Skate Story

Lore & Background

Skate Story is centered around a crystalline demon who is given a skateboard by the Devil along with the terms of a simple deal: if the demon skates to the Moon and swallows it, the Devil will free them. The game has a unique take on the skateboarding genre, as it is set in the underworld, where the demon must skate and grind its way through the ash and smoke of the Emptylands in order to consume the Moon. The protagonist encounters various tortured souls who need saving on their journey, such as a forgetful frog, and will need to skate fast in order to destroy the vicious demons on their path.

The game focuses on the core mechanics of skateboarding and emphasizes fluid movement, exploration, and trick execution. Players take on the role of a skateboarding demon made out of glass and pain, who must ollie, kickflip and grind their way through 'The Underworld' as they take on their seemingly impossible quest. The control scheme is designed to provide a realistic and intuitive skateboarding experience, with players able to perform a wide range of tricks and maneuvers. The game rewards players for creativity and skill, encouraging them to experiment with different combinations of tricks and routes through The Underworld. Players will need to complete skate trials in order to level up, learn new tricks, and obtain new gear. They can sell their soul for new decks, wheels, and trucks to customize their skateboard. Skate Story features puzzle-solving elements with its primary focus on exploration and discovery, encouraging players to piece the story together by progressing through the different levels and environments. While skating through the nine layers of Hell, the demon is accompanied by an atmospheric soundtrack by Blood Cultures and John Fio.

Reader's Guide

Skate Story was announced during Devolver Digital's Public Access Holiday Special in December 2022 with a planned release in 2023. The game was delayed to 2024, then again to 2025. It was developed by Sam Eng, an indie video game developer based in New York, who previously developed Zarvot, a game about cubes released in 2018 for Nintendo Switch. Upon release, Skate Story received 'generally favorable' reviews according to review aggregator website Metacritic, and OpenCritic reported that 87% of critics recommended the game. The game's significance lies in its distinctive fusion of skateboarding mechanics with a narrative set in the Underworld, where the protagonist is a demon made of glass and pain. Its emphasis on fluid movement, exploration, and trick execution, combined with puzzle-solving elements and a deal-with-the-Devil premise, sets it apart within the skateboarding genre. The atmospheric soundtrack by Blood Cultures and John Fio further defines its immersive environment. The game's journey through the nine layers of Hell, encounters with tortured souls like a forgetful frog, and the goal of skating to the Moon and swallowing it contribute to its unique legacy as a narrative-driven skateboarding title.