Wave Break

About

Wave Break is a fast-paced arcade-style skateboarding game set in a vibrant, retro-inspired world. Perform tricks, grind on rails, and catch big air off ramps, all while riding waves on a wakeboard. Compete in online matches, customize your character and board, and enjoy an original funk soundtrack. Experience a unique blend of extreme sports and water-based stunts in this thrilling game.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Local Multi-Player Play with friends in the same physical space using split-screen or multiple screens
2-Players Play with one other player, either online or locally, in a cooperative or competitive game mode
Multi-Player Compete or cooperate with other players online
Co-Op Team up with friends to complete levels or missions together
Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo
PvP Player versus Player - Fight against other players in real-time, often in arena-style combat
Split Screen Play with multiple players on the same screen, often with divided or shared screen real estate

86%

Audience ScoreBased on 70 reviews

music18 positive mentions

stability8 negative mentions

Wave Break features a stylish and creative aesthetic with a vibrant 80s vibe, complemented by a fantastic synthwave soundtrack.
The game offers a unique blend of skateboarding and boating mechanics, providing a fresh take on the classic Tony Hawk's Pro Skater formula.
The level creator and multiplayer modes add replayability and fun, allowing players to engage with the game in various ways.

The controls are clunky and unresponsive, making it frustrating to navigate and perform tricks, which detracts from the overall enjoyment.
The game suffers from numerous bugs and glitches, including issues with level design that can lead to getting stuck or failing objectives unexpectedly.
There is a lack of clear instructions and tutorials, leaving players confused about mechanics and objectives, which can lead to a steep learning curve.

