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5 Best Games Like Session: Skate Sim

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Session: Skate Sim

So, you've mastered the art of virtual skating? Well, the good news is, it doesn't get much harder than Session: Skate Sim, which means, if you found it something of a doddle, then you're in for a stroke of luck. As it turns out, skateboarding physics only get easier to understand the further back you go, which of course makes the likes of Tony Hawk's Pro Skater look like the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse of extreme sports. But Session: Skate Sim, on the other hand — now there's a convoluted blueprint to wrap your head around.

Granted, skating simulators aren't all that popular in this day and age, despite having a close-knit community fairly close its heart. That said, the games that do release from beneath its wing have often gone on to become some of the best in the extreme sports category. And Session: Skate Sim is, for lack of a better word, phenomenal. And if you find yourself agreeing with us on that, then you'll be sure to enjoy these five concrete alternatives.

 

5. Skate

For what felt like an eternity, it was only ever about Tony Hawk's Pro Skater. Not that it was a bad thing or anything, but for the longest time it seemed developers and gamers were only ever fixated on playing anything that pushed the laws of physics way past breaking point. Fortunately, though, Activision's beloved series eventually hit the bottleneck, right around the time EA Black Box stepped up to create something more life-like and true to the sport and its culture.

Skate was an exceptionally well built series that dared to give Tony Hawk a run for his money by building an open-ended concrete jungle that prioritized progression over parody. Gone were the ludicrously funny goals and unrealistic combos — in were the sensitive motion controls and fleshed out tricks. And with that, Skate produced a textbook simulation experience, all while maintaining a slightly wacky side that frequently dabbled in areas we only knew from slugging through Activision's skate anthology. The fact that it could balance the board and encapsulate both reality and fantasy was, in all honesty, one of the most impressive accomplishments in the history of the sport, even by EA's standards.

 

4. Skater XL

Skater XL - Launch Trailer | PS4

Skater XL served as something of a spiritual successor to the third instalment of the Skate saga. After EA neither confirmed nor denied the existence of a fourth chapter, fans of the brand quickly found themselves searching for an alternative, if only to alleviate the fact that Skate 4 was shaping up to be a pipe dream and nothing more. But to our utmost surprise, the Easy Day Studios-led IP actually wound up becoming an even better fill-in than a lot of us could've imagined.

Skater XL is a physics-based skateboarding game that rings all the same bells as Session: Skate Sim, in the fact that the goals are predominantly custom-built and open to interpretation. Without leaning to harshly on objectives and points, Skater XL gives you the keys to become the skater you want to be, without spoonfeeding you any unwanted filler. It's you and you alone, and with a fairly large world to turn into your own idyllic skate spot — that's really all it has to be. It's evidently vanilla, and it capitalizes on that surprisingly well.

 

3. Tony Hawk's Proving Ground

Tony Hawk's Proving Ground PlayStation 3 Trailer -

If you were to remove the exaggerated mechanics of a typical Tony Hawk game, then you'd actually have a whole other IP to play with. The first time Activision really decided to drop this melodramatic approach and substitute it with a semi-realistic tone was with Proving Ground, an open world skating game that dared to shed the weight of its past parodies. And although it wasn't quite on par with the up-and-coming Skate series, it was still a fantastic entry to an otherwise outdated series.

Tony Hawk's Proving Ground is as much of a sandbox game as it as a story-driven game, which bodes well for gamers who wish to dabble in both sides without having to navigate completely different fields. As a rigger, a rebel, or a pro skater, you can define your own legacy by following the path that suits you best. And although it isn't anywhere near as realistic as Session: Skate Sim, it's still in possession of a whole lot of customizable features and sandbox elements. Add the fact that it also has a well-orchestrated world with multiple mission branches, as well as its signature trick and park editor suite, you can actually brand this one as a pretty strong candidate for the book.

 

2. Skater

Skater for iOS Launch Trailer - Hollywood High

If you think you've mopped up just about every skateboarding game on consoles and PCs there is, and aren't overly sure where to look next, then maybe it's time to give the ol' iOS a call. Thanks to Skater, budding boarders can now get their fix while on the go, with a whole new palette of tricks and combos to experiment with from the grounds of a much smaller device.

Skater is a mobile game that was specifically designed by skaters, for skaters. And although it doesn't exactly boast an all-powerful story-driven experience, per se, it definitely captures the heart and soul of the skateboarding scene, and it goes above and beyond to lay the foundations for a hearty physics-based video game. The fact that it's relatively cheap and all woven into one all-encompassing package is, in all fairness, a major bonus.

 

1. Skate 3

SKATE 3 Launch Trailer

Skate 3 isn't exactly EA's best-kept secret, as it is arguably one of the most requested remasters in gaming, period. Although its legacy may have since sizzled out and made way for other skate-heavy chapters, its close-knit player base does continue to sing its praises, mainly through Twitch and YouTube via the countless channels devoted to making Skate content. And honestly, what better entry to glow up than Skate 3?

Skate 3 encapsulated it all: the open-world concrete jungle, the next-level physics-based skateboarding, and most of all, the realistic motion controls that, when threaded together to make a combo, made its execution feel flawless. Skate 3 smashed it out of the park, which is precisely why we're more than willing to give it a spot on this list. Session: Skate Sim it most definitely is not. But then then, it doesn't even need to be, as its reputation basically speaks for itself.

 

So, what's your take? Do you agree with our top five? Let us know over on our socials here or down in the comments below.

Jord is acting Team Leader at gaming.net. If he isn't blabbering on in his daily listicles, then he's probably out writing fantasy novels or scraping Game Pass of all its slept on indies.