Close Menu
  • Support Us
  • Newsletter
  • News
  • Features
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
    • Video Games
      • Previews
      • PC
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X/S
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Xbox One
      • PS4
      • Tabletop
    • Film
    • TV
    • Anime
    • Comics
      • BOOM! Studios
      • Dark Horse Comics
      • DC Comics
      • IDW Publishing
      • Image Comics
      • Indie Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • Oni-Lion Forge
      • Valiant Comics
      • Vault Comics
  • Podcast
  • More
    • Event Coverage
    • BWT Recommends
    • RSS Feeds
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Support Us
But Why Tho?
RSS Facebook X (Twitter) YouTube
Trending:
  • Features
    Momo and Okarun share a close moment in Dandadan

    Momo And Okarun: The Gold Standard For Shonen Romance

    07/03/2025
    Ironheart Episodes 4 6 But Why Tho 1

    ‘Ironheart’ Explained: Explore MCU’s Bold New Chapter

    07/01/2025
    Buck in 9-1-1

    ‘9-1-1’ Has To Let Buck Say Bisexual

    06/29/2025
    Nintendo Welcome Tour promotional image of the maraca mini-game

    The One “Game” That Justifies The Nintendo Switch 2 Purchase

    06/25/2025
    Destiel Confession in Supernatural - Castiel (Misha Collins) and Dean (Jensen Ackles)

    The Destiel Confession: The Lasting Importance Of Supernatural’s Greatest Ship

    06/22/2025
  • Squid Game
  • K-Dramas
  • Netflix
  • Switch 2 Games
  • Summer Game Fest
But Why Tho?
Home » Xbox Series X/S » REVIEW: ‘Rollerdrome,’ Beautifully Defies Expectations (XSX)

REVIEW: ‘Rollerdrome,’ Beautifully Defies Expectations (XSX)

Kyle FoleyBy Kyle Foley12/05/20234 Mins Read
Rollerdrome - But Why Tho
Share
Facebook Twitter Pinterest Reddit WhatsApp Email

If you have ever wondered what it might look like if the Tony Hawk and DOOM franchises had a video game love child, Rollerdrome is the answer. Developed by Roll7, the creators of the OlliOlli series, and published by Private Division, this genre-defying hit was first released on PlayStation and PC in 2022 and has now finally made its way to Xbox Series X|S on November 28th, 2023.

Rollerdrome puts players in the shoes, or, rather, the skates, of Kara Hassan, an up-and-coming Rollerdrome player working her way up the ranks. Contestants in Rollerdrome must perform roller-skating tricks while completing optional objectives like those seen in the Tony Hawk Pro Skater series. Still, the main focus is defeating the enemies with a bounty of guns at their disposal. The climb up the ranks requires an incredible amount of skill, and players are sure to be challenged every step of the way as they look to guide Kara to the pinnacle of the sport.

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here

The interesting premise of taking Kara to the top in high-octane sport leads to the only real disappointment of the game, which is that there is so little time spent with her character and the world she exists in. There are a few scattered moments between some of the matches that allow players to explore small areas and uncover more of the world Kara is competing in, but it only makes me want so much more. There is a real missed opportunity here to create and explore a unique narrative to match the unique gameplay. That said, it is such a small complaint in the grand scheme of things once you get into the actual gameplay.

Gameplay in Rollerdrome focuses on two main things: shooting people and looking cool while doing it. Shooting down enemies restores players’ health, but only completing tricks will give more ammo. It forces players to focus on both facets in order to truly succeed. What’s impressive is that the forced focus never ventures anywhere close to the line of feeling uncomfortable. Movement is very fluid while skating which gives players time to focus on either completing tricks or nailing difficult shots without too much worry. The two mechanics work so well together that players won’t think twice about how different they should be in theory.

Rollerdrome - But Why Tho

That flawless execution leads to some truly incredible gameplay. Every match takes place in a fresh new arena and builds on what the last provides. New enemies require newly unlocked weapons to defeat, and new areas require new tricks to reach them. Learning to wallride while timing a slug shot perfectly feels so satisfying, and every mechanic matches that same feeling. There is also not really a feeling of “failure,” which I greatly appreciated. Messing up a trick or missing an enemy does not hamper the game. It just opens up new opportunities to try something else or learn from the mistake. Rollerdrome is very forgiving in this respect, which is part of what makes it so enjoyable to play.

