Operation Stormbreak
Hold the skies. Bring down the fortress.
A vertical-scrolling arcade shoot 'em up built for touch. Fly the Kestrel through 24 stages across six theatres of war, from sun-bleached coral reefs to the edge of space.
Free on Windows, macOS & Linux for a limited time
Limited time only
Ahead of its release on the App Store and Steam, the complete 24-stage campaign is free to download for Windows, macOS and Linux. Grab it before the offer ends.
Windows 10 & 11, 64-bit
Universal: Apple Silicon & Intel
64-bit, x86-64
Keyboard & mouse ControlleriPhone & iPad coming soon to the App Store · PC on Steam
The Story
The Ashen Dominion, an industrial junta, has built Storm-class flying fortresses, and it's rolling up the free islands one archipelago at a time.
Stormbreak Squadron, what's left of the carrier Resolute's air wing, is all that stands in the way. Climb into the Kestrel and fly Operation Stormbreak in order, arcade style: from the first patrol over the reef to the Dominion's last command ship in orbit.
Every stage opens with a briefing and closes with a debrief, and ends with the Kestrel landing back aboard the carrier.
“The Ashen Dominion's flying fortresses are taking the free islands. Stormbreak Squadron is all that's left.”
Gameplay
A vertical-scrolling shooter in the arcade tradition, with deterministic rules, readable bullets and bosses you take apart piece by piece.
Built for touch
Your left thumb fires, rolls and bombs. Your right thumb drags anywhere to steer with a floating stick, so your fingers never cover the Kestrel.
Power-ups
Every stage starts the Storm Cannon back at power 1, so the power-ups along the way matter. Each level only adds: more barrels, then side spread guns, then heavier rounds. Bombers drop supplies when they go down.
Roll and bomb
A barrel roll gives you a split second of immunity to bullets, so you can roll straight through a fan of fire. When the sky gets too full, drop a bomb and clear the screen.
Living skies
Every theatre has its own lighting, sea, clouds, weather, islands, enemy paint and soundtrack, and every stage its own time of day. Fly through snow over the fjords, sandstorms on the coast and thunderstorms at night.
The Campaign
Each theatre is four stages: three that end with a named stage leader, then the theatre's fortress. Choose a chapter to read its briefings.
Chapter I · Stages 1–4
The Tempest is down. Its flight log points north, to the ice fjords.
Stage 1 Dawn
Coral Dawn
First patrol of the war: clear the skies over the reef.
Bomber leader
Stage 2 Midday
Lagoon Run
Sink the boats mining the lagoon channels.
Patrol flagship
Stage 3 Dusk
Atoll Gate
Hold the atoll gate at sundown.
Red Talon flight
Stage 4 · Fortress
Reefbreak
Defend the carrier Resolute from the first fortress strike.
The Tempest
Fortress Bosses
Every fourth stage ends with one of the Dominion's flying fortresses: a three-phase boss built from destructible parts, each tougher than the last.
Stage 4 · ReefbreakTurrets, then engines, then hit the core when it opens.
Stage 8 · FrostlineHeavier plating and wider sway: keep moving in the whiteout.
Stage 12 · DunewakeFast and swaying wide: lead your shots.
Stage 16 · CinderfallHeavily armoured: be ready the moment the core opens.
Stage 20 · BlackwaterStealth paint: watch the turret glows and part labels.
Stage 24 · StarfallThe heaviest armour in the war. Same pattern: turrets, engines, core.
Know Your Enemy
Darts dive from the very first stage. Strafers, flak bombers, veteran aces and heavy bombers join the fight as the campaign goes on.
Fighter
The Dominion's line fighter. Comes in waves and stays on screen, repositioning until it's shot down.
Diver
Hovers, locks on, fires a three-round fan and dives straight through the spot it marked.
Twin-boom
Sweeps side to side across the screen, changing lane each pass and dropping flak fans.
Ace
Flies with the patrols from the fjords on. Takes more hits and fires long four-round bursts.
Bomber
Slow and heavily loaded. Shoot one down and it drops supplies for you.
Bomber
Throws rotating spiral rings of flak across the sky.
Bomber
Fires wide nine-round fans. Stay close underneath it.
Naval
Lurks in the channels and floes firing three-round bursts. Boats can't dodge a bomb.
Stage leaders close stages 1 to 3 of every theatre
Mini-boss
A four-engine flying boat that cycles aimed fans, spirals and flak walls, and launches darts.
Mini-boss
Leads the flotilla stages, firing its fore and aft turrets together.
Fly It Your Way
Replay any stage you've reached in Score Attack for medals and personal bests, or drill the boss in Finale Practice. Three difficulties and a set of assists let everyone see the war through.
Assist
Extra armour, a wider roll window and slower enemy fire.
Standard
The game as designed.
Ace
Faster enemy fire, for a 1.5× score multiplier.
Assisted runs are recorded separately, so every personal best stays comparable.
Gun Camera
Captured in-engine on the iPad build, from the reef to the edge of space.
Take Off
Stormbreak Squadron is coming to iPhone and iPad on the App Store, and to PC on Steam. One price for the whole war, with no ads, no in-app purchases and nothing to sign up for. Play it free on Windows, macOS and Linux today.
