The best THPS according to many, with the Revert that changes everything. Iconic levels (Airport, Canada, Tokyo), fluid tricks, memorable rock soundtrack. The Tony Hawk formula at its peak. Still very fun to play today. A timeless classic.
Your verdict
Category
Sports1 player12+
Description
The third entry in Activision's skateboarding franchise introduces the Revert for infinite combos and online play for the first time in the series. Published by Activision, released in 2002 in the United States and Europe. Features new international spots including Tokyo, Rio, and Los Angeles, the Revert to chain tricks after a ramp, the classic eight-minute mission windows, and online multiplayer via Xbox Live.
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
MAX
Music
★★★★★
"Legendary"
1/5
Story
★★★★★
"Anecdotal"
Hard to match such a selection: from Motörhead's "Ace of Spades" to hip-hop and ska, every track cracks at full power. The music sticks to the rhythm of the combos, turning the slightest session into a jubilant outlet. This cult assortment left its mark on a whole generation of virtual skaters.
Gameplay
"Masterful"
The arrival of the revert connects ramps to manuals and throws open the door to near-infinite combos that multiply the joy of arcade skating. The compact, frenetic levels invite you to trace ever wilder lines. The controls respond on a dime, and this quest for the perfect combo, immediate and addictive, holds an effectiveness that time has not dulled.
Fun
"From the very first seconds"
The revert opens up infinite links and turns every session into a quest for the perfect score: that's the genius of the series, here at its peak. Pinpoint handling, levels built for virtuosity and a cult soundtrack combine beautifully. Chaining an endless combo delivers an instant thrill. Immediate and inexhaustible, a peak of arcade skating.
A Neversoft peak, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 perfects the infinite combo and the manual, lifting the arcade skating series to a degree of flow that remained a reference. Become fairly rare on Xbox, its interest lies in this status as a genre peak rather than wide distribution. A safe bet for fans of brisk arcade skating and scoring.
Is Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 still worth playing in 2026?
Released on Xbox in 2002, Neversoft's entry brings the revert into arcade skating and reshapes infinite combos forever. The levels gain in richness, the side quests grow more narrative and the rock and hip hop soundtrack delivers immediate energy. The handling is as accessible as it is deep, and the split screen multiplayer still lands. The modelling shows its age and the closure of online play removes a small share of content. Recommended today for any arcade skate devotee and for nostalgics of Neversoft's run before the Underground identity took over the franchise on the original Xbox.