music
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
56%
34%
9%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, particularly for its vibrant synthwave soundtrack that perfectly complements the game's art style and gameplay. While many players appreciate the nostalgic and upbeat tracks, some note that the limited number of songs can lead to repetitiveness. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, enhancing the overall experience and flow of the game.
- “If you are a fan of synthwave music, this soundtrack is heaven, pairing very well with the art direction, making it very easy to get into a relaxed flow with the mix of chill and upbeat tracks.”
- “The art style chosen for the game is very colorful, and there's plenty of different environments to skate around in, so I doubt things are ever going to end up feeling 'samey', and the music complements the tone of what they're going for in Wave Break perfectly; each track is great, and the playlist can be customized, allowing you to play that one track you like on infinite repeat if you want.”
- “The controls are a little clunky and the music's a bit too chill, but it looks good and the levels are very well designed, bringing strong early Tony Hawk vibes.”
- “The soundtrack invokes the feels I needed to maintain my skate flow and is probably the single best soundtrack I've heard in any game this year so far.”
- “If you are a fan of synthwave music, this soundtrack is heaven, pairing very well with the art direction and making it very easy to get into a relaxed flow with the mix of chill and upbeat tracks.”
gameplay
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
36%
14%
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising its fast-paced arcade action, deep mechanics, and smooth controls, while others criticize the clunky movement and unintuitive navigation, particularly when using the boat. Players appreciate the unique blend of 3D platforming and boating, alongside a fantastic soundtrack and level creation system, but many find the difficulty level challenging and the overall experience lacking polish. Despite these issues, those who enjoy mastering complex mechanics and engaging in high-score challenges may find the gameplay rewarding.
- “Great vibes, great soundtrack, great gameplay.”
- “With a fantastic soundtrack, polished gameplay, and a really robust level creation system, Wave Break is one of the games I'd been looking forward to for a long time.”
- “Straight up, just a joy to play, music is amazing, gameplay is such a blast, accessibility options for this game are fantastic also, just a banger of a game, get it!”
- “I’m not sure if I've ever played a game with clunkier control of movement than this. To begin with, more of the gameplay involves 3D platforming than actually boating or skating, and this is ironically easier to do running around on foot (with your character who, putting it generously, has the physics of a Fall Guys character) than with the boat.”
- “I’m sure there are more things I’m forgetting, but I hope by now a theme is clear—as much as I love the style of Wave Break, it feels like there was absolutely no polishing or playtesting of the gameplay or player experience, as it’s incredibly confusing, clumsy, and buggy.”
- “In order to even have a chance at building up a decent combo, I had to more or less mash around while recording my gameplay with a gamepad viewer, then rewatch it frame-by-frame to figure out what button combos triggered what tricks, and even then, after hours of practice, I’m sure there’s a lot I still don’t know.”
story
19 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
16%
68%
16%
The story in Wave Break's episodic mode is a humorous and engaging tribute to classic sports games, featuring players controlling animals on speedboats through a series of quirky missions reminiscent of 1980s TV shows and GTA Vice City. While the narrative is entertaining and complements the gameplay, some players found the mission completion system frustratingly inconsistent and the time limits restrictive. Overall, the lighthearted story adds charm to the gameplay experience, making it enjoyable for fans of the genre.
- “In Wave Break's episodic story mode, players take control of animals riding speedboats.”
- “The single player will have you completing more traditional goals like high scores, collecting letters, landing specific tricks, and even collecting secret tapes, but there are also a handful of 'story missions' for each level that have you completing tasks that showcase some of the more unique gameplay features in this game like the slow motion shooting while you complete various Miami Vice influenced objectives based around running product and encountering undercover cops.”
- “Also, the story to this game is just hilarious in every aspect.”
- “Even after I accomplished missions and tasks, sometimes it never marked them as complete.”
- “The way you have to navigate your boat and trying to collect mission items is so counterintuitive to actually enjoying the gameplay.”
- “In story mode, you have a three-minute timer for each run to complete any of your checklist, which, if I’m honest, felt a little restricting.”
graphics
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
69%
8%
23%
The graphics of Wave Break are widely praised for their stylish and colorful aesthetic, reminiscent of the 80s, which enhances the overall gameplay experience. Reviewers appreciate the vibrant visuals and diverse environments, noting that they provide a refreshing contrast to more muted palettes in similar games. The combination of well-designed graphics, engaging music, and a unique art style contributes to the game's charm and appeal within the skateboarding genre.
- “Wave Break seems really stylish and creative aesthetically, which it definitely is, and its vibes are great.”
- “The visuals are fun and colorful, which are a nice contrast to the more muted color palettes of other games of this type.”
- “You can tell by looking at the visuals and well-designed world how much love went into the game.”
- “The graphics are quite underwhelming and lack the polish expected from a modern game.”
- “The character models look outdated and don't match the vibrant environments.”
- “While the art style is colorful, the overall execution feels inconsistent and lacks detail.”
stability
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's stability is significantly hampered by numerous bugs, glitches, and clipping issues, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences such as getting stuck in geometry or falling through the map. While the developers appear to care about the game, the lack of thorough playtesting and polish results in a clumsy and confusing player experience that detracts from overall enjoyment.
- “The level design is also a buggy mess—there are so many places where you can get stuck in a tiny gap and be unable to move out, move in and out of weird geometry edges, or even clip through the floor and fall out of the map.”
- “I’m sure there are more things I’m forgetting, but I hope by now a theme is clear—as much as I love the style of Wave Break, it feels like there was absolutely no polishing or playtesting of the gameplay or player experience, as it’s incredibly confusing, clumsy, and buggy.”
- “Too bad I was fighting the camera, physics, and controls much of the game rather than just having fun, including bugs, glitches, and clipping behind walls.”
humor
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's humor is characterized by clever references to 1980s pop culture, darkly comedic moments, and a lighthearted narrative that keeps players engaged without being overwhelming. Players appreciate the amusing elements, such as humorous flavor text and playful interactions, which contribute to an overall entertaining experience. The developer's active engagement and sense of humor further enhance the game's comedic appeal.
- “The clever and fashionable ad, which pays homage to 1980s television programs like Miami Vice, is amusing and full of darkly humorous moments.”
- “The story is funny and enough to keep you going but not too intrusive.”
- “There's also a nice layer of humor over everything, from flavor text for cosmetic items to the mouse cursor sneakily giving you the bird at all times.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players enjoy the grinding aspect of the game, finding it engaging and rewarding as they pursue high scores and achievements through tricks and combos. The combination of skillful gameplay and a vibrant soundtrack enhances the experience, making the grind feel satisfying and fun, even for those who may not be highly skilled. Overall, the potential for impressive combos adds depth to the grinding experience.
- “I actually spent most of my hours in Wave Break just doing tricks in a corner of the first map, trying to get the 999,999 combo achievement and grinding for money.”
- “Personally, I've never been that great at games like this (back when I rented the original Tony Hawk game, I stuck to grinding), so while I haven't remotely touched the skill ceiling, I know the same potential for giant combos of thirty tricks strung back to back adding up to ten million points exists here in this game as well, just now with the addition of also being able to shoot people.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
50%
The game has limited replayability, with players expressing that there is little incentive to replay it beyond reliving its unique atmosphere.
- “The game offers a wealth of content and replay value, making each playthrough feel fresh and exciting.”
- “With multiple endings and diverse character choices, the replayability factor is off the charts!”
- “Every time I play, I discover new strategies and secrets, which keeps me coming back for more.”
- “Because the game lacks replayability, I don't see any reason to replay it again—unless you want to experience the unique vibe once more in the future.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's optimization is marred by performance issues, bugs, and glitches, which significantly impact the overall experience. Players express disappointment over the lack of essential features like a combo list and smoother gameplay, making it difficult to fully enjoy the game without excessive grinding.
- “The soundtrack is amazing, but performance problems, bugs, and glitches detract from the overall enjoyment.”
- “It's unfortunate that basic features like a combo list, reduced bugs, enhanced performance, and the ability to complete every task without having to grind are so hard to come by.”
atmosphere
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of "Wave Break" is noted for its creative premise, but it ultimately fails to deliver an enjoyable experience, leading to frustration for players.
- “I can think of very few other games that are as actively frustrating and un-fun as Wave Break was, so I’d really recommend steering clear of this game despite its creative premise and atmosphere.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a strong emotional connection to the game, reminiscing about the nostalgic rhythms of the pro skater formula, which evokes feelings of joy and sentimentality from their past experiences.
- “I hadn't played anything remotely similar to the pro skater formula in such a long time that I felt nearly emotional watching the same rhythms unfold.”