High on Life 2 is just around the corner, and it looks like it's taking the humor and gameplay that made it so fun and turning everything up to 11. Like any good sequel, High on Life 2 adds extra spice to the gameplay, and one of the most exciting upgrades is the introduction of skateboarding. A first-person shooter centered around taking down an evil pharmaceutical corporation seems like the least likely game to feature skateboarding mechanics, but High on Life 2 is honoring the unpredictability of its predecessor.
Random skateboarding mechanics can often feel like a cheap gimmick, but High on Life 2's take on the gameplay feature is promising even more fun this time around. It leans into the playfulness of the series, but High on Life 2's skateboarding is also one of the main reasons I am excited for it. It's shaping up to be a great game, but it also has me longing for the heyday of skate games. As a kid, Tony Hawk's self-branded games were some of my favorites, and one of the best in the franchise is still 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 big 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 a Tony Hawk's Underground Remake Will Happen One Day
Licensed Tony Hawk games have already seen a resurgence in the past few years. The Tony Hawks Pro Skater 1+ 2 remake came out in 2020, and the more recent Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 remake was one of my favorite ways to wind down last year. These games aren't exactly the deepest in terms of gameplay and brain power used, but there's something really calming about them.
I don't know if it's simply nostalgia or the sound of wheels hitting concrete, but there's almost an ASMR-like quality to these kinds of extreme sports games. With the upgrades that Tony Hawk's Underground brought to the franchise, it has the chance to be an even better remake, too.
If a remake happens, Tony Hawk's Underground and the sequel may be combined into one game like past remakes.
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 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 if a Tony Hawk's Underground remake was potentially on the table, and he replied, "I always have aspirations. It's not up to me generally. I'll campaign all I can, but I'm working with a much bigger company that's a lot 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 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 evolving, but Tony Hawk's Underground was the biggest leap forward that the franchise had seen yet.
New Features and Skate Mechanics That Were Introduced in Tony Hawk's Underground
- The ability to get off the board and walk around
- Improved character customization
- Face mapping
- Wall push
- Hip transfer
- Wall plant
- Pressure Flips
- Acid Drop
- Driving
Find all 10 pairs
Find all 10 pairs
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 Tony Hawk-branded ones reigned supreme. That era of gaming may be over, but 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 there's no love lost and just more piled on. High on Life 2 isn't the only game that's showing a new side of skateboarding, either.
One of Last Year's Most Underrated Games is Part of High on Life 2's Skate Renaissance
- Skate Story launched on December 8, 2025.
High on Life 2 and Skate Story's gameplay may be incredibly different, but they both show that interest in skate mechanics is still alive and well. Skate gameplay may not be as sought-after as first-person shooting and realistic RPG elements, but there is at least a niche that still craves to scratch the skating itch.
Games like Tony Hawk's Underground and the Tony Hawk's Pro Skater series may not be as big as they once were, but High on Life 2 is taking bits of the formula and reworking it in a way that honors the gameplay while also feeling new and exciting. High on Life 2 proves that skate culture is more than just a relic of the past. It's still making an impact, even if it's not in the way longtime skaters expected.
High on Life 2 Helps Pad Out a Solid Month For Gaming
- The game is coming to consoles and PC, and it will also be a day-one launch on Xbox Game Pass.
- The Nintendo Switch 2 version will be available on April 20, 2026.
High on Life 2 for the Switch 2 may take a little while 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 brand-new take on skateboarding has me ready to jump in.
OpenCritic Reviews
- Released
- February 13, 2026
- ESRB
- Mature 17+ / Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Nudity, Strong Language, Strong Sexual Content, Use of Drugs and Alcohol
- Developer(s)
- Squanch Games
- Publisher(s)
- Squanch Games
