Play Tony Hawk's Proving Ground (E)(EXiMiUS) Online

Tony Hawk's Proving Ground came out on the Nintendo DS in 2007, published by Activision. It was part of that wave of handheld skateboarding games trying to capture the console experience on a smaller screen, a time when developers were still figuring out how to make the stylus feel essential and not just a gimmick.

You control a custom skater, building their reputation by completing challenges across open levels in cities like Philadelphia and Baltimore. The main goal is to progress through different story paths, choosing to focus on career, hardcore, or rigger styles of skating. Signature mechanics include using the stylus on the touch screen to perform tricks with flicks and gestures, and a video editor mode where you can capture and replay your best lines. The pacing is mission-based, and the difficulty can feel uneven, especially when the touch controls don't register perfectly. It feels like a constant negotiation between ambition and the hardware's limits, but pulling off a long combo is genuinely satisfying.