Air Hares is a sunny, retro‑styled bullet‑hell that turns the genre on its head: instead of tallying kills you’re sowing life. As Captain Rabbo Sunskipper (with Dirk Doggo at her side) you pilot a seed‑and‑water‑armed plane through tight, pattern‑heavy waves of the Gale Gang, balancing frantic dogfights with the gentler, strategic work of planting and tending carrot fields.
The result is a delightful mashup of arcade intensity and pastoral care, every evasive weave and well‑timed water shot directly contributes to Winrose Warren’s revival, wrapped in bright, Saturday‑morning‑cartoon charm, accessible co‑op, and a personality that makes each run feel hopeful rather than punishing.
Gameplay
• Core objective: Plant and nurture carrot fields while fending off the Gale Gang; victory is measured by harvest yield and field health rather than enemy kill counts. Success requires balancing offensive maneuvers with agricultural priorities; protect seedlings, time watering runs, and prioritize plots that will yield the biggest payoff.
• Combat twist: Your “weapons” are seeds and water, projectiles that grow life instead of simply destroying foes. You still weave through dense bullet patterns, ram or jab enemies to create openings, and use momentum to shepherd shots into fields. Every dodge and well‑placed spray directly contributes to restoration, turning classic bullet‑hell reflexes into purposeful, constructive play.
• Co‑op and accessibility: Single‑player and local couch co‑op let a second pilot join as Dirk Doggo for coordinated planting and crowd control. Robust controller support, adjustable difficulty, and optional CRT visual filters make the game approachable for newcomers and nostalgic for veterans, while simple inputs keep the action family‑friendly.
• Pacing and rhythm: Levels trade intense, pattern‑heavy assault waves for calmer planting windows where you can tend crops, recruit townsfolk, and upgrade your plane. This ebb and flow rewards quick decision‑making during crises and thoughtful planning between storms, creating satisfying short sessions with clear moments of tension and relief.
Systems and Progression
• Field growth loop: Plant seeds, water crops, and defend plots across successive waves; fields visibly evolve as you invest time and resources, progressing from fragile seedlings to productive harvests. Well‑tended fields unlock tangible rewards; new recruits, passive upgrades, and plane enhancements, so agricultural choices carry strategic weight beyond a single run.
• Enemy variety and encounters: The Gale Gang brings a colorful roster of avian goons with distinct behaviors, movement arcs, and attack patterns that force you to adapt your flying and planting strategy. Mid‑level minibosses and set‑piece fights escalate tension, while major boss battles like the Twin Horn demand coordinated piloting, resource juggling, and smart field prioritization to survive.
• Modes and replayability: Story mode steers Winrose’s revival with character beats and staged progression; Arcade mode offers bite‑sized, score‑focused runs for quick play sessions; local co‑op layers teamwork and role specialization onto both. The design favors compact, repeatable runs with clear goals and emergent teamwork, trading sprawling systems for tight, replayable encounters that reward mastery and coordination.
Presentation and Tone
• Art and character: Bright, hand‑crafted sprites, fluid animations, and a ’90s Saturday‑morning‑cartoon aesthetic give the world instant charm; Captain Rabbo, Dirk Doggo, and the supporting cast are designed with clear silhouettes, expressive poses, and little visual flourishes that make each personality pop. Backgrounds and field stages evolve visibly as you restore them, so the art not only delights but also communicates progress and stakes.
• Sound and music: An upbeat, hopeful main theme and playful, punchy SFX reinforce the game’s optimistic tone; music swells for big moments and quiets for planting windows, while distinct audio cues (successful plant, incoming wave, boss roar) provide useful feedback. The soundtrack leans into nostalgic motifs without feeling derivative, keeping the action lively and emotionally warm.
• Family focus and accessibility: Built explicitly for mixed‑age play, the game pairs simple, responsive controls with scalable challenge so parents and kids can share the same session. Visual clarity, readable UI elements, and cooperative design encourage teamwork rather than frustration, making Air Hares a reliable pick for couch co‑op and family game nights.
Strengths
• Creative genre flip: Transforms bullet‑hell into a restorative loop, your shots plant and water life, so survival and creation are equally rewarded; every evasive maneuver and well‑timed spray directly advances the farm, not just your score.
