Skate Story Launches December 8 with a Steam Demo and a Trip to the Moon

Devolver Digital and developer Sam Eng have confirmed that Skate Story will release on December 8, 2025. The announcement arrived alongside the launch of its Steam Next Fest demo, which gives players an early taste of the game’s haunting, dreamlike skating experience. The demo was made available slightly ahead of schedule last week, allowing players to sample the first chapter of Eng’s surreal vision.

The demo, roughly 35 minutes long, lets players step into the role of a glass-bodied skater navigating an abstract underworld toward the moon. The full game will feature nine chapters when it launches in December, promising an atmospheric journey that blends fluid skateboarding mechanics with mythic storytelling and music-driven rhythm.

Developer Sam Eng humorously noted the game’s roots in an exaggerated real-world story.

"Skate Story is based on a true story," Eng wrote in a Steam update. "Yes, that’s right folks. Sure, it’s slightly dramatized for effect, but it’s all totally 100% true. Of course, names and places have been altered as well, for the privacy of those involved. For example, it was not originally a Frog who ran the bagel shop, and the Skater actually had to get a lawyer before signing the Devil’s Contract." — Sam Eng

Skate Story first drew attention in 2022 during the not-E3 season, where its shimmering visual design and glass protagonist stood out among indie showcases. Since then, its combination of skateboarding physics, experimental art, and rhythm-based action has steadily grown a cult following. A new trailer released earlier this year teased the game’s boss fights, describing them as rhythmic duels where tricks land blows on cosmic entities.

"How do you take down the Moon? You skate. Charge toward the Moon’s Front, breaking through electric barriers," read the developer’s update. "Every trick you pull off lands a hit on the celestial beast. Stay close, ride fast, and mix up your moves—grinds, flips, and spins. Repetition is your enemy; stale tricks lose their bite. Keep it fresh, keep it flowing."

These boss battles are designed to merge the game’s flow-based skating system with musical timing. The update explained that "Boss fights are pure rhythm and motion. When the music kicks in, lock eyes with the cosmic giants. Feel the beat, keep your speed, and time your tricks perfectly. Land enough hits before the song fades, or watch yourself shatter like glass."

Skate Story’s controls have been described as more grounded than arcade-style skating games like Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater, and less mechanically demanding than simulation titles such as Session or Skater XL. Early impressions suggest that the game prioritizes a steady rhythm and precise timing over exaggerated tricks or high-speed combos. Reviewer Brendan Caldwell previously commented that its movement tempo takes time to master but eventually rewards patience and flow.

The game’s soundtrack, composed by Blood Cultures, trades the typical punk and rock tracks associated with skating games for a moody, ambient soundscape. The tone aligns more with the surreal narrative and cosmic imagery than with traditional skateboarding culture. This musical approach appears to reinforce the emotional and rhythmic connection between the player’s motion and the dreamlike environments.

The Steam demo currently available offers players a look at the first chapter, including sequences that showcase the game’s unique combination of atmospheric world-building and abstract mechanics. Scenes range from skating across empty streets and tunnels to gliding through open space toward celestial objects. Eng’s world design leans into striking visual metaphors, with shattered glass effects and glowing red moons dominating the horizon.

Skate Story’s full version will expand on these ideas across nine chapters, integrating narrative elements, progressive challenges, and encounters that tie gameplay rhythm to emotional beats. Its December 8 release date places it among the late-year indie lineup, following years of development and growing anticipation across online communities.

The demo can be downloaded now via the game’s Steam page, where players can also wishlist Skate Story ahead of its launch.