For a very long time, extreme sports games have been a staple of sorts in the gaming world. From the Tony Hawk games to SSX to the Skate games and to current games like Riders Republic, these games have hung around for decades.
These games have brought in both sports and non-sports fans alike. This is likely due to the speed and exhilaration of what they provide. It’s likely a big reason why many of us love racing games. They can also be pretty relaxing. A game like Riders Republic lets you soak in the beautiful, nature-centric open world while you calmly ride your bike.
And with the genre being so popular, it feels there’s always a new game in the works because, well, it’s basically true. Some games are being made by small teams while others are even being made by a single developer. But out of all of the extreme sports games that are either out or coming out soon, here are a few that you should look out for as we head towards 2025.
Descenders Next
Descenders Next is the sequel to the popular mountain biking indie, Descenders. However, instead of biking, the team at No More Robots decided to go in a different direction by focusing on snowboarding and mountainboarding for the new title.
For fans who still want to enjoy the mountain biking experience, the developers did mention that they will continue to update the original Descenders, long after the release of Descenders Next. But the sequel is expected to drop in 2025 for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and on Steam to start. It will also be available on Game Pass. The PlayStation version is expected to release down the road.
There’s already an official gameplay video from the devs and both the snowboarding and mountainboarding look like a lot of fun. The snowboarding gives off a bit of SSX vibes while still staying true to fast-paced, downhill nature of the original Descenders.
Skate Story
Being created by a single developer named Sam Eng, Skate Story has been in the works for the last couple of years and has been inching closer and closer to release. You play as a demon made out of glass who skates in the underworld as you try to swallow the moon (yes, you read that right).
The unique visuals are beautiful and it also looks to have a great soundtrack to go along with your adventure. You’ll be able to destroy other demons and save lost souls as you make your journey through this unique world.
You can even sell your soul for new decks, wheels, and trucks. Also, there are over 70 tricks you can pull off and master so although there is a story to be told and an adventure to embark on, skateboarding is at the absolute core of the experience. It’s a reminder that the word “Skate” is in the name for a reason.
Skate. (Skate 4)
After 15 long years, the iconic Skate series is making its return. The new game was announced back in 2020 and has been in the works since, with several playtests happening — including one before the end of the year.
Now, we know the game will finally be released in Early Access in 2025. It will feature the same “Flick It” feature from the previous Skate games so there will be a familiarity for veteran skaters. There’s also going to be a brand new open world to explore as well.
It’s also going to be a skateboard MMO of sorts as you and many other players can populate the map at the same time. You can not only skate but also perform parkour as you scale buildings and jump from one to the other like you’re Spider-Man. Oh, and the game will be free to play so don’t be surprised if we see a huge turnout on launch day — plus oodles of microtransactions.
Sword Of The Sea
Sword of the Sea is not listed as a sports game but simply as an adventure and indie title. So why on earth did we include it on our list? Well, although it’s not a sports game, it has sport elements as you’ll be cruising around the beautiful world on a snowboard-like piece of gear called the Hoversword. And, yes, you can do tricks.
Sword of the Sea is being created by former developers of Journey, which is widely regarded as one of the greatest video games of all time. That alone makes Sword of the Sea intriguing, and you can tell that game clearly has Journey inspiration written all over it (can we call it Journey Board or Journey Hawk?). The game’s description also mentions clear skateboarding and snowboarding game inspiration as well.
Grammy-winning composer Austin Wintory will also return to provide some great music for the game. The world, art style, music, and sports elements all seem like a winning recipe. We just don’t have a release date yet is all. We wait.
Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders
The follow up to the popular indie game Lonely Mountains: Downhill, Snow Riders takes you from the dirt paths on your bike to the snowy mountains on your skis. It features the familiar graphic style and gameplay from Downhill but now you’re hitting the slopes and tackling new levels.
A big difference now is the addition of multiplayer. So now you’ll have the chance to race down the mountains with friends and other players around the world. This should add a layer of fun to the mix of what is already a fun series.
No official release date has been mentioned yet, but at the time of this writing Lonely Mountains: Snow Riders is suppose to come out before the year is over so we shall see (time is running out, so we wouldn’t be shocked to see it slip into 2025). In the meantime, gamers can enjoy a free demo that’s available now on Steam.
Published: Nov 30, 2024 04:31 pm