Heliborne

62%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,753 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • story
Heliborne Game Cover
Heliborne is a great online-multiplayer experience for both helicopter enthusiasts and those of us that just want to fly around and shoot stuff.
Starting at $4.45Buy now

"Heliborne is a warfare simulation game that allows players to experience rotary wing aviation from the 1950s to the 2000s in single-player, co-op, and multiplayer modes. The game features six major maps inspired by historical conflicts and offers a variety of helicopters to choose from. However, players should be aware of the grinding and buggy gameplay."

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Linux
  • Play​Station
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

62%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,753 reviews
gameplay137 positive mentions
grinding47 negative mentions
  • Fun and engaging gameplay with a variety of helicopters to choose from.
  • Good balance between arcade and realistic flight mechanics.
  • Active community and responsive developers who listen to feedback.
  • Limited content with only a few maps and repetitive objectives.
  • Poor user interface that can be confusing to navigate.
  • Small player base, making it difficult to find matches, especially in PvP.
  • gameplay292 mentions

    The gameplay is generally described as fun and engaging, with intuitive controls and a variety of helicopters that enhance the experience. However, some players note issues with repetitiveness, unoptimized combat mechanics, and a lack of depth in single-player missions. While the game offers enjoyable multiplayer and cooperative modes, it could benefit from more diverse objectives and improved mechanics to elevate the overall experience.

    • “Hours of endless gameplay with changing tactics and redefining your role within the overall mission.”
    • “The flight mechanics are easy to learn and master, most of the weapons work great and the maps are well made.”
    • “Simple and intuitive controls and addictive, objective-based gameplay that can be made very challenging on certain maps, set to hard or very hard.”
    • “The current objectives during gameplay feel random, and instead should have some sort of strategic feel to it so that the player feels like they actually contributed to the resulting victory or defeat outcome of the match.”
    • “The entire PvE gameplay revolves around 'go here, shoot rockets at ground targets, do something else over here, drop off troops while getting shot by RPGs.' I would have thought you'd have some AI helicopters and it wouldn't be just going to X and doing Y, but I guess I was thinking too big.”
    • “Unfortunately, the gameplay is neither as deep as a helicopter sim, nor as excitingly arcade as Comanche.”
  • graphics230 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players noting that they are outdated and suffer from various issues such as glitches and poor optimization. While some users appreciate the detailed helicopter models and find the visuals acceptable for gameplay, others criticize the overall aesthetic as lacking polish and being reminiscent of older titles. The recent "enhanced edition" has been particularly controversial, with many players feeling it has resulted in a downgrade in visual quality and performance.

    • “The graphics are beautiful, from the helicopters all the way to the pilots and the soldiers you're toting around.”
    • “Great game with good graphics and great gameplay prior to the update, was just lacking in variety.”
    • “The graphics are great, the multiplayer is easy to find battles.”
    • “The new graphics are more or less the old ones but in worse quality.”
    • “The graphics have been downgraded immensely from just a few days ago, where wrecked vehicles used to have fire and columns of smoke pouring out of them, now all you get is a wreck.”
    • “The updated graphics look worse than before, the UI is absolutely terrible, the HUD takes up half the screen now, and a load of new bugs were introduced.”
  • story157 mentions

    The game's story aspect is primarily driven by its dynamic and varied mission structure, which includes both cooperative and single-player elements set in historical contexts like Vietnam and Afghanistan. While players enjoy the engaging multiplayer experience and the challenge of adapting to randomly generated missions, many express disappointment with the thin single-player campaign, which lacks depth and meaningful progression. Overall, the narrative is less about a cohesive story and more about the thrill of completing diverse objectives in a combat environment, though players hope for more content and improved mission variety in future updates.

