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Crimson Skies
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Crimson Skies

200080/100
ShooterSimulator

Fantasy · Historical · Military

Dogfighting in Crimson Skies is a ballet of aerial acrobatics, a thrilling blend of arcade accessibility and strategic depth. Players pilot outlandish, heavily armed planes through a vibrant 1930s America, trading shots and executing daring maneuvers in pursuit of victory. The game's robust damage modeling and mission variety, from escort runs to base assaults, keep you coming back to hone your skills and dominate the skies.

About Crimson Skies

Details
In 1937, Nathan Zachary and the Fortune Hunters were recovering from the foul betrayal of Lucas Miles in the skies over Cuba by hunting for the lost treasure of Sir Francis Drake. Locating Drake's Gold, the Fortune Hunters find evidence of British interest in Hawaii, and are set upon by the Medusas. While victorious, the Fortune Hunters are curious as to the reason for the British presence. Seizing a British Balmoral leads them to a secret British base, which they promptly destroy. Fighting off a counterattacks from HMS Barracuda, the Fortune Hunters are able to make repairs to the Pandora using the British facilities and recovered Drake's Gold, despite last-minute interference from the Royal Air Force. Rejoicing in their newfound wealth, the Fortune Hunters cancel their party when they receive a distress call from an old friend - Ilsa Fassenbiender, daughter of Doctor Wilhelm Fassenbiender, radios the Fortune Hunters with news that her father has been kidnapped by the Soviet secret police, while she herself is kept prisoner by Boeing Aviation in Pacifica. The Fortune Hunters launched an assault on the CCCP zeppelin Workers' Voyage to retrieve the doctor, which resulted in Nathan Zachary once again encountering his old flame, the Black Swan. Successful in their flying rescue, the Fortune Hunters attempt to repeat their success with a lightning raid on the Boeing plant, hoping to both rescue Ilsa and steal the prototype Hughes Bloodhawk, Blue Streak. Again successful, the Fortune Hunters are forced to strike agains the USSR once again - this time attacking a petrol tanker off the coast of Pacifica to refuel the Pandora. Returning to Pacifica, the Fortune Hunters attack a zeppelin belonging to Blake Aviation Security in a pre-emptive strike which is an unmigitigated success. Shortly after this victory, the Fortune Hunters found themselves battling a new enemy. The previously unknown pirate gang, the Black Hats, had shot down the Workers' Voyage, an act that might not have been possible had the Fortune Hunters not destroyed its escorts. Consumed with guilt, the Fortune Hunters descended upon the wreckage, driving off the Black Hats and ensuring the survival of the hospital ship sent in to rescue survivors. Flush with victory and with two of the most brilliant aircraft designers in the world in tow, the Fortune Hunters head south, for the Nation of Hollywood. Although their original intention was merely to rescue a movie starlet trapped by her contract, the Fortune Hunters followed another successful rescue with the theft of the world's largest airplane and participating in the first Johnson Cup Race, which Nathan Zachary won by a considerable margin. This victory, on Johnny Johnson's home turf, drove him to attempt a nefarious plan to destroy Zachary. When that failed, he used the delay caused by the race to send a Hughes Aviation combat zeppelin to destroy the Fortune Hunters' Pandora. While the assault resulted in the destruction of the Hughes Aviation zeppelin, the Pandora was badly damaged. Fleeing inland, the Fortune Hunters were forced to hijack the cargo zeppelin Figaro to provide the Pandora with a tow. Arriving in Sky Haven, the Fortune Hunters encountered Black Swan and her group. With both sides willing to let bygones be bygones, the party went late into the night. The next morning, however, Zachary awoke to find his crew missing, and his only ally the Black Swan, whose crew had also mysteriously disappeared. Hunting the area around Sky Haven, Zachary picked up a transmission from Sparks, the Pandora's pilot. He was aboard the Rocky Express. Zachary hastened to rescue his pilot, but the Express was attacked by Black Hats. The Express was escorted by Hellhounds from Sacred Trust Incorporated... who were expecting the Black Hats. Zachary and the Black Swan drove off both the pirates and the supposed security, disabled the Express' defences, and scooped up Sparks seconds before the Express' locomotive exploded. Convinced the Black Hats are responsible for the disappearance of their crews, Zachary and the Black Swan determine to hunt down a member of the Black Hats leadership... Ulysses Boothe. Finding Boothe, Zachary was able to shoot him down and capture him, and proposed to trade him back to the Hats in exchange for the return of the crews. Furious, but without options, Boothe agreed. Zachary dropped Boothe at the agreed-upon location, only to be told that the crews were being held inside a cargo zeppelin which had been wired with explosives. With consummate skill, Zachary was able to shoot free the zeppelin, board it, and release the crews. While the crews escaped, Black Swan herself was shot down and captured on the ground. Together, the Fortune Hunters and the Black Swans proceeded to decimate the Black Hats' operations in Sky Haven, culminating in the utter destruction of their mountaintop base, the theft of dozens of aerial torpedoes and the rescue of the Black Swan. Realising there had to be a secret alliance between the Black Hats and Sacred Trust, Zachary was forced to approach the one man who might be able to help them... Paladin Blake. While initially distrustful, Zachary was able to convince Blake of his sincerity and recruit him to assist the Fortune Hunters in their efforts to exterminate both the Black Hats and Sacred Trust. Heading for the Sacred Trust HQ in Manhattan, Zachary contacted an old friend of his, who lead him to an Sacred Trust warehouse crammed with illegal merchandise, which was being loaded onto a German freighter. Destroying the warehouse and the freighter, Zachary was able to draw official attention to the activities of Sacred Trust. However, the Fortune Hunters needed more evidence. Evidence such as that known by Waldo Carney, Sacred Trust's accountant, who was trying to flee the city. When his zeppelin was attacked by Black Hats, the Fortune Hunters were able to rescue him and transport him safely to police HQ. Convinced their secrets had been revealed, Sacred Trust attempted to flee the city, loading their remaining contraband and documents onto zeppelins. However, the Fortune Hunts and Blake Aviation Security were able to disable their zeppelins, as well as the stolen Spruce Goose, and prevent Sacred Trust from removing the vital evidence. Furious at these repeated defeats, the true master behind both the Black Hats and Sacred Trust revealed himself - Lucas Miles, the man who had betrayed the Fortune Hunters in Cuba. In his mighty zeppelin Dante, Miles attempted to flee, but his zeppelin and his fighters were no match for the combined force of the Fortune Hunters and Blake Aviation Security. The Dante was shot down, and Miles was killed. Victorious once again, the Fortune Hunters accepted a substantial reward from the government of the Empire State, and decided to take a tropical break to spend it. Sea Haven is always nice this time of the year...

