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Session

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.
72%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
stability, grinding
82% User Score Based on 19,474 reviews
Critic Score 75%Based on 18 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchXbox Series X|SPCPlaystation 5Playstation 4Xbox OneXboxSteam DeckWindowsPlayStation

About

"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.

Play Modes
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+17
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82%
Audience ScoreBased on 19,474 reviews
story186 positive mentions
stability968 negative mentions

  • The core gameplay mechanics are praised for their depth and potential, providing a rewarding experience for dedicated players.
  • The game features a rich atmosphere with satisfying sound design, realistic environments, and a full day-and-night cycle that enhances immersion.
  • There is significant replayability due to diverse tricks, community-made content, and fun, challenging missions.
  • The game suffers from numerous bugs and glitches, leading to a frustratingly inconsistent experience that feels unfinished.
  • The story mode is widely criticized for being underdeveloped, with simplistic missions that lack meaningful guidance and impact.
  • The monetization strategy has been perceived as a cash grab, overshadowing the game's potential and leaving players frustrated with aggressive DLC and microtransactions.
  • story
    1,554 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story aspect is widely criticized for being underdeveloped and often frustrating, with many missions feeling like poorly designed tutorials rather than engaging narratives. Players report numerous bugs that prevent mission completion, unclear objectives, and a lack of meaningful progression, leading to a sense of disconnection from the gameplay experience. While some appreciate the challenges as a way to learn skating techniques, the overall consensus is that the story mode lacks depth and polish, making it feel more like an afterthought than a core component of the game.

    • “The story mode was a pleasant surprise I never expected to be added, the board customization (surprisingly varied) and wear & tear is cool, the iconic skate spots and historical achievements are awesome and I love the left foot/right foot twin stick controls along with manual catch.”
    • “The missions give a good sense of purpose and provide an ongoing tutorial well past the actual tutorial.”
    • “The story challenges keep it interesting long term.”
    • “The story mode is not worth your time; the missions are simplistic and poorly explained, offering little guidance on how to complete them.”
    • “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 missions are frustratingly broken and seem barely playtested for someone who plays all manual no alignment with medium trucks.”
  • gameplay
    1,554 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "Session" is characterized by its complex mechanics and steep learning curve, appealing primarily to dedicated skateboarding fans who appreciate realism. While the core mechanics are praised for their depth and potential, many players report significant bugs, unfinished features, and a lack of updates focused on gameplay improvements, leading to frustration. Overall, the game offers a rewarding experience for those willing to invest time in mastering its controls, but it remains in a state that feels incomplete and often clunky.

    • “The gameplay feels fantastic, with every move and trick making a real impact.”
    • “Very fun game, mechanics are great and it feels like the natural progression from Skate 3's control scheme to something slightly more challenging.”
    • “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.”
    • “But, my god, they hardly ever update this game with gameplay enhancements.”
    • “The game is so frustrating because of the sheer amount of bugs that harsh gameplay.”
    • “Game had promise, until it took them over 2 years for a small bugfix; 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.”
  • stability
    980 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's stability is a significant concern, with numerous users reporting a wide array of bugs and glitches that hinder gameplay. Many players describe the experience as frustratingly inconsistent, with issues ranging from character control problems to mission failures and crashes. While some acknowledge the game's potential and enjoy its core mechanics, the overwhelming consensus is that it feels unfinished and overly buggy, making it difficult to recommend in its current state.

    • “I put about 60 hours casually enjoying the vanilla game before easily modding it, and with mods, it's nearly perfect and runs great on the Steam Deck.”
    • “Update: for those with a Steam Deck, this runs great at 30fps locked with high graphics settings.”
    • “Still rough around the edges but extremely enjoyable and runs great.”
    • “The troubling part for this game for me is the inconsistency and buggy mess it is.”
    • “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.”
  • graphics
    824 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics in the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising their realism and detail, particularly in environments and character models. However, some players have noted issues with optimization, inconsistent performance, and occasional graphical glitches that detract from the overall experience. While the visuals are generally considered a strong point, there are calls for further improvements and refinements to enhance gameplay and aesthetics.

    • “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 amazing, there's challenges and missions to do, shops with merch from real brands, there's plenty of content to keep you busy.”
    • “The graphics are excellent and getting better with each update.”
    • “The graphics randomly get really dark often when rotating the camera.”
    • “The game's visuals are so stuttery and inconsistent that I get a migraine playing it.”
    • “Not recommended right now; feels like an early access game. Graphics are decent but need improvement, especially in the character models. The world you play in feels like some sort of apocalypse just happened and you and a few others for 'quests' are left as it's pretty much dead—no cars, no people, just nothing.”
  • music
    782 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its chill vibe and suitability for skating, while others criticize its limited variety and repetitive nature. A significant number of users express disappointment over the removal of diverse tracks, particularly punk and rap, in favor of a soundtrack dominated by reggae and lo-fi beats. Overall, while some enjoy the existing music as a backdrop for gameplay, many recommend muting it and using personal playlists for a more enjoyable experience.

