A Spiritual Successor to Road Rash… With Rollerblades
At its core, Skitchin’ clearly draws inspiration from Road Rash. Instead of motorcycles, though, you’re on inline skates. Instead of open roads, you’re clinging to the backs of cars while trying not to get flattened by traffic.
The core mechanic—“skitching”—is what makes the game stand out. You grab onto the bumper of a passing vehicle to build speed, but it’s not as simple as holding on. You have to manage your stamina, because your character can only hang on for so long before losing grip and wiping out.
This adds a surprising layer of strategy. Do you grab onto a fast-moving car and risk losing control? Or do you play it safe and skate manually, sacrificing speed for stability? These split-second decisions define every race.
@briangamesdontsuck Skitchin Sega Mega Drive Short Review — Released in 1994 and Developed by what's now known as EA Canada – This is essentially Road Rash little brother. A fun little game. #retrogaming ♬ original sound – GamesDontSuck
Combat on Wheels… or Blades
Racing is only half the story. Like Road Rash, combat plays a huge role in Skitchin’. You’re not just trying to finish first—you’re actively trying to take out your competition.
You can punch, kick, and even use weapons to knock rival skaters off balance. Timing is everything. Hit too early, and you’ll miss. Hit too late, and you might end up crashing into traffic yourself.
The combat feels chaotic, but that’s part of the appeal. There’s a raw, unpredictable energy to every encounter. One moment you’re cruising along behind a car, the next you’re in a full-on street brawl at 40 miles per hour.
Real-World Style Environments
The game takes you through a variety of urban-inspired environments—busy highways, city streets, and industrial areas filled with hazards. Traffic isn’t just background detail; it’s your biggest threat.
Cars will swerve, stop, and appear out of nowhere. Obstacles litter the road, forcing you to constantly adjust your path. It’s not just about going fast—it’s about surviving.
These environments help give Skitchin’ a grounded feel, even though the gameplay itself is anything but realistic. There’s something oddly immersive about dodging real-world hazards while doing something completely insane.
Tough, Unforgiving, and Slightly Janky
Let’s be honest: Skitchin’ is not a polished experience by modern standards. The controls can feel stiff, collisions can be frustrating, and the difficulty curve is steep.
You will crash. A lot.
Sometimes it’ll be your fault. Other times, it’ll feel like the game just decided you were done. That’s part of the old-school design—trial and error, learning through failure, and slowly mastering the chaos.
But here’s the thing: once it clicks, it really clicks.
There’s a rhythm to the game that starts to emerge. You learn when to grab onto cars, when to fight, and when to just stay alive. That “one more try” feeling kicks in hard, and suddenly you’ve been playing for way longer than you planned.
Pure 90s Energy
More than anything, Skitchin’ feels like a product of its time. It captures that rebellious, extreme-sports vibe that defined the mid-90s. It’s the kind of game that wouldn’t get made today—not without being toned down or reworked into something safer.
And that’s exactly why it stands out.
It’s weird. It’s aggressive. It’s unapologetically chaotic.
Final Verdict
Skitchin’ isn’t perfect. In fact, it’s rough around the edges in a lot of ways. But beneath the jank is a genuinely unique experience that you won’t find anywhere else on the Sega Mega Drive.
If you’re into retro games, especially ones that take big risks and do something different, Skitchin’ is absolutely worth checking out.
It might frustrate you. It might feel unfair. But it’ll definitely leave an impression. And sometimes, that’s exactly what you want from a retro classic.
Buy Skitchin’ on eBay
Copies of Skitchin’ are reasonably priced. Check out eBay listings below: