So, you're looking for a trip down memory lane, or maybe you're just trying to figure out how many times Activision has actually tried to sell us the same 900. It's a lot. Honestly, the history of all Tony Hawk games is basically the history of modern gaming itself—starting with blocky pixels and "Superman" by Goldfinger on a loop, then hitting a weird experimental phase with plastic skateboards, and finally finding its soul again in the 2020s.
Most people think of the Birdman’s series as just the Pro Skater titles. They're wrong. It’s way bigger. You’ve got the RPG-style Underground years, the motion-control disasters of the late 2000s, and the recent massive comeback with the 2025 release of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4.
The Golden Era: 1999 to 2002
In 1999, Neversoft changed everything. They didn't just make a sports game; they made a culture. If you weren't there, it’s hard to describe how much Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater (THPS) dominated the PlayStation. It was everywhere. Pizza Hut demo discs. The Warehouse level. The blue-tinted school.
Then came THPS2 in 2000. It added manuals. This sounds like a tiny detail, but it allowed you to link tricks forever. It’s technically one of the highest-rated games of all time on Metacritic. By the time THPS3 landed on the PS2 with the "revert" mechanic, the series was untouchable. These three games are the DNA of the whole franchise.
THPS4 in 2002 was the first big pivot. It ditched the two-minute timer. Suddenly, you could just skate around and talk to NPCs to start missions. It felt more like a "world" than a checklist.
When Things Got Weirdly Narrative
Around 2003, the series basically turned into a playable episode of Jackass. This was the Tony Hawk's Underground (THUG) era. You weren't playing as Tony anymore; you were playing as "you," a kid from New Jersey trying to go pro while dealing with your backstabbing friend Eric Sparrow. Seriously, everyone hates Eric Sparrow. He's the ultimate gaming villain.
THUG 2 leaned even harder into the chaos, sending you on a "World Destruction Tour" with Bam Margera. It was less about skating and more about throwing tomatoes at people or driving a motorized hospital bed. Some fans loved it. Some purists hated it.
Tony Hawk's American Wasteland (2005) tried to go "open world" before that was really a standard thing. It advertised a seamless Los Angeles with no loading screens, though in reality, you just skated through long, boring hallways while the next area loaded. Still, the vibe was great.
The Dark Ages: Peripherals and Proving Grounds
Eventually, the wheels came off. Neversoft's final two main games, Project 8 (2006) and Proving Ground (2007), were technically impressive but felt a bit tired. Then came Robomodo and the plastic skateboard era.
Tony Hawk: Ride (2009) and Shred (2010) required a physical board peripheral that just... didn't work well. It was a dark time for the franchise. The physics felt floaty, and the "realism" they were chasing just wasn't fun. By the time Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 5 released in 2015, it was a buggy, unfinished mess that felt like a cheap cash grab before the licensing deal expired.
The Modern Renaissance and 2026
Everything changed with Vicarious Visions. In 2020, they dropped the Pro Skater 1 + 2 remake, and it was perfect. It felt exactly like we remembered, but looked like a modern masterpiece. It sold a million copies in two weeks.
Fast forward to July 2025, and Iron Galaxy followed up with Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4. It fixed the "no-timer" issue of the original 4 by offering both classic and free-roam modes. As we sit here in 2026, the series is healthier than it’s been in two decades. There’s even talk of a new, original entry that moves away from remakes entirely.
Every Major Release You Should Know
- The Classics: THPS 1, 2, 3, and 4.
- The Story Era: Underground 1 & 2, American Wasteland.
- The Tech Era: Project 8, Proving Ground (the first "next-gen" attempts).
- The Peripheral Flops: Ride, Shred.
- The Remaster Era: THPS 1 + 2 (2020), THPS 3 + 4 (2025).
If you want to get back into it today, start with the 1+2 remake. Don’t bother with the 2012 Pro Skater HD—it’s clunky and missing the soul of the originals. Go for the 2020 version. It has the original soundtrack, the original skaters (aged up to their current selves), and physics that actually make sense.
📖 Related: Why Rules of Nature Lyrics Are Still Metal Gear Rising's Biggest Meme 13 Years Later
If you’re a completionist, look for Tony Hawk’s Underground 2: Remix on the PSP. It actually has more levels than the console version. Also, Tony Hawk’s American Sk8land on the Nintendo DS is surprisingly good for a handheld game. It used a cel-shaded art style that still looks decent today.
The reality of all Tony Hawk games is that they reflect the culture of the time they were made. The punk rock of the 90s, the "extreme" chaos of the 2000s, and the polished nostalgia of the 2020s. We've come a long way from that first warehouse in 1999.
Actionable Next Steps
Check your digital storefronts for the Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1 + 2 bundle, which is often on sale now that the 3 + 4 remake is out. If you have an old PC, look into THUG Pro, a fan-made mod that combines levels from almost every game in the series into one engine. It's the best way to play the classic maps with modern controls and online multiplayer.