Session

67%
Game Brain Score Based on 16,688 reviews
  • gameplay
  • story
  • stability
Session Game Cover
Although Session: Skate Sim is a difficult game to get used to, the joy of pulling off tricks far outweighs the frustration. It faithfully recreates skateboarding culture of the 90s, and offers tons of freedom to play however you want.
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"Session: Skate Sim" is a realistic skateboarding game with dual stick controls representing each foot, providing a true-to-life skateboarding experience from the 90s street skating era. The game focuses on physics, smoothness, and immersion, with a challenging learning curve that rewards mastery and creativity. There's no scoring system, just you, your skateboard, and your imagination. Customize your settings and dive into a skateboarding culture simulation.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

67%
Audience ScoreBased on 16,688 reviews
gameplay348 positive mentions
stability840 negative mentions
  • gameplay1,366 mentions

    The gameplay of "Session" is characterized by a steep learning curve and a focus on realism, appealing primarily to dedicated skateboarding fans. While the core mechanics are praised for their depth and potential, many players report significant bugs, unfinished features, and a lack of polish that detracts from the overall experience. The game offers extensive customization options, but the reliance on complex controls can be frustrating for newcomers, leading to mixed reviews regarding its accessibility and enjoyment.

    • “The gameplay customization is very dynamic and provides lots of freedom when it comes to how the player wants to play the game and that is a very good thing, although a little jarring to figure out at first.”
    • “Once you start figuring out how to skate (huh... kinda like skating in real life, must be a sign of a good skate sim) the gameplay is genuinely so rewarding.”
    • “The core gameplay is there, the replayability is there, everything functions relatively well.”
    • “Game had promise, until it took them over 2 years for a small bug fix. All they want to do is sell you new maps; I doubt there will be any major updates to actual gameplay or new tricks anymore. Sad to see it.”
    • “Tons of glitches with the skateboarding mechanics, like ramps taking most of your speed or not giving you air randomly.”
    • “The gameplay itself is clunky but a good foundation, although it's buggy as hell. Literally, the first mission bugged out and was incompletable.”
  • story1,318 mentions

    The game's story mode is criticized for being shallow and poorly executed, often feeling like a series of basic missions rather than a cohesive narrative. Many players report that missions are buggy, with trick registration issues and unclear objectives, leading to frustration rather than enjoyment. While some appreciate the potential for a more engaging story, the current implementation lacks depth and fails to provide meaningful progression or character development.

    • “Give us a story about an aging skater trying to keep up, tell a story of the 15-year-old phenom that shattered his ankle because he went too big too soon, and now he has to restart with the basics.”
    • “The missions give a good sense of purpose and provide an ongoing tutorial well past the actual tutorial.”
    • “The 'story mode' is fun and entertaining, a bit cheesy sometimes but I'm pretty sure that's intentional.”
    • “The lack of story or any actual missions that have any meaning or impact in the in-game world make this game feel extremely underwhelming.”
    • “The story mode is not worth your time; the missions are simplistic and poorly explained, offering little guidance on how to complete them.”
    • “The 'story' that they added is shallow, awkward and feels cheaply made despite having big name pros.”
  • stability850 mentions

    The game's stability is a significant concern, with numerous players reporting frequent and frustrating glitches that hinder gameplay, such as character freezes, mission failures, and erratic physics. Many reviews describe the game as feeling unfinished and overly buggy, often likening it to an early access title despite its official release status. While some players appreciate the potential and fun aspects of the game, the overwhelming consensus is that the current state is too unstable for a full-priced product, with calls for more focused bug fixes rather than additional content.

    • “Ps: I play this on Steam Deck, which runs great.”
    • “That's really one of my only gripes with the game at the moment; the graphics and physics are really good, and it's not that buggy for an early access game.”
    • “Update: For those with a Steam Deck, this runs great at 30fps locked with high graphics settings.”
    • “It's just too buggy in its current form to be worth the price.”
    • “The game is still buggy as all hell; one mission is currently softlocked, so I can't progress that mission.”
    • “Such great potential completely wasted on a buggy, broken, unloved, unfinished product.”
  • graphics741 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the overall visual quality and aesthetic appeal, particularly in environments and lighting. However, several users report issues such as inconsistent performance, graphical glitches, and a lack of optimization, which detracts from the experience. While some consider it a significant improvement over previous skate games, others feel it still falls short in certain areas, particularly character models and animations.

