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Cleared Hot is a single player action game. It was developed by Not Knowing Corporation and was released on November 20, 2025. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

CLEARED HOT is a physics-based helicopter shooter featuring tactical squad control and creative combat. Use your rope and magnet to pick up objects, throw enemies, redirect missiles, and manipulate the environment to complete objectives. Strategically move your squad to capture territory or defend your base in dynamic, emergent gameplay.

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98%
Audience ScoreBased on 2,137 reviews
story202 positive mentions
optimization15 negative mentions

  • Captures the nostalgic feel of the classic Strike series while modernizing gameplay mechanics.
  • Engaging and fun gameplay with a variety of helicopters and weapons to choose from.
  • Humorous dialogue and voice acting that adds charm to the overall experience.
  • Currently short on content, with only one chapter available that can be completed in a few hours.
  • Some performance issues, particularly during intense action scenes, leading to frame rate drops.
  • Lack of depth in mission variety and replayability, making it feel repetitive after completing the available missions.
  • story
    793 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story is described as a light-hearted, campy homage to 80s and 90s action films, featuring quirky characters and humorous dialogue that enhances the overall experience. While the narrative serves primarily as a backdrop for the engaging helicopter missions, it has been noted that the current content is limited, with only 12 missions available, leading to a desire for more varied and complex storylines in future updates. Overall, players appreciate the nostalgic feel and entertaining plot, even if it lacks depth compared to more serious titles.

    • “They brought the characters alive like a superbly written radio drama, where you have to rely more on your imagination from voice acting and audio cues than visual storytelling.”
    • “The story of the game would be right at home in an 80s action movie or early 90s console game - it's totally unbelievable, has multiple ex machina moments, and is literally perfect because of it.”
    • “The story and characters are both fun and charming and don't get in the way too much of the arcade feel of just blowing stuff up and tearing up tiny ragdoll meat sack soldiers with a satisfying squelchy thud.”
    • “I really didn't care for the story; it is a bit lacking and feels a bit cheesy, but I guess that's the intention as this isn't a military sim.”
    • “The story isn't anything special; the graphics are decent, but the gameplay is 10/10.”
    • “The only downside at this time is the very short story and number of missions.”
  • gameplay
    365 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay of "Cleared Hot" has been widely praised for its engaging mechanics, smooth controls, and nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic helicopter games like the "Strike" series. Players appreciate the balance of simplicity and depth, with fun physics-based interactions and a variety of missions that keep the experience fresh. While some users noted minor performance issues and a desire for more content, the overall consensus is that the gameplay is addictive, enjoyable, and well-executed, making it a strong recommendation for fans of the genre.

    • “Gameplay is consistently fun, with tight controls and missions that stay fresh, offering enough variety to keep each session engaging.”
    • “The gameplay is incredibly satisfying.”
    • “The core gameplay loop is fun and satisfying, and the helicopter controls are intuitive and snappy.”
    • “Gameplay is meh.”
    • “I wanted a modern desert strike, that's not what this is; obviously not from its looks or graphical style, nor the style of gameplay... this is just like a bad spin-off, but the most credit I can give is that as a standalone, so far it's mediocre.”
    • “However, I came for the gameplay and was majorly let down by the lack of complexity regarding the enemies, their bases, and the missions or their structures.”
  • music
    145 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received widespread praise for its nostalgic 80s and 90s vibe, effectively complementing the action and gameplay. Many players appreciate the catchy soundtrack and voice acting, which enhance the overall experience, although some noted that the music can become repetitive over time. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a highlight, evoking fond memories of classic action games while adding to the game's fun and engaging atmosphere.

    • “Love the voice lines, love the gameplay, love the music.”
    • “The music in the game is a solid techno synth that feels right from the eighties that just amps up the 80's action vibe.”
    • “The soundtrack is pure top gun.”
    • “Music is annoying, turned it off instantly, bummer.”
    • “The music is a five second loop on repeat.”
    • “The only thing I'd add is that the music starts to feel a little repetitive by the time I get to the 10th mission.”
  • graphics
    141 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are generally well-received, striking a balance between retro aesthetics and modern visuals, which enhances immersion without aiming for photorealism. While some players note that the graphics can be basic or require optimization, many appreciate the clean design, smooth gameplay, and nostalgic feel that pays homage to classic titles. Overall, the visuals are considered a strong aspect of the game, contributing positively to the overall experience despite some performance issues on certain platforms.

