Griptape Backbone

Indie· Great Soundtrack· Skateboarding· Atmospheric

Released May 2017

A relaxing meditative and Zen like first person vaporwave skateboarding game. An interactive mixtape.

92% positive · 541 reviews

Done

All announced content has been released

High confidence

Done

All announced content has been released

High confidence

Where to get it

Free on Steam

Steam Free

Evaluation

Griptape Backbone launched on May 5, 2017 as a complete, self-contained vaporwave skateboarding experience. The developer's launch post on May 6, 2017 framed the release as a finished work — expressing pride in the game and stating intentions only to patch bugs reported by players. The only subsequent update, posted on July 6, 2017, added Steam Controller support. There have been no further developer communications, no DLC, no roadmap, and no announcements of future content in the roughly nine years since that patch. The game was released as a finished product and there is no evidence that any additional content was ever planned or is forthcoming.

Evidence

Developer announced the game's launch, described it as a complete creative work, and mentioned only bug-fix patching going forward — no content roadmap or future additions indicated.

news post · May 6, 2017 source development ending

high

Store description presents the game as a fully realized experience with a fixed soundtrack lineup and open world — no mention of planned updates, additional content, or ongoing development.

description source development ending

medium

Media

Details

Developer

StevenHarmonGames

Publisher

StevenHarmonGames

Achievements

—

Platform

Windows, macOS, Linux

Controller

—

Steam Deck

Not rated

Players

Single-player

Indie Great Soundtrack Skateboarding Atmospheric Open World Relaxing Memes Free to Play

About this game

You play as a skater on the brink of life and death collecting aesthetics to reach enlightenment in skate-purgatory whilst trying to expiate your sins, help lost souls, find meaning in life and closure in death. A vaporwave experience.

SKATE EVERYTHING

You can literally skate whatever surface you want, kind of like that one city scene in INCEPTION. The game's control scheme is simple and accessible for everyone while also offering the depth to those who want to line up and flick dank tricks whilst controlling their board midair.

SOUNDTRACK

A game where you can just skate without even worrying about the objectives and listen to the amazing lineup of songs with the in-game player driven radio from over 25 artists while taking in the open world skate map full of intentional and unintentional great skate spots to discover.

(for more info, links, etc. visit the community hub pinned discussion board)

Including music from...

Blank Banshee
Brian Haeger
Canaan Long (Prehistoric Turtlesaurus)
Carsyn Ainsworth & Dylan Roberts
ConsciousThoughts
Delone
Disconscious
Dong Lee
Donky Pitch
Dutchy!
Home
Limes
Mingo Gomez
Pablo Garduño
Quickly, quickly
RHO DELTA
Selectron
Sonder
Steven Harmon
Suburban Pets
Toetensen
Tomppabeats
User-999
Vektroid
Vincent Remember
Warren Heart
YUNG BAE
骨架的

FAQ

Q: What is VAPORWAVE?
A: Long Answer - Vaporwave is an electronic music subgenre that originated during the early 2010's on the internet. It is characterized by a nostalgic & surrealist fascination with retro design, consumer capitalism, existentialism, and popular culture. Art that embraces low poly, VHS, cassette tapes, Japanese neo tokyo, cyberpunk tropes. Short answer - Slowed down sampling of lounge music, smooth jazz, 80s music, elevator music, and a certain je ne sais quoi. Shorter answer - A lifestyle.

Q: How should I play the game?
A: Just skate, relax, and contemplate your existence.

Q: Will this game fill the immeasurable empty void that is life?
A: /music plays