    • “Truly, this is the best skate simulator ever done, with awesome graphics, great physics, and good variety in maps (a huge amount in modded maps), one of the greatest communities I've ever seen.”
    • “The graphics are the best I've seen for this type of title, the character modeling and animations are hands down the best and the deck customization is fantastic.”
    • “The graphics are amazing, there's challenges and missions to do, shops with merch from real brands, there's plenty of content to keep you busy.”
    • “The game's visuals are so stuttery and inconsistent that I get a migraine playing it.”
    • “Graphics glitch making the screen completely yellow and unplayable for Intel graphics card.”
    • “The maps are lifeless, the graphics are honestly not much better than Skate 3's, sometimes even worse (if you consider the age of skate games).”
  • music712 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its limited variety and repetitiveness, primarily featuring reggae and chillhop tracks. While some appreciate the chill vibe and find it suitable for relaxing gameplay, others express disappointment over the lack of diverse genres, such as punk or rock, which are more representative of skate culture. Overall, players are calling for more music options and the ability to customize playlists to enhance their gaming experience.

    • “The music is dope.”
    • “Excellent realistic sick soundtrack.”
    • “The soundtrack fits perfectly, the atmosphere is great, and the future is bright.”
    • “Now I appreciate that there's music in the game at all, but holy crap after about an hour of gameplay it gets pretty repetitive.”
    • “Too bad there are only like 5 songs and most of them are reggae, so if you don't like that, you'll be skating (mostly bailing) in silence.”
    • “The only bad thing about the game is the soundtrack; I have been playing it for hours with the music off, by far too many swear words on every single song and I don't see the point in it to be honest, where is the rock and punk music that many skaters listen to?”
  • grinding308 mentions

    Grinding in the game is widely criticized for being overly difficult and glitchy, often requiring precise angles and positioning that can lead to frequent failures and frustration. Many players find the mechanics tedious and inconsistent, with a significant number of bugs affecting the overall experience, making it feel less enjoyable compared to other skateboarding games. While some appreciate the realistic approach to grinding, they agree that substantial improvements are needed to enhance its responsiveness and reliability.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “A bit grindy sometimes.”
    • “Grinding is an absolute chore...and it is way too easy to bail.”
    • “Grinding is incredibly scuffed and barely works, half of the things in this game barely work.”
    • “Grinding is hard to lock in and very glitchy.”
  • optimization186 mentions

    The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some players noting that it runs smoothly on lower-end hardware when settings are adjusted, while others report significant performance issues, including lag and stuttering, even on high-spec systems. Many users express frustration over inconsistent frame rates, control issues, and bugs, suggesting that the game is not well-optimized for PC, particularly compared to console versions. Overall, while some improvements have been made since launch, there is a consensus that further optimization and bug fixes are necessary for a better gaming experience.

    • “The game is well optimized and the physics are really good.”
    • “Devs listened and optimized the game thoroughly since the v1.0 launch.”
    • “The graphics are great for what it is and the game is amazingly optimized. I was able to run it smoothly on my own PC, which is pretty underpowered for gaming, just by tweaking the video settings.”
    • “Love the game, it's a really good game. It's a shame that I have to give a negative review, but it is not optimized for PC at all. First off, Steam completely screws the controls because if you customize it to your standards or how you want to play, for example, I play with the Nintendo Switch layout because I've been playing on Switch for a few years, so I'm more comfortable with the Switch layout. But setting it that way in-game just completely breaks the game, like the controls switch back and forth to the Xbox layout then the Nintendo Switch layout, and it just gets really annoying. I would recommend playing on a console as opposed to a PC. I've tried this on other gaming PCs that I own, and it just isn't optimized for PC.”
    • “The optimization is not very good and there are noticeable issues, but in general, it is a very good game and there is more to be fixed and implemented.”
    • “Performance is atrocious, it's super clunky, animations are stiff and buggy, so there's really nothing nice to look at either.”
  • humor148 mentions

    The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with many players finding the physics glitches and ragdoll effects amusing at first, but often becoming tedious over time due to their frequency. While some bugs lead to genuinely funny moments, they can also disrupt gameplay, leading to frustration. Overall, the humor is appreciated by those who enjoy lighthearted, chaotic experiences, but it may not appeal to everyone, especially if they seek a more polished gaming experience.

