OlliOlli World is a skateboarding action-platformer with a lot of charm and positive energy. Developed by Roll7 and published by Private Division, the game is the third in the OlliOlli series, and the first to have hand-drawn 3D graphics. It's a huge step up in terms of the look and feel of the game, which used to be contained in the (still charming) pixel graphics. But we don't get a lot of skateboarding 2D action-platformers these days. Instead, we have the likes of Tony Hawk Pro Skater where you have these large arenas where you can skate and grind. You also have the outdoor skating experiences like what you have in Rider's Republic. Admittedly, the feels of the games are different, simply from the fact that they work in different dimensions. However, all skaters want to know is if the experience is exhilarating and does feel as exciting as actual skateboarding. So, it's important to know if OlliOlli World actually holds up compared to other skateboarding games. That's what we explore here in this article, where we take a look at OlliOlli World Review Scores and aggregate the different reviews that critics have on the game. So, without further ado, here's what games critics have to say about OlliOlli World.

What is OlliOlli World?

Now, before we head straight to the game's review scores, let's take a short look at what the game is all about. We've already said that the game is a 2D action-platformer where you skateboard through different, colorful levels. The core gameplay doesn't change from previous games. You start skating at every level and you have to go through platforms and obstacles. Pressing X lets you jump, and you then use the left joystick and the shoulder buttons to execute tricks. Doing trick combos lets you score higher points, but also run the risk of you making a failed landing, which may then leads to fewer points, or even completely crashing. Thankfully, crashing down doesn't hurt too much, as the game respawns you almost instantaneously, allowing you to continue skating right away.

What's new in OlliOlli World? Apart from the transition from pixel graphics to 3D models, the levels also are more dynamic, with moving platforms and multiple paths, thanks to the game's new 2.5D treatment. You may be skating on one path, then jump to another path parallel to the first one. You can also grab unto walls and do a wall run before landing back on the ground. The game also introduces a campaign overworld, where you get to choose the different levels and meet the citizens of Radlandia, who can give the player side quests and challenges. All in all, OlliOlli World is in more ways than one the fully-realized OlliOlli experience, giving old fans the same gameplay that they know and love, but also rewarding their loyalty with a colorful and vibrant world and improved gameplay.

Finally, competitive players can also make use of the game's online leaderboards. This allows players an opportunity to pit their high scores against other players, giving players live feedback on how good they are in skating compared to everyone else in the world. And when the game's pre-made levels become too stale after hundreds of hours of play, the game also features a random level generator that lets players embark on stages that keep things fresh.

OlliOlli World Review Scores: Metacritic Score of 89 on the Nintendo Switch

As of press time, the game has high review scores on Metacritic, scoring on the lines of the upper 80s across the different platforms it's available in. It has its highest score on the Switch at 89, with scores of 84 on the PS5, 87 on PC, and 85 on Xbox Series X. That already says a lot for players looking for their next indie gem, and anyone who likes platforming should give this game a try, whether or not they are fans of skateboarding.

Digital Chumps gave the game a perfect score, saying in their review: “OlliOlli World is an absurdly intricate game. Yet it is lovingly approachable. Roll7 has been working with this series for almost a decade and their efforts have bore exceptional fruit. In the path to achieve Gnarvana, players will encounter an exuberant world populated with a wild cast of characters. The series’ move to 3D has paid off. But more importantly, the complex mechanics of its tricks and combos have been polished to a luxurious sheen, rewarding players of all skill levels and degrees of dedication. I can think of few things I would change about OlliOlli World aside from more and more levels and hundreds more cosmetic options. As it stands, though, the game is bursting at the seams with finesse, eclipsing what was already a near-perfect harmony.”

Push Square gave the game an 8/10, noting in their review the game's “tough but immensely fun skateboarding”, “addictive score-chasing gameplay”, “fun challenges in each stage”, “top notch presentation, “Characters breathe life into the game”, and “Lower barrier to entry”. Noted negatives include occasional animation jitters, forgettable characters, busy customization UI, and difficulty for complete newbies to the genre. “OlliOlli World is a huge leap forwards for Roll7's skating series. Lovely new presentation, a fun location filled with personality, and that all-important, ever-addictive gameplay align to make for a super fun take on the sport. While it's been made more approachable to new players, it still offers quite a stern challenge, and not all the dialogue and characters nail it. However, any nit picks easily melt away when it all clicks. Heaven really might be a halfpipe, after all.”

Game Rant gave their OlliOlli World Review a score of 4/5 Stars, saying in their review that “OlliOlli World is a unique and fun skateboarding game, despite a few flaws here and there, and it holds its own against more “mainstream” skateboarding games like Skate. Even if players have never picked up an OlliOlli title before, OlliOlli World is worth its price tag.”

The game's lowest score stands at 7/10, given by IGN France for the PS5 version of the game. Interestingly, contrasted to IGN's 9/10, IGN France's score is a stark contrast. But the French publication did raise a couple of good points in justifying the relatively lower score. In their review, IGN France criticized the game's sparse end-game content and found the game's multiplayer game modes to be lacking. “OlliOlli World knows how to keep the strengths of the series, adding an original artistic direction and a realization to the hair. Quickly addictive and hypnotic for all those in search of “high score”, the latest addition to the series still suffers from a lack of content over time, especially in multiplayer, which remains limited to the race for scores each on its own. Because make no mistake: under its chill air, the game of Roll7 remains a platform game with formidable scoring.” Hopefully, Roll7 can move forward with the franchise implementing better game modes and multiplayer offerings in the future.

Conclusion: Is OlliOlli World a Great Game?

OlliOlli World is definitely a game worth picking up, may you be a casual grinder or a hardcore player who wants to complete challenges and beat high scores. The game is for everyone, from the complete noob to the most skilled skateboarding and platforming fans. It delivers a completely different experience from the usual 3D skateboarding games, but the game offers exhilarating levels and a wonderful world you won't find anywhere else. The game oozes creativity and personality, and it's clear that Roll7 completely understood what they wanted, and then delivered. While not exactly deserving yet of being called the skateboarding game of the year of 2022, for a very low price of $29.99, it's jam-packed with content and value that definitely exceeds the price tag.