    • “In co-op mode, random missions appear where you must evacuate troops behind enemy lines, drop supplies on a position, or destroy a convoy. The missions are varied enough to keep it from being boring and allow you to use the different helicopters to your advantage.”
    • “The atmosphere flying to a mission objective is cool and immerses you in the moment. However, once there, it becomes a challenge to shoot the enemies before they damage you.”
    • “The missions are simple yet fun, getting around the map isn't too tedious, and you get to fly the chopper without being harassed like in other games.”
    • “It does have a campaign but there is absolutely no reason to play it because you don't get to choose your squadron, the upgrades you take into the mission, or keep any XP that you get, and each mission only has like one objective so they take about 5 minutes to complete.”
    • “The singleplayer/coop missions feel like they just lifted the multiplayer maps out, messed about with the mechanics very slightly, and called it a day.”
    • “There's no real mission content other than fly here, shoot these guys, land, and fly back.”
  • music68 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many players finding it repetitive and lacking thematic depth, often preferring to mute it and play their own playlists instead. While some enjoy the original soundtracks and appreciate the nostalgic vibe of Vietnam-era music, others criticize the overall quality and variety, suggesting that an overhaul or additional tracks would enhance the experience. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a missed opportunity, with players frequently recommending external music to improve their gameplay experience.

    • “I really will miss blaring '60s/70s era music while evading the Soviets in this game.”
    • “Fun game, decent amount of helicopters for variety, soundtrack can be quite the banger when flying over Kosovo.”
    • “Very fun feels like a movie with the music and the Nam setting.”
    • “The music in the Vietnam maps... come on.”
    • “This game genuinely scuffed the music; it plays the same 2 tracks at random and even cuts them out, leaving a long pause until it decides to play the second track again.”
    • “The soundtrack is horrible.”
  • grinding58 mentions

    Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be minimal and manageable, with many noting that progression feels rewarding without excessive effort. While some users mention that certain elements, like the XP system for unlocking helicopters, can be grindy, the general consensus is that the game offers a more streamlined experience compared to similar titles like World of Tanks or War Thunder. Many appreciate the ability to unlock new content frequently, making the gameplay enjoyable rather than tedious.

    • “It's not too grindy and the controls make sense.”
    • “Yes, there is a progression system but it is not grindy!”
    • “That said, it's not that grindy, things progress rather quickly.”
    • “That being said, the XP system to unlock new helicopters and armament is very grindy.”
    • “Well too bad, they put in a 'progression' system now so if you want to fly any of those, I hope you like grinding away on Mi-1s, Ka-15s, S-13s, and who knows what else... this game used to be fun but now everything is behind an XP unlock wall.”
    • “Was a great game, great to have a quick blast of fun in, fly around and blow stuff up, and then they went and added research, turning it into a grinding game, which for a game I paid money for is a bit disappointing as now it's turned into War Thunder: Helicopter Edition.”
  • optimization42 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization has received significant criticism, with many users reporting severe performance issues, poor graphics quality, and clunky user interfaces. While some players with high-end systems experience decent performance, the majority find the game unoptimized, with frequent stuttering, low frame rates, and problematic hit detection. The recent updates have further exacerbated these issues, leading to a general consensus that the game is a buggy mess lacking the promised enhancements.

    • “Graphics are good and the developer did a good job on optimization.”
    • “The performance doesn't seem to be an issue and the game has been running at a constant 60fps for me (I have an i7 and a GeForce 1060).”
    • “Gameplay is well optimized and smooth, easy enough to control even with a mouse and keyboard.”
    • “Still so, the extensive reviews written on the store have made clear that this game is unoptimized (with regards to GPU, no matter what!) with no hope of a fix.”
    • “Performance trash, looks worse than the non-enhanced edition, all textures blurry, helicopters won't even shoot where they're aimed at anymore.”
    • “That said however, the game is an unrefined buggy mess with atrocious hardware optimization and even worse netcode.”
  • stability38 mentions

    The game's stability has been widely criticized, with many users reporting numerous bugs, crashes, and performance issues in both the enhanced and base versions. While some players have experienced stable gameplay without significant problems, the overall consensus is that the game is currently plagued by glitches, poor optimization, and a lack of support, making it difficult to recommend in its present state. Despite its potential, many feel that the game is a "bug-ridden mess" that detracts from the overall experience.

    • “The old game may have been on an outdated engine, but it was nearly bug-free and easy for anyone to hop in for a quick game.”
    • “It runs great both on an onboard AMD Vega and on a dedicated RTX.”
    • “Stable, no artifacts, no glitches, just great.”
    • “The enhanced version is still a pile of buggy garbage that nobody plays.”
    • “The new 'enhanced edition' is a bitter disappointment; it's buggy, the user interface is worse than before, and the graphics and sounds are a disgrace to the game.”
    • “That said, however, the game is an unrefined buggy mess with atrocious hardware optimization and even worse netcode.”
  • replayability13 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the enjoyable mechanics and progression systems that encourage multiple playthroughs, others note the limited number of maps and missions, which can diminish replay value over time. Multiplayer modes show potential but currently lack depth, while single-player and co-op experiences offer more consistent replayability.