    • “The graphics, sound, and controls are really well done.”
    • “The graphics are a great fit for the concept, the controls are silky smooth, and the customization options and career progression seem satisfying and well thought out.”
    • “It's a beautiful homage to the desert/jungle strike games; graphics are great, controls great, immersion is great.”
    • “The graphics could be considered somewhat basic, which is befitting of the genre, but for whatever reason, it does not exactly perform well on the Steam Deck.”
    • “I bought this in order to play it on the Steam Deck, and there it is an unplayable 20-30fps stutter fest with no graphics options to adjust.”
    • “Compounding this issue is the mission also has the player dodging radar, which is already an issue since the dodge function doesn't seem to work aside from shooting flames from the exhaust ports. I played the demo and absolutely loved this, so I figured that the game would be enjoyable... it is... kinda... it really needs to be optimized more or give graphics options. Tbh, a game that looks like this shouldn't by any stretch of the imagination pull so much that the framerate is almost in single digits at times.”
  • optimization
    77 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed feedback from players. While some report solid performance and smooth gameplay, particularly on higher-end systems, many users experience significant stuttering, especially on the Steam Deck and during specific missions. As the game is still in early access, there is a consensus that further optimization is needed to improve performance across various platforms.

    • “Performance is solid.”
    • “It plays well enough on my Steam Deck and hopefully more optimization is on the way.”
    • “For an early access, the level of polish is impressive: the game runs perfectly on ultrawide 21:9 and 32:9 screens, works on Steam Deck (need some optimization now + need cross save too), gameplay is simple yet effective, sounds and music are excellent.”
    • “Steam Deck OLED performance is utter garbage.”
    • “Performance becomes terrible in later missions for no discernible reason.”
    • “I know it's in early access, so note to the developer - some optimization for the Steam Deck would be nice.”
  • humor
    74 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is widely praised, with many reviewers highlighting the hilarious voice acting, witty dialogue, and absurd scenarios that contribute to a lighthearted and entertaining experience. Players appreciate the over-the-top, cartoony style and the clever integration of humor into gameplay mechanics, resulting in a fun and chaotic atmosphere. Overall, the game's comedic elements, including its unique characters and engaging story, enhance the enjoyment and charm of the gameplay.

    • “The voice acting in this game is hilarious - just can't help but love the laidback tone of the pilot.”
    • “Bonus points for great writing and excellent voice acting - the game didn't even really need a story but the snappy dialogue adds a ton of charm to each mission and I want to keep playing just to listen to more of this hilarious banter.”
    • “The humor woven into the storyline had me chuckling throughout my playtime.”
  • replayability
    54 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating the potential for varied loadouts and helicopter combinations, while others find the limited number of missions and lack of challenge modes detract from long-term engagement. Many hope for future content updates, such as random mission generators or additional game modes, to enhance replay value. Overall, while there are elements that encourage replay, the current content feels insufficient for sustained play.

    • “I look forward to bigger missions and maps and perhaps some kind of mission/map generator for even more replayability.”
    • “The lineup of helicopters and their vast array of interchangeable weapons will give you a lot of replay value.”
    • “Replayability is surprisingly great despite having only a few missions; it has a sandbox feel to it with each helicopter being able to do certain things.”
    • “Now the downside - it's early access, so you aren't getting the full product just yet, but this does provide enough taste to satisfy your craving for a while. It's fully replayable, allowing you to do the same missions over and over with different loadouts and airframes, which keeps it pretty fresh.”
    • “With such a brief campaign and minimal replay value, I can’t recommend the title despite how well it plays.”
    • “Lack of challenge modes really hurts the replay value, and overall value of the game if it is over and done after that small amount of time.”
  • stability
    23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the game's stability is highly praised, with users reporting minimal bugs and glitches, even in its early access state. Many players noted smooth performance across various platforms, including Linux and Steam Deck, with only minor issues that do not significantly impact gameplay. The consensus is that the game runs reliably and is well-polished for an early access title.

