If someone had told me six months ago that one of my most-played games of the last quarter of 2025 would be a skateboarding game, I’d have called them crazy. And yet, it’s true! I’m talking about the new and not-without-controversy title, skate. Released by EA in mid-September, skate. is a live-service, online game that’s all about exploring the fictional city of San Vansterdam on a skateboard. Now in it’s second season, the game is far from perfect (I mean really far) and has gathered its share of detractors; and even though I’m not a skateboarder by any stretch of the imagination, I’ve found that I enjoy it enough to keep logging in and playing. Does it help that I mostly play it with a longtime fan of skateboarding games, including EA’s seminal Skate series? Of course. Learning from them has helped me hone my own skills immensely. Roaming the game’s city with them to seek out spots to skate has also provided me with my own little arsenal of favorite places to hit for everything from intense challenges to casual sessions. These are my top five spots in skate. to skate!

(Note: all images were taken prior to the game’s Season 2 update.)

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Rolling Waves’ small open bowl

Rolling Waves is a large park built into the western side of Market Mile, one of skate.‘s four neighborhoods. It offers loads of variety and has nearly every obstacle one might need to skate, from large halfpipes and winding snake runs to bumps, rails, and ledges. My favorite space in the whole park, though, is this oblong bowl with an extension that’s set in the park’s northeastern corner. Being neither too small nor too large, in it I can obtain a perfect back-and-forth rhythm, and it’s been my go-to spot for learning grabs, especially.

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Median across from Market Mile’s community park

At some point, I should probably pay better attention to the game’s landmarks, because I’ve mostly been learning its map’s layout according to its challenges! This favorite low median, for example, is right by a challenge titled “Mmmm…”. While I loathe that challenge, I love this spot. For one, it’s really long and easy to access (not counting the traffic, which can be turned off), so it’s great for slappies and learning grinds. Also, from the point pictured here, it slopes downward, so it’s the perfect spot to use to easily complete long grind challenges. (Yes, there are multiple medians along this same stretch of road, but *this* one’s my fav!)

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Market Mile’s southern waterfront benches and ledges

Speaking of grinds and sticking to Market Mile — generally my favorite neighborhood in the game — I could spend all day at these benches and winding ledges along one of the mile’s waterfronts. (They coincide with a challenge called “Bench Sesh,” which is decently easy to complete, in and of itself.) This has become my go-to spot for practicing flip tricks in and out of grinds. The benches are perfectly spaced for my slow self, and the ledges are in a sweet spot as far as height goes. The whole spot is surrounded on three side by low transitions, which help one garner plenty of flow.

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Brickswich’s mellow waterfront park

Sticking to the map’s outskirts, which do tend to be less populated as far as players go, this mellow park at the southernmost part of the game’s Brickswich neighborhood is so much fun to ride. It’s great for carving, learning airs, and with its small extension, I anticipate it’ll become the spot I use to practice handplants, Season 2 additions to the trick roster. When I’m looking for a spot in which to just chill and enjoy an easy session, this is the place I hit.

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Gullcrest Village’s Casper Hotel

Whether you’re at the front of the massive Casper Hotel, which towers from Gullcrest Village’s southwestern corner (pictured below), or it’s incredible courtyard (that lies beyond the archway), this spot is always a good time. It’s perfect for learning stair sets, especially since one can travel from the courtyard out to its front plaza and hit the transition around the random horse sculpture, (which is not the most random sculpture in the game!). Casper Hotel offers plenty of great lines, and, if you’re into capturing clips, the area serves as a beautiful and interesting architectural backdrop.

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All images, including lede, were captured by author during Xbox or PS5 gameplay of skate. (© Full Circle, Electronic Arts.)

If you’re playing skate., what are some of your favorite spots?