    • “Super fun, relaxing, creative, and hilarious when using the replay editor.”
    • “The ragdolling after you inevitably stack is also hilarious and is a throwback to Skate 3.”
    • “I've spent about an hour trying to grind, but each time I fall, it's more hilarious than the last.”
    • “But it's not funny.”
    • “But it's not funny.”
  • monetization60 mentions

    The monetization strategy of the game has been widely criticized as a blatant cash grab, with many reviewers expressing disappointment over the prioritization of microtransactions and paid DLC over essential game development and completion. Players feel that the core game remains unfinished, and the aggressive monetization tactics, including intrusive advertising and charging for content that should have been included from the start, detract from the overall experience. Overall, the sentiment is that the game has shifted from a promising project to a soulless attempt to maximize profits.

    • “It just kills me seeing indie devs doing the gross stuff that the AAA devs have been doing and just not finishing their games, but at least there's no microtransactions.”
    • “Nacon can't even support developers that hold on to lucrative license deals like Warhammer or WRC, all because of their parasitic treatment of developers where development time is always conditional on income from monetization schemes that are equal parts aggressive and lazy.”
    • “Whole thing is a shameless cash grab unfortunately.”
    • “This game is exclusively a cash grab now, especially visible from the rampant additions through DLC that contribute nothing to the base experience which feels incredibly half complete, not even having proper animations for dropping down the board.”
    • “The 1.0 release is a cash grab.”
  • atmosphere38 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its satisfying sound design, detailed environments, and a diverse soundtrack that enhances the overall vibe. Players appreciate the chill ambiance, full day-and-night cycle, and the aesthetic quality reminiscent of classic skateboarding games, although some note a lack of content and NPCs that can make the world feel empty. Overall, the atmosphere is described as immersive and enjoyable, making it a compelling experience for players.

    • “The game features a full day-and-night cycle, with streetlights turning on at night, making for an amazing atmosphere.”
    • “After playing this game for close to 50 hours, I just want more of it and I can't stop playing: the atmosphere, the music, the setting, and the gameplay all make for a great experience that reminds me of the one I had while playing Skate 2.”
    • “The landmark spots are very well done and it is a nice atmosphere overall... just you and your board and the possibilities.”
    • “It's quite barren; there is no atmosphere. Very few places where you can get an actual good jump. I enjoyed the game for a few hours, but it just lacks content. It needs a map browser where humans can upload their maps, sort of similar to Descenders. I haven't seen much of a roadmap for this title either; it needs a lot of updating for this even to remotely be a good game.”
    • “After the update, it started to feel like Skate 3, not control-wise but more in terms of the atmosphere. With the bots walking around the city, it really hit the spot.”
    • “If I were you, I would wait for Skate and apply for early access, since the atmosphere is completely different. While it doesn't have 'realism,' it's a much more enjoyable experience.”
  • emotional32 mentions

    Players express a mix of frustration and satisfaction regarding the emotional experience of the game. While the complex controls and frequent falls can be annoying and reminiscent of the challenges faced in real skating, successfully landing tricks provides a significant sense of accomplishment. The improvements in physics enhance the emotional highs and lows, making the experience both rewarding and challenging.

    • “Landing a trick made me feel accomplished.”
    • “In terms of difficulty, this game is nearly just as painful as actually skating, but emotionally.”
    • “If you disable every help, landing a trick gets converted into a huge emotional reward.”
  • replayability30 mentions

    The game boasts exceptional replayability, with players highlighting a diverse range of tricks and a balance of accessibility and depth that keeps them engaged. Despite being in early access, it offers a stable experience and encourages community-driven content creation, further enhancing its longevity. Many users report hundreds of hours of gameplay, indicating that the game has nearly infinite replay value, especially for fans of the genre.

    • “That being said, the game offers so much and has, in my opinion, unlimited replay value.”
    • “Best game I've purchased in ages, endless replay value.”
    • “Insane amount of replayability, I'm now some dozen hours in and I'm still figuring out new things.”
    • “Game used to be a little more playable than it is now, lmao.”
    • “Much more playable than the early release for the Xbox One - would not recommend purchasing for console at this time.”
    • “It is still early access; at the time of this comment, I believe it is on build 0.0.0.8, and it does show; however, from what I am seeing, it is quite a stable build minus some issues with physics, but still somehow more playable than a lot of AAA titles on release.”
  • character development2 mentions

    Character development in the game is minimal, with users noting that the dialogue is bland and unengaging, leading many to skip through text. This lack of depth is expected, as the game focuses more on gameplay than narrative.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

73% average critic score

Buy Session

Play time

44hMedian play time
205hAverage play time
5-245hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 106 analyzed playthroughs

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