• Charming visual storytelling: Distinct, hand‑crafted art and expressive character design give the world emotional weight; Captain Rabbo, Dirk Doggo, and the Gale Gang feel alive, and evolving stage backgrounds visually track your progress.
• Friendly, shareable design: Local co‑op, simple controls, adjustable difficulty, and nostalgic presentation make it easy to play with friends or younger family members while still offering depth for seasoned players.
Limits
• Content scope: The game deliberately keeps a compact footprint; tight, focused systems and a clear design intent. Players looking for deep meta‑progression, sprawling unlock trees, or an endless stream of new mechanics may find the offering intentionally modest rather than expansive.
• Replay ceiling: After you learn enemy patterns and optimize field management, individual runs can start to feel familiar; long‑term variety relies more on player skill, co‑op coordination, and self‑imposed challenges than on constantly added systems.
Final Verdict
Air Hares is a warm, inventive take on the classic shoot‑’em‑up that swaps indiscriminate blasting for a gratifying loop of restoration. Piloting Captain Rabbo’s seed‑and‑water plane turns every tight dodge and well‑timed spray into meaningful progress as barren fields slowly bloom into a living town. The game’s tight arcade controls, buoyant art direction, and cooperative couch play make it an ideal pick for short, joyful sessions with friends or family.
It isn’t trying to be an endless grind, its modest scope and repeatable runs favor mastery and social play over sprawling progression, but within that frame it delivers charm, clever mechanical twists, and a rare emotional payoff: you’re not just surviving the skies, you’re rebuilding a home. If you want a retro shooter with heart and a fresh objective, Air Hares is a flight worth taking.
Watch and Wishlist
• Why wishlist: Get notified about launch discounts, updates, and DLC; signal demand for console ports and multiplayer features.
• Platforms to track: PC (Steam, Steam Deck) first; watch for future Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox ports.
• How to stay informed: Wishlist and follow the Steam page; follow Wondoro LLC and indie.io on social media; join the game’s Discord for patch notes, dev posts, and community events.
• Price perspective: $9.99, modest entry price; expect seasonal sales and bundle deals that make waiting for a discount worthwhile.
Key Takeaways
• What it is: A retro‑inspired bullet‑hell that replaces pure destruction with a restorative loop, pilot Captain Rabbo to plant, water, and revive Winrose Warren.
• Core objective: Success is measured by harvest yield and field health, not just enemy kills; every shot contributes to growth.
• Combat twist: Seeds and water are your weapons, combat and farming are tightly integrated so evasive flying and planting feed the same loop.
• Pacing: Short, repeatable runs alternate frantic enemy waves with calmer planting windows for strategic decisions and upgrades.
• Co‑op and accessibility: Local couch co‑op, controller support, adjustable difficulty, and optional CRT filters make it family‑friendly and approachable.
• Art and tone: Bright, hand‑crafted sprites and a Saturday‑morning‑cartoon vibe give the game warmth and personality.
• Progression: Fields evolve into tangible rewards, recruits and upgrades, though the overall meta is intentionally modest.
• Replayability: Strong for short sessions, score chasing, and co‑op mastery; long‑term variety depends on player skill and community challenges.
• Best for: Players who want a charming, inventive twist on shoot‑’em‑ups, especially those who enjoy local co‑op and light, skill‑based mastery.
• Watch points: Compact content scope and a limited long‑term loop may leave completionists wanting more.
Game Information:
Developer: Wondoro LLC
Publisher: indie.io
Platforms: PC (reviewed)
Release Date: January 14, 2026
Score: 7.5 / 10
Air Hares earns this score for its inventive twist on the shoot‑’em‑up formula, charming presentation, and tight, family‑friendly co‑op play. The seed‑and‑water mechanics turn frantic dodging into purposeful restoration, and the art and audio give the world real personality. The rating reflects a modest content scope and a replay ceiling that may leave completionists wanting more, but for short sessions, local co‑op, and players who value creativity over grind, it’s a delightful, well‑crafted flight.
“7.5 / 10 - A sunny, clever riff on retro shooters: joyful, approachable, and surprisingly satisfying, even if it keeps things compact.”