In February 2025, Nintendo Switch quietly introduced Stunt Flyer to its lineup, and it’s not hard to figure out why this title almost slipped past unnoticed. At first glance, it seems like a budget-friendly version of Pilotwings, aimed at a younger audience, and honestly, that’s a fairly accurate description. Yet, it also manages to be quite a soothing experience, enhanced significantly by the addition of a two-player cooperative mode.
In this game, you can team up with a buddy to take on the roles of pilots Jimmy and Sophie, along with a few others, as you navigate through a world that feels like a try-hard sequel to Wuhu Island—but without the official moniker. It’s fair to say that the game’s lack of originality invites inevitable comparisons, and unfortunately, Stunt Flyer doesn’t quite manage to hold up, even when you’ve unlocked new islands to explore. Once I came to terms with its limitations—both in imagination and execution—I did find it offered some brief bursts of entertainment.
However, there’s an undeniable sense of meandering throughout the gameplay. While the open-ended exploration had its charm, it didn’t take long before I started craving a bit more direction. Stunt Flyer offers missions that everyone’s seen before: shooting targets, snapping photos, engaging in races, and so on. These vary significantly in how much fun they deliver and seem randomly placed without much thought into their arrangement. Discovering and flying through scattered rings was a bit addictive initially, but collecting a hundred of them soon felt redundant, serving as nothing more than mindless busywork. Balancing mission objectives with open-world freedom is tricky, and Stunt Flyer doesn’t quite hit the mark.
As for the visuals and sound—they don’t do much to improve the experience either. The game features one main soundtrack that’s pleasant enough at first, but becomes repetitive if you’re hunting for more exciting gameplay. Its graphics resemble an updated Wii game, and for good reason—apparently, it was originally released on that console, albeit with a slightly different name and a specific peripheral. After more than a decade, the signs of aging are quite evident.
I must emphasize, however, that where Stunt Flyer truly shines is in its cooperative play with a friend. The split-screen mode not only allows players to engage in missions together but also gives each a chance to explore independently. That said, you might find yourself questioning its replay value. My session with my wife wrapped up in under an hour, and I had to press on solo to wrap up this review.
The solo experience fails to sustain interest for long, but the cooperative aspect adds a bit of lift. The game’s enduring appeal is likely tied to one’s desire to chase after achievements, better mission times, or simply enjoy some low-key downtime. Even with the budget-friendly price tag, I’d suggest holding out for a discount or simply firing up Pilotwings 64 on Switch Online for a more satisfying flight experience.
