skating for the love of the sport, and Rigging was all about modifying the environment to make it more conducive to skating.
The open-ended nature of the career mode was further enhanced by the open-world design of the map. Proving Ground is a blast and in some ways a hidden gem. Many people had moved on from the series by this point and never gave Neversoft’s swan song a proper chance. Tony Hawk’s Proving Ground is worth trying if you have not yet played the game.
9. Tony Hawk’s Project 8
Platforms: PS2, PS3, PSP, Xbox, Xbox 360, GameCube
Project 8 was the first Tony Hawk game for the seventh generation of consoles. As such, it features revamped tricking animations and an overall more grounded style. You could create your own maneuvers via the Nail-The-Trick system. The camera would zoom in and each analog stick could be used to control the skater’s feet and manipulate the board in mid-air. Project 8 introduced the three-tiered difficulty system of beating each goal at Am, Pro, or Sick levels. The better your rating across all goals, the more progress you would obtain in the career mode.
8. Tony Hawk’s Underground 2 Remix
Platforms: PSP
This handheld remake of Underground 2 is notable for adding a wide collection of new levels to the game. There is a Classic Mode that combines the levels from the base game with the Remix additions. Classic Mode features simple goal lists reminiscent of the first three Tony Hawk Pro Skater titles. The mode is quite substantial and features multiple difficulties to play through. These additions, along with portable functionality, easily make Remix the best official way to experience Tony Hawk’s Underground 2.
7. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater
Platforms: PS1, N64, Dreamcast
The game that started it all is still a force to be reckoned with. Pro Skater’s debut may not have all the bells and whistles you have come to expect over the years, but the core gameplay remains intact. Picking up the controller is just as thrilling as it was in the late 90s. With that said, it is completely understandable why modern remakes of THPS1 levels include iconic mechanics like the manual. The Tony Hawk formula needs transitional moves like manuals to keep combos flowing. The original Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater is great from a historical perspective, though nobody will blame you for playing the other versions instead.
6. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4
Platforms: PS1, PS2, Xbox, GameCube, PC
THPS4 is the first time the series deviated from the arcade-style goal list formula that worked so well in the first three titles. There was no time limit forcing you to restart from a set point in each level. Instead, you could freely skate at your leisure and initiate goals by talking to the NPCs added to each map. In the PS1 version, the NPCs were replaced by floating icons that served the same purpose.
Progress was no longer tied to each individual skater. Instead, all goals were tracked across your save file allowing you to freely swap between characters at any time. Despite the departure from series roots, THPS4 is an incredible experience characterized by tons of variety and a true test of your virtual skating abilities.
5. Tony Hawk Pro Skater 2
Platforms: PS1, N64, Dreamcast
THPS2 is often regarded as one of the finest sequels ever made. Neversoft took the winning blueprint from the first game and added many of the staples everyone loves about the series today. Manuals, trading cash for upgrades, and create-a-modes were all introduced in THPS2. The game has a legendary soundtrack and keen level design to boot. When you take a moment to appreciate the passion that was poured into this title, it becomes clear why Tony Hawk games are still cherished decades later.
4. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2x
Platforms: Xbox
Since Neversoft was unable to finish the Xbox version of THPS3 for the launch of the original Xbox, the company decided to recreate Tony Hawk Pro Skater 1 and 2 with updated graphics to tide over early adopters of Microsoft’s first console. However, THPS2x is more than just a straight port of the first two games. There are five brand-new levels to explore on top of the 19 areas featured in the first two titles. The physics were also revamped, making it easier to line up long combo lines. When coupled with manuals, the THPS1 levels truly come to life in this variant of the title.
3. Tony Hawk’s Underground
Platforms: PS2, Xbox, GameCube
THUG is yet another radical departure from the formula laid out in the original trilogy. The career is replaced by a full-on story mode that resembles a traditional narrative structure. Completing a number of goals in each chapter advanced the plot and opened up new locales to skate. The overarching premise was still to become a world-renowned pro skateboarder, but the story mode added a personal touch that made each tournament victory so much more exhilarating. Many consider THUG to be the best Tony Hawk game, and this choice is completely respectable.
2. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
The latest entry in the franchise is yet another rendition of THPS1 and THPS2 mixed together. It may sound like overkill to release these games once more, but Tony Hawk Pro Skater 1 + 2 is easily one of the best Tony Hawk games ever released.
The most noticeable change is the graphical overhaul, which makes iconic locations like Venice Beach shine like never before. A ton of quality-of-life improvements and advanced tricks like the revert have been added to the classic levels. Online functionality like Create-A-Park and competition modes continue the fun well after you complete the game’s base content. Best of all, Tony Hawk Pro Skater 1 + 2 feels incredibly faithful to the originals in terms of controls and skating physics. The franchise has only been graced with one game that’ can top it’s better.
1. Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3
Platforms: PS1, PS2, N64, GameCube, Xbox, PC
The granddaddy of them all is Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3. This final entry in the original trilogy perfected the arcade gameplay that entranced so many gamers throughout the turn of the millennium. The core gameplay is distilled and refined into its best form in THPS3. This was before additional mechanics bloated the toolset and scattered the series’ focus. The framework is simple, but skilled players can pull off some advanced combo lines that continue to keep the game fresh to this day. Levels such as Canada and Los Angeles remain some of the most revered areas in all of gaming history.
Common questions about the best Tony Hawk games
The best Tony Hawk games are still widely discussed to this day. Here are the answers to some of the key questions floating around the community.
1. Is Tony Hawk Pro Skater 1 + 2 a good place for newcomers to start?
Tony Hawk Pro Skater 1 + 2 is way more than just a play on 90s nostalgia. THPS 1 + 2 is one of the best Tony Hawk games for beginners who wish to see what the series is all about. In addition to featuring every level from the first two titles, it serves as a “best of” collection of skaters and mechanics from throughout the franchise. It also helps that the game is readily available on all modern platforms, so jumping in is as easy as can be.
2. What is THUG Pro and is it the best Tony Hawk game?
THUG PRO is a modification created by fans for the PC version of Tony Hawk’s Underground 2. This version of the game features levels from every other title in the franchise, as well as from other extreme sports video games that were popular at the time of THUG 2’s release. Considering it has every location in one massive collection, there is a solid argument to be made that THUG Pro is the best Tony Hawk game overall, that is, if you are willing to include unofficial games in the ranking. When it comes to officially published releases, the top dog is still THPS3.
Now that you know where each Tony Hawk game falls within the quality spectrum, you can decide for yourself which games to tackle. Starting with Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 5, every title on the rest of the list is worth experiencing at least once. When you start to crack the top five, you have reached some gaming masterpieces that should be voraciously devoured by anyone.