There is also a ton of inherent replayability in Rollerdrome. Scores are tracked on a leaderboard and every small tweak to a run can help players climb higher and higher. Going through the same arena over and over again does not feel stale when the player’s approach is different, and that can be really difficult to achieve considering the limited number of levels and weapon choices. Rollerdrome is a decidedly short game, only taking a handful of hours to complete, so the ability to re-attempt levels with new tricks and ideas vitally adds a significant amount of replayability.

Of course, it also helps that every second of Rollerdrome is dripping with style. The cel-shaded design choice works perfectly with the high-intensity action and gives it such a distinct look. There is not another game out there that plays like Rollerdrome, so it makes sense to make it look like nothing else too. I especially loved how great the different arenas looked in action; the fast-paced movement never took away from how stylistic and cool the areas looked. Plus it feels so much cooler to pull off badass tricks when the backdrop is as beautiful as your sweet, sweet moves.

Rollerdrome beautifully meshes two very different genres and defies all expectations coming into it. The style practically drips out of the screen as Roll7 delivers one of the most unique and exciting games in recent memory. Easy to learn but difficult to master, players of all skill levels are going to find something to love here.

Rollerdrome is out now on PlayStation 5, , and PC.

Rollerdrome
  • 9/10
    Rating - 9/10
9/10

TL;DR

Rollerdrome beautifully meshes two very different genres and defies all expectations coming into it. The style practically drips out of the screen as Roll7 delivers one of the most unique and exciting games in recent memory.

  • Get Xbox Game Pass with Our Affiliate Link

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Email
Previous ArticleCrunchyroll Anime Awards Reveals Categories for Celebration in 2024
Next Article REVIEW: ‘Dragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Prince’ Is Not Quite A Royal Experience
Kyle Foley

Kyle is an editor, writer, and musician from Orlando, FL who primarily covers soccer as well as video games and anime. He also believes mayonnaise is the best condiment for hot dogs, which are sandwiches.

Related Posts

Still Wakes the Deep: Siren's Rest
6.0

DLC REVIEW: ‘Still Wakes The Deep: Siren’s Rest’ Is Too Brief And Lacks Closure

06/18/2025
MindsEye
3.0

REVIEW: ‘MindsEye’ Is An Unfinished Tech Demo

06/17/2025
Lies of P Overture DLC Keyart
8.5

DLC REVIEW: ‘Lies Of P: Overture’ Is P’s Hardest Journey Yet, Even On Easy

06/10/2025
Spray Paint Simulator
7.0

REVIEW: ‘Spray Paint Simulator’ Is Easy To Flow State With

06/02/2025
DOOM The Dark Ages key art from Bethesda and Id Software
8.5

REVIEW: ‘DOOM: The Dark Ages’ Is Aggressive As Hell

05/09/2025
Oblivion Remaster Sheogorath Shivering Isles But Why Tho
9.0

REVIEW: ‘The Elder Scrolls 4: Oblivion Remaster’ Is Exactly What I Hoped For

04/30/2025

Get BWT in your inbox!

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter and get the latest and greated in entertainment coverage.
Click Here
TRENDING POSTS
Taecyeon and Seohyun in The First Night With The Duke Episodes 7-8
7.5
TV

REVIEW: ‘The First Night With The Duke’ Episodes 7-8

By Sarah Musnicky07/03/2025

The First Night With The Duke Episodes 7-8 spends welcome time in pre-domestic bliss before new developments stir up trouble.

The Terminal List: Dark Wolf trailer First Look Image From Prime Video News

Prime Video Unleashes Teaser for Prequel Series The Terminal List: Dark Wolf

By Kate Sánchez07/04/2025

The first Terminal List: Dark Wolf trailer was released today by Prime Video. The series…

Black Clover Season 5 featured News

Black Clover New Season Gets First Look Teaser from Crunchyroll

By Sarah Musnicky07/05/2025

Black Clover is back for a brand new season, and Crunchyroll has revealed the first footage and key art out of Anime Expo.

Absolute Green Lantern Issue 4 DC Comics

REVIEW: ‘Absolute Green Lantern’ Issue 4

By William Tucker07/02/2025

Absolute Green Lantern Issue 4 starts to connect the past and present, finally revealing how Jo inhereited the power of the Green Lantern.

But Why Tho?
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram Pinterest RSS YouTube Twitch
  • CONTACT US
  • ABOUT US
  • PRIVACY POLICY
  • SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER
  • Review Score Guide
Sometimes we include links to online retail stores. If you click on one and make a purchase we may receive a small contribution.
Written Content is Copyright © 2025 But Why Tho? A Geek Community

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

But Why Tho Logo

Support Us!

We're able to keep making content thanks to readers like YOU!
Support independent media today with
Click Here