    • “Nice, comfy progression, replayable as hell, easy to grasp mechanics.. overall, worth the buy!”
    • “And for what it is, the fun and replay value are wow.”
    • “This is a neat game, with some very nice unique approaches to progression and replayability.”
    • “The amount of maps to play on is pretty limited, but you can get decent replayability out of them if you set the difficulty parameters accordingly.”
    • “Multiplayer (and the main focus of the game) shows the most promise but lacks replayability right now.”
    • “Lacking replayability right now, with some odd design and functionality decisions.”
  • monetization13 mentions

    The game's monetization model is largely praised for its lack of intrusive microtransactions, with players noting that the only available purchases are cosmetic skins sold in bundles. While some users express concerns about the potential for cash grabs following a change in developers, the overall sentiment is that the game offers a fair experience without pay-to-win mechanics, allowing players to earn skins through in-game points.

    • “The progression is similar to World of Tanks; however, there are no microtransactions in this game at all.”
    • “Feels like World of Tanks before it was pay-to-win, and the only microtransactions are skins.”
    • “I have to give credit for the low amount of microtransactions; you can't buy any points to research helicopters, but you can buy skins if you choose to, which are not too expensive at $4 and come in a pack of other camouflages for other helicopters.”
    • “However, since recommending it, the devs changed hands and, what appears to be a quick cash grab, attempted to make further money from the IP they recently inherited.”
    • “So originally I gave this game a thumbs down because it had less content and a plethora of DLC helicopter skins which felt like a cash grab to me.”
    • “- while the microtransactions are just cosmetic and don't involve loot boxes, I really hate that the skins are only sold in bundles.”
  • atmosphere5 mentions

    The game's atmosphere effectively immerses players in the Vietnam War setting, enhancing the experience during mission flights and combat. While it offers a more arcade-like feel compared to realistic titles like Arma 3, the graphics and overall ambiance contribute to a fun and engaging environment. Players appreciate the blend of intense helicopter combat with a forgiving gameplay style, making it enjoyable without sacrificing excitement.

    • “The atmosphere flying to a mission objective is cool and brought me into the moment.”
    • “Graphics are great and the atmospherics are nice... for the price, no complaints from me.”
    • “I need to feel the Vietnam War atmosphere to get in the mood for playing.”
    • “This certainly ranks up and possibly surpasses the feel of helicopter combat one has while playing Arma 3, giving a blend and an even more arcade-like forgiving sense to one's longevity, but certainly not taking away from a player's mad dog, firebird gunship ability in a helicopter in a more arcade atmosphere.”
  • humor4 mentions

    Players find humor in the game's unexpected elements, such as the absurdity of aerial duels featuring outdated helicopters from the Korean War, which adds a comedic twist to the PvP experience. While some matches can be hilariously one-sided, the addition of new objectives in PvE modes has also contributed to a more entertaining gameplay experience. Overall, the game is perceived as quite funny, enhancing player enjoyment.

    • “PvP with 1st generation helis from the Korean War is just hilarious, in a good way.”
    • “I think the game is quite funny.”
    • “Funny thing is I was after this War Thunder helicopter event; I was hyped for a multiplayer game.”
  • emotional4 mentions

    Players express a mix of distress and hope regarding the game's emotional impact, highlighting a desire for the developers to address negative feedback following an update. While the game offers a relaxing and wholesome experience, frustrations arise from gameplay mechanics that can lead to premature crashes and waiting times, detracting from the overall enjoyment. However, the freedom to choose strategies in gameplay is praised, contributing to a sense of emotional investment in the player's journey.

    • “No game has made me feel like I can choose how I want to go about winning to the scale this one has.”
    • “This is incredibly distressing to see, and I wish for nothing more than for the new team to heed the reviews that people are leaving (which since the update have been unanimously, and rightfully negative) and work on a lot of the issues we are touching on.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

70% average critic score

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Play time

16hMedian play time
29hAverage play time
9-23hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 11 analyzed playthroughs

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