Top 4 Alternatives to Crimson Skies

1
Rating
Critic & community
80
Match
Recommendation strength
89%

Ace Combat 7: Skies Unknown

2019 · Shooter

If you loved the thrilling aerial dogfights and unique aircraft designs of Crimson Skies, Ace Combat 7 delivers a similar high-octane experience with modern graphics and intense, challenging missions.

Why recommended

  • Features fast-paced, arcade-style aerial combat with a strong emphasis on dogfighting and mission objectives, much like Crimson Skies' core gameplay loop.
  • Criteria — Action is central, with intense air-to-air and air-to-ground combat, and offers a Multiplayer mode for competitive dogfights.
  • The game provides a significant challenge, especially on higher difficulties, requiring precise piloting and tactical engagement to overcome enemy aces and complex scenarios.
2
Rating
Critic & community
79
Match
Recommendation strength
85%

Trade steampunk biplanes for iconic starfighters, but keep the focus on skill-based aerial combat and team-based objectives. Squadrons offers a similar blend of action and simulation with a strong multiplayer component.

Why recommended

  • Offers dedicated first-person cockpit gameplay for immersive aerial (or space) combat, appealing to fans of Crimson Skies' perspective and flight mechanics.
  • Criteria — Features robust Multiplayer modes focused on team-based dogfights and objective-based fleet battles, providing continuous Action.
  • The game boasts a high skill ceiling and a Challenging Difficulty, especially in competitive multiplayer, where mastery of power management and maneuvering is key to victory.
3
Rating
Critic & community
75
Match
Recommendation strength
78%

If the thrill of piloting a variety of historical aircraft and engaging in large-scale aerial battles was your favorite part of Crimson Skies, War Thunder delivers that experience across multiple eras and vehicle types.

Why recommended

  • Features a vast array of historically accurate (and some fictionalized) aircraft for players to pilot, engaging in large-scale combined arms battles, similar to the varied airship and aircraft combat in Crimson Skies.
  • Criteria — Primarily a Multiplayer game offering various modes from arcade to realistic battles, centered around continuous Action and combat.
  • The game presents a Challenging Difficulty through its complex vehicle progression, diverse combat scenarios, and the need for tactical awareness against other skilled players.
4
Rating
Critic & community
90
Match
Recommendation strength
70%

For those who appreciate the historical (albeit alt-history) setting and detailed flight models of Crimson Skies, IL-2 Sturmovik offers a deep dive into World War II aerial combat with unparalleled realism and a steep learning curve.

Why recommended

  • Provides a highly detailed and realistic flight simulation experience, focusing on historical aircraft and intense dogfights, reminiscent of Crimson Skies' flight core.
  • Criteria — The game is pure Action in the skies, with Multiplayer modes supporting large-scale online battles and cooperative missions.
  • Known for its steep learning curve and realistic physics, it offers a truly Challenging Difficulty that rewards dedication and skill in managing complex aircraft systems and combat tactics.

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