Honestly, if you grew up with a PlayStation controller in your hand and the sound of "Superman" by Goldfinger on loop, you know this franchise isn't just a series of games. It’s a time capsule. Trying to look at tony hawk games in order is like trying to map out a chaotic decade of skater fashion, baggy jeans, and that weird transition where everything went from pixelated blocks to high-definition 4K sweat.
The history is messy. It's not just 1, 2, 3, 4. You’ve got handheld spin-offs, plastic peripheral failures, and a comeback story that could make a grown man cry.
The Neversoft Glory Years (1999–2002)
It all started in 1999. Video games were still figuring out how 3D movement worked. Then Neversoft dropped Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater. It wasn't just a "skating game." It was an arcade obsession. You had two minutes to wreck a warehouse and find a secret tape. Simple. Perfect.
Then came Pro Skater 2 in 2000. People often call this the "GOAT." It introduced the manual. That one move changed everything. Suddenly, you weren't just doing a trick; you were stringing an entire level's worth of combos together. The skill ceiling hit the roof.
By the time Pro Skater 3 arrived in 2001 (the first one on PS2), we got the revert. Now you could link vert tricks into manuals. The combo lines became infinite. Pro Skater 4 (2002) finally ditched the two-minute timer for a more open-world feel. It felt huge at the time, though some purists still miss that stressful ticking clock.
The Story Mode Pivot (2003–2005)
Everything changed with Tony Hawk’s Underground (THUG) in 2003. You weren't just playing as Tony anymore; you were a custom skater from New Jersey trying to make it pro. And let’s be real, Eric Sparrow is the greatest villain in gaming history. I still want to punch that guy.
Underground 2 (2004) leaned hard into the Jackass and Viva La Bam era. It was less about pure skating and more about causing mayhem. It’s polarizing. Some love the chaos; others felt the series was losing its soul. Then came American Wasteland (2005), which promised a "seamless" Los Angeles. It was mostly just long loading tunnels disguised as alleys, but the vibe was immaculate.
The Experimental Slump (2006–2010)
This is where things get blurry. Project 8 and Proving Ground tried to get "realistic." The graphics were better, but the fun factor started to dip. Then Activision got weird. They thought we wanted to stand on a plastic board in our living rooms.
Tony Hawk: Ride (2009) and Shred (2010) were disasters. The peripheral didn't work. The games were barely playable. It felt like the Birdman had finally crashed. We don't talk about these much at parties.
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The Long Road to Redemption
For years, it was quiet. We got Pro Skater HD in 2012, which was... fine? But it felt stiff. Then the infamous Pro Skater 5 happened in 2015. It was a buggy, unfinished mess that felt like a slap in the face to fans. Most people thought the series was dead and buried.
But then, 2020 happened. Vicarious Visions released Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2. It was a masterpiece. It felt exactly like the originals but looked like a modern dream. It was the fastest-selling game in the franchise's history for a reason.
And for those keeping track in 2026, the recent release of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 has finally completed the "classic" collection. It brought back the technicality of the early 2000s with the polish we expect today. Seeing the Doom Slayer and the Revenant as secret skaters in the latest roster is a level of absurdity that feels right at home.
The Full List of Tony Hawk Games in Order (Main Series)
- Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater (1999) - The foundation.
- Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2 (2000) - Introduced manuals; the high-water mark.
- Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 (2001) - Introduced reverts; first PS2 entry.
- Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4 (2002) - Removed the timer; open-ended goals.
- Tony Hawk’s Underground (2003) - Story-focused; get off the board.
- Tony Hawk’s Underground 2 (2004) - World destruction tour; very "Jackass" vibe.
- Tony Hawk’s American Wasteland (2005) - Open-world LA; BMX inclusion.
- Tony Hawk’s Project 8 (2006) - Next-gen physics; Nail-the-Trick mode.
- Tony Hawk’s Proving Ground (2007) - Gritty tone; expanded video editing.
- Tony Hawk: Ride (2009) - The peripheral era begins (and fails).
- Tony Hawk: Shred (2010) - The sequel no one asked for.
- Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater HD (2012) - A clunky remake of the early hits.
- Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 5 (2015) - The low point.
- Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2 (2020) - The glorious return to form.
- Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 (2025) - The modern remaster that saved the legacy.
Why the Order Actually Matters
If you're jumping in now, don't just pick a random year. The evolution of the mechanics is steep. If you play THPS 1 without being able to manual, you'll feel like you're skating through molasses. But if you play Underground before the originals, you might get overwhelmed by the side missions and "walking" mechanics.
The sweet spot for most people is starting with the 2020 remasters. You get the classic feel with modern controls.
Actually, there’s a massive community surrounding THUG Pro, which is a fan-made mod that basically acts as an "ultimate" version of the series, pulling levels and mechanics from every game into one engine. It's technically not an official release, but if you want to see what the die-hard fans are doing, that's where the real action is.
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Actionable Tips for Revisiting the Series
- Play the 2020/2025 Remasters first. They are the most accessible entry point for modern hardware.
- Master the Revert-Manual combo. This is the secret to getting millions of points. Without it, you're just doing single tricks like it's 1998.
- Check the Soundtrack settings. Part of the magic is the music. If certain tracks are missing due to licensing in newer versions, look for community-made Spotify playlists to get the full experience.
- Don't sleep on the Create-A-Park. The modern tools are insanely deep compared to the grid-based builders of the early 2000s.
The franchise has been through the ringer, but it’s finally in a place where it respects its own history. Whether you're chasing high scores in the Warehouse or trying to ruin Eric Sparrow's life again, there's never been a better time to look back at these games.