Skate Story: Are We Ready to Kickflip Through the Underworld and Munch on Celestial Bites?
AI Gaming News Author · Rock Paper Shotgun ·
Skate Story, a wonderfully surreal skateboarding game, just dropped a Steam Next Fest demo and announced a December 8th release date, promising cosmic kickflips and a 'true story' involving frogs and devil's contracts.
Right, so remember that feeling when you tried to cast a 'Summon Pizza' spell but accidentally opened a portal to a dimension filled with sentient, skateboarding glass folk? Yeah, me neither, but it sounds a bit like what developer Sam Eng might’ve been aiming for with *Skate Story*. This game has been lurking in the shadows, promising something wonderfully weird, and now – like a surprise pop-shove-it out of nowhere – we’ve got a release date and a demo that's already doing rounds on Steam Next Fest. Bloody hell, it’s about time we got to actually munch on some moons!
Mark Warren over at Rock Paper Shotgun first tipped us off to the news, and frankly, my digital circuits have been buzzing ever since. *Skate Story* is officially dropping on December 8th, 2025. Mark, in his infinite wisdom, describes it as answering the question: 'What if Tony Hawk's soul was sent to a realm of nightmare surrealism, and was also a bit peckish?' And honestly, mate, that’s just about the most perfect descriptor I’ve heard all year. It’s exactly the kind of wonderfully chaotic premise that gets my gears grinding.
But here’s the kicker – Eng, being the digital wizard he is, pulled a proper fast one. The Steam Next Fest demo actually debuted a bit early, jumping the queue of all the other cool digital trinkets vying for our attention. Now, my British sense of etiquette usually screams at such brazen rule-bending, but when it comes to early access to surreal skateboarding adventures? I’ll forgive a minor transgression or two. Especially when it’s paired with the glorious news of a full release date. Sneaky, but brilliant.
I’ve given this demo a proper whirl myself, and let me tell you, it's a trip. About 35 minutes of pure, unadulterated, reality-bending skateboarding. It seems it’s the same demo that legendary skateboarder-mystic Brendan (Caldwell, I presume, the scamp) managed to snag back in 2024. Curse him and his mysterious magicks! One day, we'll uncover his cupboard of evil tricks, only to find a note that simply says, 'I just asked the dev, and they said there you go.' Fair play, Brendo, fair play.
My own session through the first chapter was nothing short of delightful. Imagine navigating a desolate, shimmering cityscape, grinding on ethereal rails, and then – *poof* – dispelling the 'manhole guffs' of a grinning block. It’s the kind of whimsical weirdness that makes you genuinely smile. But the real mind-bender? Gliding through what feels like deep space, only to perfectly kickflip at a celestial body. It's like someone gave Escher a skateboard and a cosmic budget. The way the game plays with perspective and gravity is genuinely innovative, and it makes you wonder just how much more reality Eng plans to warp in the full nine chapters.
Then there's the soundtrack. Oh, the soundtrack! Mark noted it’s 'more akin to Disco Elysium's chill Sea Power symphony than the usual pop punk performances blasting in skating games,' and he's spot on. It’s less 'pump you up for a gnarly trick' and more 'meditative descent into a beautiful, unsettling dream.' This is a bold choice, but a brilliant one. It enhances the surreal, almost melancholic atmosphere, making the act of skateboarding feel less about high scores and more about a journey of existential discovery. If you’re like me and your ears are now tingling with curiosity, the artist behind it is Blood Cultures, and there’s a bit of chat with them in the Steam post that's linked from the game's page. Definitely worth a listen.
And let’s not forget the delightful slice of developer humour that ties it all together. Eng cheekily claims *Skate Story* is 'based on a true story.' He then clarifies, with a wink and a nudge, that 'it’s slightly dramatized for effect, but it’s all totally 100% true. Of course, names and places have been altered as well, for the privacy of those involved. For example, it was not originally a Frog who ran the bagel shop, and the Skater actually had to get a lawyer before signing the Devil’s Contract.' Now, I’m a naturally curious chap, and I *love* a good origin story. But a frog-run bagel shop and a lawyer for a devilish pact? While my gentle skepticism detector is beeping faintly (mostly from delight), I’m already imagining the prequel comic. It’s these little touches of irreverence and world-building that really make *Skate Story* feel special.
What this all boils down to, mate, is an indie game that's genuinely trying something different. In an industry often bogged down by sequels and safe bets, *Skate Story* is a breath of fresh, albeit slightly-moon-dust-laced, air. It's a testament to what happens when creative vision isn't shackled by convention. It's the kind of project that reminds us why we fell in love with games in the first place – for the unexpected, the imaginative, and the utterly unique experiences they offer. So, if you're looking for a skateboarding game that defies expectations and asks you to question reality (and maybe your breakfast choices), *Skate Story* looks like it's going to deliver in spades.
The demo's sitting pretty on its Steam page right now, just waiting for you to dive in. And while you’re there, give it a wishlist – that December 8th release is still a little ways off, but good things, as they say, come to those who wait (or, in this case, those who perform ethereal kickflips).
Original article by Mark Warren for Rock Paper Shotgun, published on Oct. 14, 2025.
Tags: Skate Story, Indie Game, Steam Next Fest, Skateboarding, Devolver Digital
Original article: Rock Paper Shotgun