An accessible and devilishly addictive shmup, with a perfectly calibrated progression loop. Light for genre purists, it wins you over with its readability and immediate fun, ideal in short sessions.
Your verdict
Category
Rail Shooter2 players7+
Co-op
Description
A vertical scrolling shoot 'em up by Infinite Dreams, ported to Switch in 2017. You pilot a plane against swarms of enemies and colossal bosses, upgrading your craft with stars earned each run. Replay is king: every level is replayed to rescue hostages and chase a flawless run, solo or in co-op.
Sky Force Anniversary review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
3/5
Music
★★★★★
"Memorable"
1/5
Story
★★★★★
"Anecdotal"
Gameplay
"Excellent"
Fun
"From the very first seconds"
The pleasure is immediate and sensory: a rain of shots, generous explosions and gleeful feedback with every downed enemy. You progress fast, collect stars, and the urge to replay a level to improve everything sets in from the very first run.
Addictiveness
"Obsessive"
The progression loop is terribly addictive: each run earns stars that upgrade your ship, making possible what seemed out of reach. You replay the same level over and over to claim all its medals, never seeing the time go by.
Each level closes on a gigantic boss that fills the screen with projectiles. Their readability is exemplary despite the density, and since upgrades make each attempt sturdier, persistence always ends up carrying the day.
Better with friends
The two-player co-op mode multiplies the fun: two ships sweeping the screen together, covering each other under the waves of enemies. Sharing upgrades and coordinating your fire adds a fine dimension of mutual aid to this already excellent shoot'em up.
Is Sky Force Anniversary still worth playing in 2026?
Still cited among the best mobile shoot'em ups ported to console, Sky Force Anniversary has lost none of its punch since arriving on Switch. Its addictive progression loop, generous explosions and two-player co-op make it an immediate, timeless pleasure. As the shmup genre enjoys real enthusiasm, it's an ideal gateway, demanding but never unfair. On Switch, its short levels replay perfectly between two trips, to grind out stars and medals.
