Summary
The originalTony Hawk’s Pro Skaterlaunched on the PlayStation in 1999 and played a major role in skateboarding’s popularity throughout the 2000s. Every entry in the series requires you to complete missions like reaching certain high scores or performing special tricks throughout iconic locations to unlock new stages.
The first game and its many sequels became infamous for their satisfying gameplay, dense levels, andkiller soundtracks. The series is also known for featuring a multitude of hidden collectibles and unlockable content, including secret skaters. From legendary skateboarders to surprising crossovers and cameos, these are the best secret characters in the Tony Hawk games.
10Neversoft Eyeball
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3
Neversoft was the developer of the Tony Hawk games from the very first game until 2007’s Tony Hawk’s Proving Ground. The studio was an essential part of the brand’s identity, and their opening credits sequence during a game’s boot-up was always entertaining and hilarious.
An eyeball usually takes the place of the “o” in Neversoft during the opening scene, and the developers decided to attach a body to their mascot to create a secret skater for Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3. Unlike other hidden characters, the Neversoft Eyeball has horrendous stats and mostly exists as a fun Easter Egg for the fans of the first couple of games.
9Iron Man
Tony Hawk’s Underground
Long before the MCU catapulted characters like Black Widow and Loki into popularity, Marvel was mostly known for its comics and animated TV shows. For a short period after Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2, there was at least one Marvel character in every game that you could unlock, including Iron Man in Tony Hawk’s Underground.
Iron Man might not have been as popular as Captain America or Wolverine before Robert Downey Jr. portrayed him, but seeing Tony Stark on a skateboard was still a delight back in 2003. To unlock him, all you needed to do was complete the campaign on the standard difficulty.
8Darth Maul
The Tony Hawk series was so popular that it was able to snag some impressive character cameos from some of the biggest franchises on the planet. Darth Maul, the main antagonist of Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, surprised skaters everywhere when he appeared as a playable character in Pro Skater 3.
Unlocking the sinister Sith Lord wasn’t an easy task, as it required players to complete every goal in the game as Tony Hawk. Jango Fett appeared as a playable character in Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 4, but there is something novel about watching Darth Maul kickflip over a fire hydrant that made him one of the most memorable skaters in his game.
7T.H.U.D.
During the opening sequence to Tony Hawk’s Underground, a black and white cutscene depicts Eric Sparrow skateboarding down an alley before stopping over a sewer grate. A monster suddenly emerges, eating Eric and spitting out his bones and eyeball to spell out the Neversoft logo. It’s a great scene that gets even better after you unlock that strange monster as a playable character.
Inspired by classic monster movies like Creature from the Black Lagoon and The Thing, T.H.U.D. is a fish-like creature that’s able to shred just as well as any human skater. To unlock it, you’ll need to complete the campaign on the hardest difficulty. It’s unknown what T.H.U.D. stands for, but you shouldn’t mess with it either way.
6The Hand
Tony Hawk’s Underground 2
Tech Decks were popular toys that were essentially tiny skateboards that used your fingers to perform tricks instead of your entire body. It was hard to go to recess without seeing one, and The Hand in Tony Hawk’s Underground 2 felt like a giant, playable version of the iconic activity.
The exposed bone is a bit grotesque, but The Hand is a hilarious idea for a skater and is a highlight in an already stacked roster. Earning The Hand as a playable character isn’t too hard either. All you need to do is complete the campaign on the standard difficulty, and then you’re able to sit back and watch as the fingers work their magic to outskate the competition.
5Doom Guy (Doom Slayer)
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 was truly filled with some of the most surprising guest characters in the entire series. Exclusive to the PC version of the game, players could unlock the protagonist of the Doom series, known as Doom Guy at the time, by entering the classic “idkfa” code into the cheat menu.
Over two decades later, the brutal hero made a surprising return as a pre-order bonus for Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4. It’s kind of unfortunate that you can only access the newly-branded “Doom Slayer” and his unique boards by spending a bit of extra money, but it’s kind of worth it just to see the juggernaut try to manual down a busy street with his arms flailing around to help him balance.
4Bam Margera
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4
Aside from Tony Hawk, Bam Margera might be the most famous skateboarder to appear in the Tony Hawk games. First appearing in Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 as a playable character, theCKY and Jackass stareventually found himself becoming one of the main protagonists in titles like Tony Hawk’s Underground 2.
Unfortunately, Bam has had a long history of alcoholism that severed his relationships with both Jackass and the world of skateboarding. Thankfully, the legendary skateboarder is on a path to redemption, and a month or so before Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3+4 hit the shelves, it was announced that Bam would be playable as a secret character for the first time in eighteen years.
3Spider-Man
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 2
There were some cool secret characters in the first couple of Tony Hawk games, but none of them seemed to be as popular as Spider-Man. One of Marvel’s biggest superheroes had already penetrated the zeitgeist before the existence of the MCU, and securing him as a hidden skater in Pro Skater 2 only made a phenomenal game even better.
The first of many Marvel collaborations, including Iron Man and Wolverine in Pro Skater 3, Spider-Man can be unlocked by completing everything in the campaign with a skater you created. The character has a set of exclusive tricks, like Spidey Flip and Does Whatever A Spider Can, and four different costumes, including the Symbiote suit and the classic uniform.
2Shrek
Skateboarding in a swamp sounds difficult, but Shrek shows up with an impressive amount of skill for someone of his size. Included in Tony Hawk’s Underground 2as a promotion for Shrek 2, you can unlock the lovable ogre by finishing the campaign on the easiest difficulty.
Beyond his distinct appearance, playing as Shrek also featured unique animations for activities like tagging walls, where he burps instead of pulling out a can of spray paint. Despite not being voiced by Mike Myers, Shrek is still a hilarious addition to an already ridiculous game and a friendly reminder that movie tie-ins can be fun if done correctly.
1Officer Dick
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1, 2, 3, and both of the remakes
Officer Dick is a recurring secret character in the Tony Hawk Pro Skater series that’s appeared in just as many games as some real-life skateboarders. Most unlockable characters, like Spider-Man or Shrek, only appear in one game to make them feel special, but Officer Dick is the Easter Egg that keeps on giving every time he makes another appearance.
The rivalry between police and skateboarding is legendary, so it’s always been a blast to see a silly old officer hop onto a board to get a taste of the thrill of bailing during a potentially record-breaking combo. To make the character even better, he has been portrayed by Jack Black for both the Tony Hawk remakes, which include the original four games with better graphics and new features.
