Games Like Crimson Skies
Quick Answer
The closest games to Crimson Skies are Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge, Ace Combat 7, Project Wingman, Rogue Squadron II and Sky Rogue. Below are 8 picks with the reason for each — what carries over from Crimson Skies, and what does not.
What Made Crimson Skies Work
Crimson Skies is pulp dogfighting — 1930s zeppelins, dieselpunk planes, and flight controls simple enough that you never think about the stall speed. It is an arcade action game that happens to be in the air, and simulators are the wrong recommendation entirely.
Crimson Skies is set in an alternate 1930s America broken into feuding nations, where trade and crime have taken to the air. It began as a FASA tabletop game; Zipper Interactive made the 2000 PC game, and FASA Studio made Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge for the Xbox in 2003, with arcade dogfighting and Xbox Live play.
8 Games Like Crimson Skies
1.Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge(2003)
The Xbox sequel, and the definitive version of the idea.
Why it fits: FASA Studio, Xbox, 2003. The console sequel: Nathan Zachary's air pirates, arcade dogfighting and Xbox Live multiplayer.
What is different: The PC original was more of a flight game; this Xbox sequel is pure arcade.
Where to play it: Xbox; plays on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S.
More about this game →2.Ace Combat 7(2019)
The best arcade flight game still being made, and just as pulpy.
Why it fits: Bandai Namco, 2019. Arcade dogfights with real-world jets, weather that matters, and a melodramatic war story.
What is different: Modern jets and missiles rather than 1930s planes and guns; the story is anime melodrama.
Where to play it: PS4, Xbox One, PC and Switch.
More about this game →3.Project Wingman(2020)
An indie Ace Combat, made by a very small team and excellent.
Why it fits: Sector D2, 2020. An independent game in Ace Combat's mould, with a mercenary story and a large missile count.
What is different: Modern jets and a grimmer mercenary story.
Where to play it: PC, PS4 and PS5.
More about this game →4.Rogue Squadron II(2001)
Arcade flight with mission variety and no simulation weight.
Why it fits: Factor 5, GameCube, 2001. Star Wars dogfights where every mission has medal targets for time, accuracy and losses.
What is different: Star Wars space and atmosphere missions; no zeppelins and no pulp heroes.
Where to play it: GameCube.
More about this game →5.Sky Rogue(2017)
Roguelite arcade dogfighting, quick runs, no manual required.
Why it fits: Fractal Phase, PC, 2017. Low-poly arcade air combat with procedurally generated missions.
What is different: Procedural missions and a roguelite loop; there is no story.
Where to play it: PC.
More about this game →6.Blazing Angels(2006)
Straightforward wartime arcade flight with co-op.
Why it fits: Ubisoft Romania, 2006. Arcade Second World War flying across famous battles with a squad of wingmen.
What is different: Historical World War II, played straight.
Where to play it: PS3, Xbox 360, Wii and PC.
More about this game →7.Star Fox 64(1997)
If the pure arcade feel of the flying was the appeal.
Why it fits: Nintendo, Nintendo 64, 1997. Arcade flying with wingmen talking on the radio the whole time.
What is different: On rails, in space, with talking animals.
Where to play it: N64; remade for 3DS; Nintendo Switch Online with the Expansion Pack.
Games like this →8.Bomber Crew(2017)
For the wartime flying charm, seen from inside the plane.
Why it fits: Runner Duck, published by Curve, 2017. You manage a Second World War bomber's crew — pilot, gunners, navigator — instead of flying it.
What is different: A management game about keeping a bomber crew alive; you do not fly the plane.
Where to play it: PC, PS4, Xbox One and Switch.
More about this game →
Where to Start
Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge is still the one to play, on an Xbox. Beyond it, Ace Combat 7 and Project Wingman are the best arcade flying available now, and Sky Rogue is the quick-hit option.
How We Picked These Games
Every pick had to make dogfighting fun rather than a simulation: arcade handling, wingmen, and missions you can finish in one sitting. Propeller-era games were favoured where they exist.
This list is in the free app
Games like Crimson Skies, with every reason, works offline in JustLikeGames — plus a pick for tonight and a backlog tracker.
Free · iPhone & Android · no account
Games Like Crimson Skies Compared
Year is each game's first release anywhere, on the platform in the next column. "Play it now" is where it can be bought or played today.
| Game | Year | First released on | Play it now | Closest to Crimson Skies in |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge | 2003 | Xbox | Xbox; plays on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S. | The direct sequel |
| Ace Combat 7 | 2019 | PS4, Xbox One, PC | PS4, Xbox One, PC and Switch. | Arcade dogfighting |
| Project Wingman | 2020 | PC | PC, PS4 and PS5. | Arcade jets, mercenary story |
| Rogue Squadron II | 2001 | GameCube | GameCube. | Mission goals and medals |
| Sky Rogue | 2017 | PC | PC. | Simple, fast air combat |
| Blazing Angels | 2006 | Xbox 360, PS3, Wii, PC | PS3, Xbox 360, Wii and PC. | Propeller-era arcade flying |
| Star Fox 64 | 1997 | Nintendo 64 | N64; remade for 3DS; Nintendo Switch Online with the Expansion Pack. | Wingmen chatter |
| Bomber Crew | 2017 | PC | PC, PS4, Xbox One and Switch. | Propeller-era planes, crew management |
Which One to Play, by What You Liked
If you liked Crimson Skies for 1930s air pirates and pulp, try Crimson Skies: High Road to Revenge. Nothing else has its alternate-history setting; the sequel is the only way to get more.
If you liked Crimson Skies for arcade dogfighting, try Ace Combat 7 and Project Wingman. Modern jets with arcade handling.
If you liked Crimson Skies for propeller planes, try Blazing Angels and Bomber Crew. Second World War aircraft, flown or crewed.
If you liked Crimson Skies for missions with goals and chatter, try Rogue Squadron II and Star Fox 64. Short missions with medals and wingmen talking you through them.
Buy This Game
* Affiliate links. We may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Support Justlikegames
Made by one person, for free
I run Justlikegames pretty much for free — covering hosting, APIs, and the hours spent writing recommendation lists by hand. There are no paywalls, no intrusive popups, and no "premium" tier. If the site has helped you find your next favorite game, a coffee goes a long way toward keeping it that way.
Buy me a coffeeEven $3 covers a day of API costs. Thank you 💛
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Lists
- Games like Star Fox 64 — Arcade flying with wingmen on the radio and missions with set goals.
- Games like Steel Battalion — Cult original-Xbox games about piloting machines.
More Xbox Games Like Pages
Explore Other Consoles
Get Game Recs Weekly
Top picks, hidden gems, and deals — straight to your inbox. No spam, ever.
