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Review: Helskate

7/10

Summary

In many ways, Helskate is a rogue-lite that feels more like a hardcore skateboarding game with elements of RPG progression. It combines the best of Tony Hawk’s smooth, trick-centric gameplay with the outrageous flair of Jet Set Radio and the energetic, fast-paced combat of Sunset Overdrive. The world of Vertheim is brutal, beautiful, and full of promise for players who enjoy a challenging, skill-based loop where every death feels like an opportunity to become stronger.

Helskate is worth trying, especially for fans of skating games or roguelites looking for something different. While it offers a unique experience, it’s not a title I’d personally buy. Still, if you’re curious, grab your board and gear up to skate through Vertheim—because in this hellish maze, your only escape is by shredding your way out.

Developer – Phantom Coast

Publisher – Phantom Coast

Platforms –   PC (Reviewed)

Review copy given by Publisher

Imagine if Tony Hawk Pro Skater’s arcade-perfect skating mechanics collided with the vibrant chaos of Jet Set Radio and the insane, over-the-top energy of Sunset Overdrive. What you’d get is Helskate, a uniquely wild and exhilarating skateboarding action roguelite that feels like the love child of those iconic games—only much more twisted, hellish, and way more lethal.

At the heart of Helskate is a world called Vertheim, a nightmarish, neon-infused labyrinth filled with monsters, gods, and endless challenges. You play as a skater stuck in this brutal hellscape, doomed to die repeatedly but with each death offering new powers, gear, and upgrades to fight your way through the madness. It’s a dark and quirky narrative backdrop, leaning into that grindy, “die and repeat” motif seen in other roguelites, but it works well within the game’s chaotic universe.

You’ll battle the Gods of Skating—divine, larger-than-life beings who control various aspects of skating. Whether you’re tackling the God of Vert Ramps, with their score challenges, or grinding your way up the Ancient God of Skating to expose their weak spots, the game’s bosses are just as much a spectacle as the rest of Vertheim. The twist here? You’re skating and fighting simultaneously, blending brutal combat with slick tricks, all while you’re trying to escape this never-ending cycle of death and rebirth.

Where Helskate truly shines is in its gameplay, which is an absolute rush. At its core, it’s a skating game, but not in the traditional sense. You’re not just trying to rack up the highest score—no, you’re also using your tricks to power up your attacks and abilities. Grind on rails, manual across ledges, and pull off ollies or kickflips, all to fuel your combat. The faster and more fluid your combos, the more you’ll be able to unleash powerful attacks and buffs to cut through the hordes of monsters that litter Vertheim. It’s an energetic loop that rewards creativity and precision, with fluid, almost dance-like control over your skater’s every movement.

The combat is equally gnarly, blending skateboarding with slashing, shooting, and magical elements. You can equip a variety of weapons—from swords that might electrify enemies to explosive shurikens that poison as you dash through crowds of monsters. The roguelike structure means each run is different, and with each death, you’ll return a little stronger, more prepared, and with new gear to experiment with. If you’re a fan of roguelites, you’ll appreciate the endless combinations of upgrades, tattoos, and gear, each adding layers of strategic depth to your run.

Weaponry and gear are key to the gameplay loop, allowing you to tailor your skater’s abilities to your personal playstyle. You could stack fire effects that ignite enemies when you jump or go for poison shurikens combined with explosive dashes. These combinations aren’t just fun; they’re a tactical advantage that allows you to tailor your run based on your strengths and the enemies you’ll face. And let’s not forget the tattoos, which add permanent upgrades to your abilities, giving you an edge over the increasing difficulty as you progress.

The fluidity of movement is what sets Helskate apart from other roguelites. It’s not just about surviving or upgrading; it’s about mastering the environment. The world of Vertheim is designed for you to shred through—grinding rails, performing high-flying tricks, and dodging enemy attacks all at once. The smooth controls make it feel like a true arcade experience, but with the added bonus of constant action, where one wrong move could send you straight into the jaws of a monster or off a deadly drop.

The art direction in Helskate feels muddled and lacks finesse. The neon-heavy, punk-inspired aesthetic of hell is jarring, with overly bright colors that clash against the dark, disjointed structures. It comes off as a cheap hybrid of Jet Set Radio’s graffiti style and the dark fantasy of Dante’s Inferno, but without any real cohesion. The world of Vertheim is more disorienting than immersive, leaving you feeling like you’re skating through a blocky, incoherent nightmare rather than a vivid, cohesive vision.

Enemies, environments, and bosses all have a distinct visual flair that keeps the action vibrant and exciting. The skating itself has a smooth, satisfying flow, and you’ll find yourself constantly looking for ways to chain tricks into the chaos of combat. Whether you’re wall-riding to avoid an incoming attack or grinding a rail into a monster’s face, the visual effects are crisp, dynamic, and make every move feel weighty and impactful.

In many ways, Helskate is a rogue-lite that feels more like a hardcore skateboarding game with elements of RPG progression. It combines the best of Tony Hawk’s smooth, trick-centric gameplay with the outrageous flair of Jet Set Radio and the energetic, fast-paced combat of Sunset Overdrive. The world of Vertheim is brutal, beautiful, and full of promise for players who enjoy a challenging, skill-based loop where every death feels like an opportunity to become stronger.

Helskate is worth trying, especially for fans of skating games or roguelites looking for something different. While it offers a unique experience, it’s not a title I’d personally buy. Still, if you’re curious, grab your board and gear up to skate through Vertheim—because in this hellish maze, your only escape is by shredding your way out.

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