Personal Pick
In conjunction with our main Game of the Year Awards 2025, each member of the PC Gamer team is highlighting a game that resonated with them this year. New personal picks will be featured daily throughout the month. You can find all the selections here.
There is a unique satisfaction in finally discovering appreciation for a video game series that previously felt inaccessible. Enjoying games is a skill that can be developed, and my significant breakthrough in 2025 was learning to enjoy Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4.
Upon diving into Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, I find it to be a remarkable experience. It may well represent the ideal sports game, blending the essence of skating with fast-paced gameplay. Players embody an individual on a skateboard who possesses the agility of a vehicle, capable of performing tricks and maneuvers with remarkable finesse.
Initially, I perceived THPS as simply a score-driven pursuit, failing to recognize its multifaceted nature as a scavenger hunt, racing game, and platformer. The casual enjoyment of the game gradually evolves into a more nuanced quest for efficiency all while maintaining a deep respect for the skateboarding culture similar to that found in the Skate series I enjoyed in the late 2000s.
While the gameplay physics are indeed exaggerated, and one level involves dismantling a Los Angeles highway actively used by motorists, the primary focus remains on the quest for mastery through brief two-minute sessions—yielding the satisfaction of exploring a new environment and unlocking its secrets through unbelievable tricks.
Starting with the 3 + 4 remake, I appreciated the experience of engaging with the series at the peak of Neversoft’s creativity. Every feature—from the ramps to hidden paths—has been meticulously crafted and integrated into the overall environment.
Rather than opting for conventional skate parks adorned with wooden ramps, the 3 + 4 settings have been beautifully embedded into various urban landscapes, such as city streets, a college campus, an airport, and even Alcatraz Island. Each map is enjoyable, although I did not revisit the “competition” maps that prioritize simpler score chasing over more engaging goals.
The recent remake of THPS has faced criticism from fans of the original for altering its open-world structure and adjusting familiar maps. Concerns regarding changes, such as the introduction of timers in maps that didn’t previously have them, are understandable. While the reasoning behind these decisions may seem insufficient, I find myself curious to explore the original THPS 4 to gauge what I might be missing.
I initially thought THPS was merely a score-chasing endeavor, failing to recognize its dimensions as a scavenger hunt, racing game, and platformer.
Nonetheless, the redesigned levels deliver a positive experience, and I particularly enjoy the new maps added by Iron Galaxy. The waterpark setting is vibrant and intricate, leading me to assume it was a Neversoft level until corrected by a friend. The (minor spoiler) pinball machine level, unlocked at the conclusion of the THPS 4 career, serves as a whimsical finale.
Reflecting on the release of the Skate reboot and the indie gem Skate Story, it’s evident that 2025 has been a surprisingly successful year for virtual skateboarding. However, the modifications in Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 led to it being somewhat overlooked upon its July launch.
It’s unfortunate because the game successfully continues the high standards set by Vicarious Visions in the 1 + 2 remake of 2020, showcasing superb animations, a well-curated soundtrack, and modern graphics that prioritize performance and atmosphere over sheer realism. It feels as if this is what Pro Skater would be like if Activision hadn’t stepped away from the franchise.
If you find the changes frustrating, I won’t seek to sway your opinion. However, for those who, like me, missed out on the Tony Hawk experience earlier, this remake offers a fantastic introduction.
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