High on Life 2 isn't out yet, but it makes me wish the next game was

Random skateboard mechanics can often feel like a cheap trick, but High on Life 2The concept of the game function this time promises even more fun. It relies on the playfulness of the series, but High on Life 2Skateboarding is also one of the main reasons I'm passionate about it. It's shaping up to be a great game, but it also makes me long for skate games to flourish. Tony Hawk's self-branded games were some of my favorites as a kid, and one of the best in the series is still Tony Hawk's Underground. Between that and the sequel, I spent hours and hours playing these games as a kid. Tony Hawk's Underground marked a major turning point for the skate genre and I've been hoping for a remake for years at this point.

I'm holding out hope that an underground Tony Hawk remake will happen one day

Licensed Tony Hawk games have already seen a resurgence in recent years. The Tony Hawks Pro Skater 1+ 2 the remake came out in 2020 and later Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 the remake was one of my favorite ways to end last year. These games aren't exactly the deepest in terms of gameplay and brainpower used, but there's something really comforting about them.

I don't know if it's just nostalgia or the sound of wheels hitting concrete, but these kinds of extreme sports games almost have an ASMR-like quality to them. With those upgrades Tony Hawk's Underground brought to the franchise, it also has a chance to be an even better remake.

A remake of Tony Hawk's Underground only makes sense at this point

After THPS 1+2 and THPS 3 + 4, Tony Hawk's Underground is next in line to enjoy the remake. AND Tony Hawk's Underground a remake isn't just something I want, either. Tony Hawk himself wants it to happen. During an interview with ScreenRant last year, he was asked if a Tony Hawk's Underground A remake was potentially on the table, and he replied: “I always have aspirations. Generally, it doesn't matter to me. I'll campaign as much as I can, but I'm working with a much bigger company that's much smarter than me.”

This is far from an actual green light, but it's at least promising that Tony Hawk even sees value in reviving the game. When it comes to skate games, Tony Hawk's Underground he was revolutionary in his time. The brand new mechanics it added to the formula not only improved the skating, but also expanded the scope of what a skating game could actually be. Tony Hawk games have always evolved, but Tony Hawk's Underground was the biggest leap forward the franchise had seen to date.

New skate features and mechanics that were introduced in Tony Hawk's Underground

• The ability to get off the board and walk

• Improved character customization

• Face mapping

• Pushing against the wall

• Hip transfer

• Wall plant

• Pressure Flips

• Acid Drop

• Management

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High on Life 2 may not be a remake of THUG, but it's a reminder of how much fun skating can be in games

The early to mid 21st century was full of skate games and other extreme sports titles, but those with the Tony Hawk brand reigned supreme. That era of games may be over, but High on life 2's gameplay is a glimmer of hope that there's still room for fun skate-centric titles. Even better is how High on Life 2 it feels just as goofy and action-packed as its predecessor, which means there's no love lost and more is just piling up. High on Life 2 is not the only game that shows a new side of skateboarding.

One of the most underrated games of last year is part of High on Life 2's Skate Renaissance

• A skate story launched on December 8, 2025.

High on Life 2 and A skate story's gameplay may be incredibly different, but both show that the interest in skating mechanics is still alive and well. Skate gameplay may not be as in demand as first-person shooters and realistic RPG elements, but at least there is a niche that still wants to scratch the surface of skating.

Games like Tony Hawk's Underground and Tony Hawk's pro skater the series may not be as big as it once was, but High on Life 2 it takes bits and pieces of the formula and reworks them in a way that respects the gameplay while still feeling new and exciting. High on Life 2 proves that skate culture is more than just a relic of the past. It still works, even if it's not what longtime skaters expected.

High on Life 2 will help you prepare for a solid month of gaming

• The game is coming to consoles and PC, and it will also be the first day of launch on Xbox Game Pass.

• The Nintendo Switch 2 version will be available on April 20, 2026.

High on Life 2 it might take a bit longer for the Switch 2, but the game belongs on the February release list alongside games like Nioh 3 and Resident Evil Requiem. High on Life 2 it has some serious competition, but the promise of a brand new take on skateboarding kept me from jumping in.

Released

February 13, 2026

ESRB

Mature 17+ / Blood and gore, Intense violence, Nudity, Crude language, Strong sexual content, Use of drugs and alcohol

Developers

Squash Games

Publishers

Squash Games