    • “An amazing game that is well built with nearly no glitches, and I enjoy this throwback to old school vehicle shooters.”
    • “My playthrough was largely bug-free; honestly, I can't recall anything major.”
    • “The controls are smooth and intuitive, keybinds are fully remappable, and the gameplay is smooth and bug-free.”
    • “This game is proper early access, with balance issues and lots of work to do, but still fun as hell and not buggy in the annoying way where the game crashes or the missions can't be completed.”
    • “There's your typical day one glitches, level events that fail to initiate, random bugs, etc., but for the most part it runs really well even on an older rig.”
    • “Highly recommend even as an early access title, so far only come across a few glitches such as enemy combatants stuck inside buildings.”
  • grinding
    12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players have mixed feelings about the grinding aspect of the game. While some find it tedious, especially with limited mission variety and repetitive escort tasks, others enjoy the grind for unlocking new helicopters and weapons, noting that it can be fun and not overly burdensome. Overall, the current content feels limited, leading to a reliance on grinding to enhance gameplay.

    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “I hope there is more content incoming since the game is genuinely fun to play, but story content runs out after a couple of hours and what rest there is, is basically grinding missions to unlock other helicopters and guns.”
    • “There isn't too much replayability at present apart from grinding some cash to buy new helicopters and weapons.”
  • atmosphere
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its fun, nostalgic 90s action movie vibe, complemented by charming visuals and engaging gameplay. Players appreciate the fast-paced, arcadey feel, along with the variety of helicopters and weapon systems that enhance the overall experience. While some missions may be challenging, they contribute to a compelling atmosphere that encourages players to improve and enjoy the game further.

    • “Overall, I'm recommending it; while short unfortunately, the gameplay is fun and polished, the 90s over-the-top action movie atmosphere and silliness are on point.”
    • “A fast-paced, arcadey shoot-em-up full of charm and atmosphere that is well worth the price of admission.”
    • “Love the atmosphere and the availability of many different helicopters and weapon systems to play with; I can definitely use cloud saves so I can pick up and go whether on Steam Deck or PC.”
    • “Some missions are a bit harder, but that creates the atmosphere to try again and get better.”
    • “A simple low-cost water-surface effect when flying low over water would also elevate the atmosphere.”
    • “Besides all the nostalgic feeling and atmosphere, this is just plain, simple, and honest fun.”
  • emotional
    7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players express a deep emotional connection to the game, reminiscing about their childhood experiences and feeling a sense of nostalgia that evokes tears. The gameplay not only rekindles fond memories but also delivers moments of joy and excitement, making players feel youthful again, even in adulthood. The emotional impact is further enhanced by surprising narrative elements, particularly in the game's conclusion.

    • “This game recaptures the magic of it all; I actually shed a tear when I remembered what it was like playing that game. Now I am 40 years old and everything hurts, lol.”
    • “I loved every moment of the game, and it made me feel like I was back in my childhood living room, playing Jungle Strike on my Sega Genesis again.”
    • “Fighting was super fun, and not to spoil the ending, it was surprisingly a bit emotional.”
  • monetization
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players appreciate the monetization model, highlighting that new helicopters and weapons can be obtained through gameplay without the need for DLC or in-game purchases, allowing for a fully customizable experience.

    • “You can obtain new helicopters and guns/missiles to make your ride customizable, all without DLC or in-game purchases needed!”
    • “The game offers a fair monetization model that allows players to enjoy the full experience without feeling pressured to spend money.”
    • “I appreciate that the game provides plenty of opportunities to earn rewards through gameplay, making purchases optional rather than necessary.”
  • character development
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game is highlighted as a surprising strength, seamlessly integrated with intuitive controls and fast-paced action, complemented by snappy dialogue and a straightforward yet impactful plot.

    • “Intuitive controls and fast action combine with snappy dialogue, a simple yet effective plot with a surprising injection of character development and heart.”
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4h Median play time
4h Average play time
3-6h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 12 analyzed playthroughs
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Cleared Hot is a action game.

Cleared Hot is available on PC, Steam Deck and Windows.

On average players spend around 4 hours playing Cleared Hot.

Cleared Hot was released on November 20, 2025.

Cleared Hot was developed by Not Knowing Corporation.

Cleared Hot has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its optimization.

Cleared Hot is a single player game.

Similar games include Road Redemption, Megacopter: Blades of the Goddess, Overload, Tiny Combat Arena, FUMES and others.