    • “Very good game, if you like listening to music and playing a chill game this is it for you.”
    • “Overall it's fun, I like to hop on and mess around while listening to music.”
    • “The music is dope.”
    • “Soundtrack is dog shit, just mute it and play the THPS one on Spotify, go watch people playing this game if you get stuck on their vague mission descriptions or, better yet, either go outside and learn to skate IRL or play any of the better skating games out there.”
    • “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? This seems to be all rap-type music... play the game with the music off as it spoils the experience hugely.”
    • “Now for one of the big things for me, music. The soundtrack in-game currently is very short and shows promise, but it feels like you're on a yoga or healing retreat rather than skateboarding.”
  • grinding
    344 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Grinding in the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it tedious and glitchy. While some appreciate the realistic approach to grinding mechanics, they often report issues with sensitivity, precision, and overall responsiveness, leading to frequent bails and frustration. Overall, players feel that grinding needs significant improvement to enhance the gameplay experience, as it currently detracts from the enjoyment of the game.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “A bit grindy sometimes.”
    • “One long, tedious grind.”
    • “Grinding is an absolute chore...and it is way too easy to bail.”
    • “Grinding is hard to lock in and very glitchy.”
    • “The grinding in this game feels off, clunky, and too precise for what the controls allow at this time.”
  • optimization
    212 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization has received mixed feedback, with many players reporting significant performance issues, bugs, and inconsistent frame rates, even on high-end hardware. While some users have noted improvements and decent performance on lower-end systems, others express frustration over ongoing glitches and the need for further optimization. Overall, the consensus is that the game is not yet fully optimized for PC, with many recommending waiting for future updates before purchasing.

    • “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.”
    • “Bugs from alpha still present, goofy animations still goofy, performance issues (even on a 3090 Ti) & I could go on but the point is this game is far from finished despite the fact they call it 'full release'.”
    • “Basically broken, constant stuttering and freezing, terrible frame rate, often takes over a minute to launch the game and change map, and all of this is on a machine that can run most AAA games on max settings at 60+.”
    • “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.”
  • humor
    166 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with many players finding the ragdoll physics and various glitches amusing, especially during falls and unexpected mishaps. While some moments are genuinely funny, the frequent bugs can become tedious and detract from the overall experience. Overall, the humor adds a lighthearted charm to the gameplay, appealing to those who enjoy a more chaotic and less serious approach to skateboarding.

    • “My hour with the game was spent learning the controls, being so confused why I would sometimes randomly fly off my board in the middle of basic grind tricks, and laughing at the unintentionally hilarious instant ragdolls upon failing literally any trick.”
    • “For the most part, this game has captivated the masses of skaters and casual gamers alike, bonding over ollies, kickflips, and funny ragdoll physics that hurt your sides laughing.”
    • “The ragdolling after you inevitably stack is also hilarious and is a throwback to skate 3.”
    • “But it's not funny.”
    • “But it's not funny.”
  • monetization
    68 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization strategy of the game has been widely criticized as a blatant cash grab, with many reviewers expressing disappointment over the aggressive push for paid DLC and microtransactions despite the game's incomplete state. Players feel that the developers prioritize profit over delivering a polished experience, leading to a perception of the game as a soulless product lacking in essential features and quality. Overall, the monetization efforts have overshadowed the game's potential, leaving fans frustrated and disillusioned.

    • “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.”
    • “New monetization efforts though, because of course.”
    • “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.”
  • atmosphere
    52 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its rich sound design, realistic environments, and immersive day-and-night cycle that enhance the overall experience. However, many criticize the lack of NPCs and multiplayer options, leading to a feeling of barrenness and unfinished content. Despite these drawbacks, the game's dedication to skate culture and aesthetic appeal resonate positively with a segment of the player base.

    • “Satisfying sound design and details like wear and tear on your board make the game very atmospheric.”
    • “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 controls are unresponsive, the physics are wonky, the atmosphere is barren, the game is clearly unfinished and the devs are ignorant of that fact.”
    • “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 and needs a map browser where humans can upload their maps, 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.”
    • “You can turn on 'experimental' pedestrians, but there are no other skaters around, traffic doesn't move, etc. The lack of other skaters (and no multiplayer) really hurts the atmosphere more than the lack of moving cars and such, in my opinion.”
  • replayability
    46 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game offers significant replayability due to its diverse range of tricks, community-made content, and engaging gameplay mechanics, despite some criticisms regarding the limited campaign and story mode. Players appreciate the fun and challenging missions, as well as the potential for achievement hunting, which adds depth to the experience. While some users note bugs and a lack of extensive content updates, many still find the game to have nearly infinite replay value, especially with the support of the modding community.

    • “Lots of replayability, missions are fun and challenging, skating feels super fun and satisfying, and I think it's definitely worth it if it's on sale.”
    • “That being said, the game offers so much and has, in my opinion, unlimited replay value.”
    • “Insane amount of replayability, I'm now some dozen hours in and I'm still figuring out new things.”
    • “Session's map doesn't feel boring, but boasting a $12.99 single DLC map is a sick joke. Playing Skater XL makes you realize how important community-made maps are to replayability and freshness of the game.”
    • “Then you have a story mode that has no variety, replayability, and half the time doesn't even work.”
    • “While fun, the over-the-top arcade style doesn't have as much replayability for me.”
  • emotional
    44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players express a mix of frustration and satisfaction regarding the emotional experience of the game. While the complex controls and frequent falls can evoke feelings of loneliness and annoyance, successfully landing tricks provides a significant sense of accomplishment. The empty environment and challenging mechanics contribute to an emotional rollercoaster, reminiscent of the struggles faced in real skating.

    • “After wasting money and time on a notable alternative, finding this game made me feel redeemed and scratched that itch for a good skating sim in this current generation of gaming.”
    • “In terms of difficulty, this game is nearly just as painful as actually skating, but emotionally.”
    • “The environment feels empty, with no people or fellow skaters to skate with, which made me feel lonelier than I should've been.”
  • character development
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    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.

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45h Median play time
187h Average play time
5-200h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 124 analyzed playthroughs
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