High on Life 2 is just around the corner, and it looks like it'll take the humor and gameplay that made it so much fun and turn it up to 11. Like any good sequel, High on Life 2 adds extra spice to the game, and one of the most exciting upgrades is the introduction of skateboarding. A first-person shooter centered around taking down an evil pharmaceutical company seems like the least likely game with skateboarding mechanics, but High on Life 2 honors the unpredictability of its predecessor.
Random skateboarding mechanics can often feel like a cheap gimmick, though High on Life 2s take on the game feature promises even more fun this time around. It leans towards the playfulness of the series, though High on Life 2Skateboarding is also one of the main reasons I'm excited about it. It's shaping up to be a great game, but it also makes me long for the heyday of skate games. As a kid, Tony Hawk's signature games were some of my favorites, and one of the best in the franchise still is Tony Hawk's Underground. Between it and the sequel, I spent hours upon hours as a kid playing through these games. 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 hope a Tony Hawks Underground remake will happen one day
Licensed Tony Hawk games have already seen a resurgence in recent years. The Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+ 2 remake came out in 2020, and the newer one Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 remake was one of my favorite ways to unwind last year. These games aren't exactly the deepest in terms of gameplay and brainpower used, but there's something really soothing about them.
I don't know if it's just nostalgia or the sound of wheels hitting concrete, but there's almost an ASMR-like quality to this kind of extreme sports game. With the upgrades that Tony Hawk's Underground comes to the franchise it has the chance to be an even better remake as well.
If a remake happens, Tony Hawk's Underground and the sequel can combined into a game that previously remakes.
A remake of Tony Hawk's Underground only makes sense right now
After THPS 1+ 2 and THPS 3 + 4, Tony Hawk's Underground is next in line to get some remake love. A Tony Hawk's Underground 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 about one Tony Hawk's Underground remake was potentially on the table, and he responded, “I always have ambitions. It's not up to me in general. I'll campaign all 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 the value in reviving the game. When it comes to skate games, Tony Hawk's Underground was revolutionary at the time. The brand new mechanics it added to the formula not only made the skating better, but it also expanded the scope of what a skating game could actually be. Tony Hawk games were always in development, but Tony Hawk's Underground was the biggest leap forward the franchise had seen to date.
New features and skating mechanics introduced in Tony Hawk's Underground
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The ability to get off the board and walk around
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Improved character customization
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Face mapping
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Wall pressure
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Hip transfer
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Wall plant
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Pressure reverser
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Acid Drop
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Driving
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High on Life 2 may not be a THUG remake, but it's a reminder of how fun skating in games can be
The early to mid 2000s were filled with skate games and other extreme sports titles, but the Tony Hawk-branded ones stood out. That era of gaming may be over, though High on life 2's gameplay is a hopeful spark that there is still room for fun skate-focused titles. What's even better is how High on Life 2 feels just as goofy and action-packed as its predecessor, meaning no love lost and only more high. High on Life 2 isn't the only game to show a new side of skateboarding either.
One of last year's most underrated games is part of High on Life 2's Skate Renaissance
- Skating history was launched on December 8, 2025.
High on Life 2 and Skating historys gameplay may be incredibly different, but they both show that the interest in skate mechanics is still alive and well. Skate games may not be as sought-after as first-person shooters and realistic RPG elements, but at least there's a niche that still yearns to scratch the skating itch.
Games like Tony Hawk's Underground and that Tony Hawk's Pro Skater comics may not be as big as they once were, but High on Life 2 takes pieces of the formula and reworks it in a way that honors the game while still feeling new and exciting. High on Life 2 proving that skate culture is more than just a relic of the past. It's still making an impact, even if not in the way longtime skaters expected.
High on Life 2 helps fill out a solid month of gaming
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The game is coming to consoles and PC, and it will also be an initial launch on Xbox Game Pass.
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The Nintendo Switch 2 version will be available on April 20, 2026.
High on Life 2 for the Switch 2 it might take a little longer, but the game is among a stacked list of February releases alongside games like Nioh 3 and Resident Evil Requiem. High on Life 2 has some serious competition, but the promise of a whole new version of skateboarding has me ready to jump in.
- Released
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February 13, 2026
- ESRB
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Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, intense violence, nudity, strong language, strong sexual content, use of drugs and alcohol
- Developer
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Squash game
- Publisher
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Squash game
